March 2025

Sister and brother Stephanie and Adriaan ran the family business together for many years, which their grandfather founded in 1937. After selling the company, they each chose to independently invest in impact.

How did you get into the world of impact investing?

Stephanie: We took the business over from our father and ran it together for a long time. At a certain point, it felt right to sell: the company had grown significantly, the family was aligned, and we had a strong buyer. Then we had to think about what was next. Initially, I didn't want to invest at all. But I did want to do something meaningful with the money. Through our multifamily office, I was introduced to Goodwell, and that's really how the ball started rolling.

Adriaan: We had already been in conversation with Maarten van Dam from PYMWYMIC, but at that time, we were still fully immersed in the business. There wasn't enough room to prioritise sustainability or impact, either within the company or outside of it. As investors, we now have an opportunity to engage with it more actively.

Do you invest as a family?

S: We sometimes invest in the same things, but we don't invest as a family. We worked together in the family business for many years, but afterwards we consciously chose to go our own way. Interestingly, we initially moved in completely different directions, but now, we are seeing some overlap in our investments.

What are your goals or focus areas?

A: My focus is on sustainable food production, medtech, and the energy transition. I tried direct investing, but it's not for me. I'm now a founding investor in Big Circle Ventures, a fund developing deep-tech innovations focused on climate and circularity, and I invest in, among others, Aqua-Spark and Next Gen Ventures.

S: My focus is also on food, but more on agriculture, and particularly in Africa. For example, I invest in the Goodwell fund and the Grounded Investment Company (GIC). I also invest in funds that support sustainable solutions for SMEs in Europe. My goal is to have at least 50% impact in my portfolio.

A: We also both invest in Altor Act.

Do you invest in funds of funds?

A: Whether a fund-of-funds is interesting depends on the size of your investment. With larger amounts, it adds less value because you can create sufficient diversification yourself. For smaller amounts, it is attractive because it provides immediate access to a broader portfolio. What's more, impact funds are often more transparent than traditional private equity, and I have noticed many funds tend to invest in the same underlying funds. So if possible, I prefer to invest directly in funds, rather than through another fund.

Has impact investing changed your daily life or habits?

S: It was more the other way around: impact investing aligns with how I already viewed the world. It hasn't changed my thinking, but it has significantly deepened my knowledge. We reflect on what we do, but we also enjoy life and live well, without guilt.

How does PYM contribute to your experience as impact investors?

A: PYM creates a space for exchanging ideas with like-minded others, which is both enjoyable and inspiring.

S: PYM positions itself as a community, and it truly lives up to that. You notice it right away.

What advice would you give to starting impact investors?

A: Join networks, that's where you will quickly figure out what your personal interests are and what your investment style is. For example, I initially thought I only wanted to invest in startups, but it turns out I am far more interested in investing in funds. I'm comfortable taking a patient approach.

S: It's important to realise that you don't have to invest everything all at once. Investing through funds usually means a longer-term commitment, but you can still start small. Be a bit selfish in your choices: choose funds that invest in areas you genuinely care about. Every fund hosts events, and those are much more fun when you're actually interested in the topic.

Do you talk to others about impact investing?

A: Absolutely, I do!

S: Like PYM, I believe we can encourage more wealth-holders to allocate a small portion of their portfolio to impact investing.

What do you hope for your generation? And the next?

S: There are far more people in the world now than ever before, and at the same time, the way we produce and consume has deteriorated. Everything is available, but often at a lower quality. The challenge is how to ensure that everyone has access to good food and a good life. I love nature and want to contribute to a beautiful and healthy living environment for many generations to come.

A: I hope that we can continue to live well on this planet, and that we actually take responsibility for making this happen. As Dr. Seuss puts it: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not".

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