Startup Guided Tour: Starting your business in the Netherlands

Speaker:
Thomas Vles, Managing Director of the Dutch Startup Association

Thomas is a true, all-around entrepreneur. With his broad educational background in Psychology, Physics and Astronomy, his extensive skill set, and his social aptitude for networking and bridge-building, he has been able to effortlessly blend his passion with his purpose: creating companies, opportunities, and products that improve the everyday lives of a new generation. In 2013, after working as a strategy consultant, Thomas founded Poopy Cat, a company that developed innovative (patented) cat products. After acquiring capital he was able to expand the operations to 18 countries. His marketing reached tens of millions and he got featured in Oprah Winfrey\'s \'O\', Italian Vogue and on the BBC website frontpage. In 2017, he sold the company to the Dutch market leader in the pet trade. One year after the acquisition of Poopy Cat Thomas founded wedoido, an innovative, online platform that improves the wedding planning process for couples by translating visual inputs into realtime, bookable vendor suggestions. Thomas established the team, raised the funds to built the MVP and launch wedoido. Early 2020 Thomas became managing director of the Dutch Startup Association, where he actively contributes to the startup and scaleup ecosystem by creating a sharing community between companies, improving the investment climate and promoting pro-entrepreneurial legislation to political stakeholders. Thomas enjoys creating new ventures as well as advising and investing in startups. His unique and personal approach creates lasting relationships with both teams and stakeholders, and as a founder and entrepreneur, he is able to transfer his drive, energy, and enthusiasm to those within his sphere.