Fundraising Fox

Herman Kienhuis

Investor

Founder & Managing Partner at Curiosity VC

The Randstad, Netherlands

About

Herman Kienhuis is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Curiosity VC and founder of the angel syndicate River Venture Partners, focusing on early-stage investments in B2B software companies across the Benelux, Nordics, and Baltics. He previously served as Managing Director of KPN Ventures and as Founder and Investment Director of SanomaVentures, and has held roles in business development, strategy, and M&A at Dutch media and consumer internet companies. He also serves as a board member and advisor to multiple technology companies.

Experience

  1. Curiosity VCCo-Founder, Managing Partnercurrent2021 — presentAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  2. QA techInvestor & Board Observercurrent2024 — presentStockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden
  3. BeCauseInvestor & Board Observercurrent2024 — presentCopenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
  4. AlturaInvestor & Board Membercurrent2024 — presentAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  5. orq.aiInvestor & Board Membercurrent2023 — presentAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  6. DreamdataInvestor & Board Observercurrent2023 — presentCopenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
  7. StriseInvestorcurrent2022 — presentOslo, Norway
  8. Freesi.ioInvestor & Board Membercurrent2022 — presentEspoo, Uusimaa, Finland
  9. MeetingPackageBoard Member & investorcurrent2021 — presentHelsinki Metropolitan Area
  10. KaizoInvestor & Advisorcurrent2019 — presentAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  11. Vormats - Video Made EasyInvestor & Advisorcurrent2019 — presentAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  12. PolarstepsInvestor & Advisorcurrent2017 — presentAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  13. River Venture PartnersFounder & Managing Partnercurrent2015 — presentAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  14. NewionVenture Partner2020 — 2021The Randstad, Netherlands
  15. KPN VenturesEVP, Managing Director2016 — 2019The Randstad, Netherlands
  16. Nederlandse SpoorwegenExternal Investment Committee member NS innovatiefonds2016 — 2017Utrecht Area, Netherlands
  17. Stimuleringsfonds voor de Journalistiek / Dutch Journalism FundExpert Selection Committee member2016 — 2017The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands
  18. SanomaVenturesFounder and Managing Director2012 — 2015Amsterdam
  19. Dutch Creative Industry Fund (DCIF)Board Member2008 — 2015Amsterdam
  20. ilse media (Sanoma Digital)Management team, Digital Product Development2007 — 2012Amsterdam
  21. Sanoma UitgeversDirector of Strategy & Corporate Development2004 — 2007Hoofddorp
  22. McKinsey & CompanyStrategy Consultant1998 — 2004Amsterdam, Antwerp, London

Skills & more

Digital Media46Start-ups63Venture Capital19Mobile Applications9Online Advertising13Online Marketing8Mobile Marketing10Business Planning8E-commerce27Mergers & Acquisitions11Product Management5Social Media4
+12 moreM&A experienceWeb VideoEntrepreneurshipStrategic PartnershipsDigital MarketingProduct DevelopmentNew MediaCorporate FinanceStrategyStrategy DevelopmentManagementInnovation

Languages Dutch · English · French

  • The Positive Power and Influence Program — Bureau Zuidema
  • Strategic Leadership Program (SLP) — Sanoma
  • Initial Leadership Workshop (ILW) — McKinsey & Company
  • Creative Expression Program (CEP) — EPT Executive Performance Training
  • Introduction to AI — ICAI - Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence
  • ScaleUpNation Board Program — ScaleUpNation

From Herman's professional profile.

Colleagues at Curiosity VC

Aik Deveneijns
Advisor at Curiosity VC
Akshata Agarwal
Principal at Curiosity VC
Alek Vernitsky
Managing Partner at Curiosity VC
Bas Overtoom
Advisor at Curiosity VC
Bram Oostvogel
Advisor at Curiosity VC
Daniel Gebler
Advisor at Curiosity VC
Dennis de Breij
Advisor at Curiosity VC
Elliot Schouten
Investment Manager & CFO at Curiosity VC

Frequently asked questions

Who is Herman Kienhuis?
Herman Kienhuis is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Curiosity VC and founder of the angel syndicate River Venture Partners, focusing on early-stage investments in B2B software companies across the Benelux, Nordics, and Baltics. He previously served as Managing Director of KPN Ventures and as Founder and Investment Director of SanomaVentures, and has held roles in business development, strategy, and M&A at Dutch media and consumer internet companies. He also serves as a board member and advisor to multiple technology companies.
Where does Herman Kienhuis work?
Herman Kienhuis is Founder & Managing Partner at Curiosity VC.
Where did Herman Kienhuis go to school?
Herman Kienhuis studied at INSEAD (MBA, General Management); University of Groningen (MSc, Chemical Engineering); SG Holten (High School, VWO (Atheneum)).

Founder mafias

McKinsey & Company mafia337

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Elad GilConsultantFounded Brain Co.Tony XuBusiness AnalystFounded DoorDashAlexandre ProtAssociateFounded Smartven +1Inaki BerenguerAssociateFounded InfiniteWatch +2Ryan XueManagement ConsultantFounded Andco +2Max AhrensFellow InternFounded Maihem +2

+ 330 more

INSEAD mafia78

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Alexandre ProtMBAFounded Smartven +1Steve AnaviMBAFounded QontoKevin RyanMBAFounded Business Insider +2Julián MeloLeaders at scale - Executive programFounded Ubits +1Wim Van CriekingeLeading From The ChairFounded Lizard +1Nicholas ManskeMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded Alariss +1

+ 71 more

University of Groningen mafia12

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Remco van ZantenMsCFounded Zalando +1Gjalt HuismanDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded Embold TherapeuticsJeroen KimmelsEconometricsFounded Future Food FundCoen BosMaster’s DegreeFounded HelinArnoud Aalbersbergn/aFounded CarePlusDaniel WitvoetMasterFounded Sunrock

+ 5 more

Dreamdata mafia3

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Dave KelloggBoard MemberFounded Marklogic +1Neil MurrayPre-Seed InvestorFounded Playmaker

Polarsteps mafia2

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Laurens GroenendijkPrivate InvestorFounded Hiber +1

Same school

Also attended INSEAD804

Alexandre ProtCo-founder & CEO of QontoSteve AnaviCo-founder & President of QontoPatrick ClaessenPartner at Cottonwood Technology FundChris BischoffInvestment Team at General CatalystJan HammerInvestor at Index VenturesSandra SchwarzerInvestor at Index Ventures

+ 798 more

Also attended University of Groningen137

Ragnar JongenInvestor at DN CapitalGizem CakilInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersYtsen van der MeerPrincipal at Cottonwood Technology FundJelle Van de PutteFund Administrator at Capricorn Venture PartnersLaura LentzExecutive Assistant at Castle Island VenturesChristophe de MontillePartner at Beyond Capital Ventures

+ 131 more

Shared employers

Also worked at BeCause4

Elliot SchoutenInvestment Manager & CFO at Curiosity VCRune Hven-JensenPartner at Ugly Duckling VenturesCeline PattyranieInvestment Associate at SuperAngelKärt SiilatsVenture Partner at SuperAngel

Also worked at Strise1

Paavo RäisänenGeneral Partner at Maki.vc

Also worked at Freesi.io1

Terhi VapolaFounder and Managing Partner at Greencode Ventures

Also worked at KPN Ventures6

Hans SöhngenManaging Director at KPN VenturesSem AlbergaManaging Director at KPN VenturesBenjamin de DobbelaereInvestment Associate at KPN VenturesLotte WitbreukInvestment Associate at KPN VenturesDaan StolwerkInvestment Associate at KPN VenturesGreg PatersonAssociate at Molten Ventures