Nils de Witte

Teacher International Business
Agile problem solver, innovator and learner who does not believe in “teaching” but in “creating a rich environment in which people can learn”. He likes to challenge people to make a difference in this world.

Biography

Nils de Witte is an innovator, strategist and entrepreneur. A practitioner with an inquisitive mind, a creative problem solver who gets the job done, no matter what. In his long career he has dealt with 20.000 entrepreneurs in Europe, Africa and the Middle East and helped them achieve growth and acquire customers and capital. His main contribution in these cases is: helping entrepreneurs to focus on assumptions (research), on customers (research) and on “creating value by solving a complex problem” (research). Always in a practical lean and agile way.

Relevant work experience

2010 -present: Consultant and Lecturer International Business

  • Lecturer in marketing, strategy and entrepreneurship Hogeschool Utrecht
  • Developed Toolkits and didactics for entrepreneurial education
  • Chair of the Faculty Council and member of the University Council
  • Coordinator Studentsinc (student incubator for Hogeschool Utrecht, Utrecht University and UMC)
  • Founder Graduate Space (community based incubator in Utrecht)
  • Executor Startup in Residence Program of the Municipality of Utrecht
  • Founder Startup-Utrecht network
  • Entrepreneurship program Plan Einstein (entrepreneurship for refugees on behalf of Utrecht University)

2008 - 2010: Director of BiD Network Foundation. Bid Network is a non-profit organization with 15 employees in the Netherlands and 12 agents in developing countries that helps entrepreneurs in developing countries find investors. As one of the two board members, responsible for the primary process (investor matchmaking), such as managing the people (8) in Amsterdam, managing 12 agents abroad, recruiting, training and guiding entrepreneurs and finding investors. Traveled a lot and worked with people from "other cultures".

1995 - 2008: Founder and director of and major shareholder in The Dutch Exchange for Investments in Companies and Enterprises (NeBIB) BV. A network of entrepreneurs and investors in high tech growth companies. Services focussed on focused on coaching entrepreneurs and investor and investor matchmaking. NeBIB's specialty is early stage financing. Dealflow: about 20 deals p.a. Dealsize: between 50,000 and 500,000 euros/deal

1988 - 1995: Freelance Business Developer specializing in the realization of new product/market connections for existing companies.

1985 - 1988: Worked in Indonesia as a liaison for local agents and industrial companies from Europe, including IHC (dredging vessels), Hollandia Kloos (bridges and railway switches) and ELIN (Energy plants).

Fields of expertise

  • Strategic marketing
  • Agile management
  • Customer Value Creation
  • Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital
  • Leadership and Coaching

     

Qualifications

1993 - 1994: Master in Marketing Tias Tilburg (postdoctoraal)