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Janneke Niessen is a Partner at CapitalT, a venture capital fund, and a renowned entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for diversity in tech. She is known for co-founding Improve Digital and InspiringFifty.
Janneke Niessen invests in early-stage tech companies, primarily B2B SaaS, enterprise technology, and deep tech. She focuses on backing diverse teams and companies with strong potential for positive impact, utilizing a data-driven investment approach.
Janneke Niessen works as a Partner at CapitalT, a venture capital fund that invests in diverse teams and early-stage tech companies, primarily based in Europe.
Janneke Niessen is a Founding Partner at CapitalT, a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. Before launching the firm with co-founder Eva de Mol, she served as the Chief Innovation Officer of Improve Digital, an adtech company she co-founded and subsequently sold to Swisscom. She holds an MSc in Strategic Innovation Management from Erasmus University Rotterdam and co-initiated the non-profit organization InspiringFifty. At CapitalT, Niessen manages a portfolio with over €500 million in assets under management, utilizing data-driven models to evaluate seed-stage software and deep tech startups. Her notable venture investments include the battery technology developer Nyobolt, which raised over $150 million, the unicorn car subscription platform FINN, and the autonomous driving company Wayve, valued at $1.3 billion. Niessen currently focuses on scaling early-stage European companies across the climate technology, artificial intelligence, and future-of-work sectors.
Janneke Niessen stands as a prominent figure in the European venture capital landscape, serving as a Partner at CapitalT. Renowned for her entrepreneurial acumen and unwavering commitment to diversity, she plays a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing the next generation of tech innovators. At CapitalT, Janneke applies a unique, data-driven investment thesis, focusing on early-stage companies led by diverse teams, a strategy she believes is key to unlocking superior returns and fostering a more equitable tech ecosystem.
CapitalT, under Janneke's leadership alongside her co-founder, distinguishes itself by leveraging data analytics to mitigate unconscious bias in the investment process. This approach allows them to pinpoint high-potential founders and startups that might otherwise be overlooked by traditional venture capital models. Janneke's investment focus areas primarily include B2B SaaS, enterprise technology, and deep tech solutions, particularly those with a strong potential for positive societal impact. She is deeply committed to backing companies that not only offer innovative products but also embody inclusive values from their inception.
Before her impactful tenure at CapitalT, Janneke Niessen built a formidable career as a serial entrepreneur. She is perhaps best known as the co-founder of Improve Digital, a leading European ad tech platform that revolutionized how publishers manage their advertising inventory. Her success with Improve Digital, which was later acquired by Azerion, provided her with invaluable insights into scaling tech businesses and navigating complex market dynamics. This hands-on experience as a founder deeply informs her perspective as an investor, enabling her to truly understand the challenges and opportunities faced by the entrepreneurs she backs.
Beyond her investment activities, Janneke is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. She co-founded InspiringFifty, an initiative dedicated to showcasing successful women in technology, aiming to create visible role models for future generations. Her advocacy extends to public speaking, mentorship, and authorship, consistently championing the cause of gender equality and broader representation in leadership roles. Her contributions have been widely recognized, including being awarded a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau for her significant impact on entrepreneurship and diversity.
Through her work at CapitalT, Janneke Niessen continues to shape the future of technology by investing in innovative companies and empowering diverse founders. Her blend of entrepreneurial experience, data-driven investment strategies, and a steadfast commitment to diversity makes her a transformative force in the venture capital world, driving both financial success and meaningful societal change.
