# Freshmen Fund

Freshmen Fund is a Private Equity based in Antwerpen, Belgium.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Private Equity
- **Headquarters:** Antwerpen, Belgium
- **Region:** Europe
- **Address:** Antwerpen, Belgium
- **Founded:** 2019
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** freshmenfund.com
- **LinkedIn:** linkedin.com/company/freshmenfund

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Fueling B2C ventures in Urban Mobility, Consumer AI, and Progressive Niche Brands. With a distinct network of advisors & investors, and over 30 years of experience in brand-building, go-to-market and growth hacking, we support exceptional entrepreneurial teams with smart capital.

## Sectors

- Mobility & Transportation
- Consumer AI
- Luxury
- AgriTech & FoodTech
- Media & Entertainment

## People

- Hendrik Winkelmans — Founder
- Steven Spittaels — Managing Partner
- Martina Iannuzzi — Investment Associate

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Freshmen Fund?

Co-founders Hendrik Winkelmans and Steven Spittaels make all investment decisions. Winkelmans contributes operational expertise from founding and exiting a 200-employee bike-retail chain, while Spittaels brings consumer-tech pattern recognition from his tenure as a McKinsey senior partner advising Google, eBay, and Tencent. Investment associate Martina Iannuzzi supports deal evaluation and portfolio management. The firm does not maintain an external investment committee.

### How does Freshmen Fund source proprietary deal flow?

Freshmen relies on its founders' cumulative professional networks and its advisory bench of sixteen named operators — including former Google executive Henrique De Castro and ex-Amazon analytics leader Matt Ariker — to surface consumer-product founders. The firm's website frames its pipeline as relationship-driven, targeting entrepreneurs who value operating counsel alongside capital, rather than cold-inbound or intermediary-led sourcing.

### Is Freshmen Fund structured as an institutional venture fund or a syndicate?

Freshmen operates closer to a concentrated angel syndicate than an institutional venture capital fund. The firm is built around two co-founders deploying personal capital and operator expertise, augmented by a curated advisor network that provides portfolio-company support. Freshmen does not publicly disclose a fund structure, LP base, or regulatory status, which distinguishes it from most European venture capital managers.

### Who are the most operationally active advisors behind Freshmen Fund's portfolio companies?

The firm discloses sixteen advisors spanning consumer tech, retail, digital marketing, and cycling-industry verticals. Notable names include Ann Chapelle, former CFO of Urban Outfitters and Under Armour; Pascal Grieder, former CEO of Salt Mobile; and Jean-Bernard Moens, a European consumer-private-equity operator. These advisors are not formal operating partners but engage directly with portfolio founders according to the firm's website.

## Related profiles

- [Fresh.fund](https://altss.com/profile/fresh-fund)
- [Fresh Source Capital](https://altss.com/profile/fresh-source-capital)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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