/People

Laura Thissen

Investor

Prev. Managing Director at StartLife / Impact-driven strategist / Startup mentor & Advisor to investors at Grey Silo Ventures

Seattle, Washington, United States

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About

Holds MSc in Biochemistry and post-graduate training in economics. Built StartLife's food, ag, and biotech portfolio to 400+ impact-driven startups that raised over €600 million. Brings 15 years of global finance consulting experience including work with IMF, World Bank, and European Commission on emerging market financing and sustainable innovation.

Experience

  1. Grey Silo VenturesVenture Partnercurrent2024 — present
  2. AvantiumDirector BDcurrent2024 — presentAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  3. StartLifeMentor / EIR Cohort 2025-6current2025 — presentWageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands
  4. StartLifeMT / Managing Director2023 — 2024
  5. StartLifeMT / Operations Director2019 — 2023
  6. Move the date NLDirectorcurrent2024 — present
  7. Wageningen University & ResearchBoard Member, Dept Co-creation Value & Impact2019 — 2024Wageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands
  8. F&A NextSteering Committee Member2023 — 2024Wageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands
  9. NWO (Dutch Research Council)Selection Committeecurrent2024 — presentThe Hague, South Holland, Netherlands
  10. Nomilk2day HeadhuntersColumnist2022 — 2023Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  11. Wageningen Food & Biobased ResearchSenior Business Development Manager2015 — 2019Wageningen
  12. Wageningen Food & Biobased ResearchBusiness Development Manager2014 — 2015Wageningen
  13. EcorysBusiness Lead Energy, Environment & Innovation2012 — 2013
  14. EcorysSenior Consultant Finance - EMEA & APAC2009 — 2013The Randstad, Netherlands
  15. EcorysConsultant Macroeconomics & Public Finance Management2007 — 2008The Randstad, Netherlands
  16. Netherlands Council for Trade PromotionTrade advisor (Sudan)2005 — 2006Khartoum, North-Sudan & Juba, South-Sudan
  17. Centraal PlanbureauEconomist2002 — 2005The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands
  18. NRC HandelsbladJournalist2002The Randstad, Netherlands
  19. Stockholm UniversityBiochemist / researcher2001Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden

Skills & more

LeadershipTeam ManagementTeam LeadershipManagementEarly Stage InvestmentInvestmentsPartnership-buildingStrategic PartnershipsPartnershipsLicensingVenture DevelopmentVenture building
+12 moreOpen InnovationNetworkingTechnology TransferInnovation DevelopmentInnovation ConsultingBusiness DevelopmentVenture CapitalInnovation ManagementNew Business DevelopmentStart-upsCorporate Social ResponsibilityPolicy
  • Oxford Leading Sustainable Corporations Programme — Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
  • HEC Paris - Building Your Leadership Skills — HEC Paris
  • MIT Honor Code Certificate for Innovation and Commercialization — MITx Courses

From Laura's professional profile.

Colleagues at Grey Silo Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Who is Laura Thissen?
Holds MSc in Biochemistry and post-graduate training in economics. Built StartLife's food, ag, and biotech portfolio to 400+ impact-driven startups that raised over €600 million. Brings 15 years of global finance consulting experience including work with IMF, World Bank, and European Commission on emerging market financing and sustainable innovation.
Where does Laura Thissen work?
Laura Thissen is Prev. Managing Director at StartLife / Impact-driven strategist / Startup mentor & Advisor to investors at Grey Silo Ventures.
Where did Laura Thissen go to school?
Laura Thissen studied at Utrecht University (MSc (with honours), Chemistry - Biochemistry & Biophysics); Erasmus University Rotterdam (Economics, Econometrics); Stockholm University (MSc (with honours), Biochemistry & Biophysics).

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