I offer a unique blend of skills

I learned to think like a scientist, lawyer and investor. Very few IP professionals can make that claim. This makes me uniquely suited to help startups and investors in addressing their IP needs.

Physicist by training

Ever since childhood, I have been fascinated by nature's mysteries and how things work. This fascination motivated me to study physics at Leiden University, through which I became familiar with theories like quantum mechanics and general relativity. Although my education was renowned for its strong theoretical foundation, I also gained lab experience through conducting research at three academic groups, including an internship at the Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory where I studied quantum behavior in copper at extreme low temperatures, and an exchange internship at Cornell University, where I manufactured and qualified an ultra-sensitive force sensor to be used in MRI experiments at atomic resolution. These efforts resulted in a publication in Physical Review Applied, as well as a patent for which I personally helped with the prosecution towards grants in Europe and the US.

Strong affinity with entrepreneurs

In between my bachelor's and master's degrees, I took a gap year as student representative on the executive board of the Faculty of Science at Leiden University. This gave me a unique view into the management of the university, as my direct colleagues were the dean, vice-dean, and CFO. It brought me in a position to meet extraordinary people, including an ambitious tech entrepreneur. I supported him with an idea to create a breeding place for student entrepreneurs in Leiden. The idea grew into an association called Lugus, of which I became the first chairman. After serving this initiative for two years, Lugus secured its own facility and counted over 100 members. It still exists today, and the organization is now part of PLNT Leiden.

True understanding of patents

In doubt about continuing in academics, I received an unexpected phone call around graduating. Law firm HOYNG ROKH MONEGIER was in need of physicists to help their lawyers in one of the most iconic patent disputes in the semicon industry: ASML versus Nikon. I decided to pursue this opportunity and started my career as a patent attorney trainee. After three years of litigation, our team managed to win all worldwide lawsuits, and the dispute ended in a settlement. Through this experience, I learned everything about patents, from drafting to grant procedures, but above all how to kill or defend a patent. Moreover, I passed all national patent exams and was sworn in as a Dutch patent attorney in 2019.

Venture capital experience

Nostalgic memories of Lugus made me rethink my career. Acting on an urge for a new adventure, I applied for the MSt program in entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge in 2019, to which I got accepted. The program came with a mentor, who pointed out that my background was well-suited for VC. The idea slowly grew on me, and after graduation I applied to FORWARD.one, to eventually become an investment manager. There I learned what venture capital entails, and took an active role in seven equity deals and four follow-on investments. Throughout these years of investing, I supported over half of the FORWARD.one portfolio companies with various IP challenges, from defining a robust IP strategy to solving ad-hoc issues. I was involved in each internal due diligence when it came to assessing IP risks, and supported several of our companies to pass external IP due diligence in follow-on rounds.