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Koolen Industries
Kees Koolen established Koolen Industries in 2019. The firm channels proceeds from his prior roles at Booking.com and early Uber involvement into energy...
Koolen Industries
Kees Koolen established Koolen Industries in 2019. The firm channels proceeds from his prior roles at Booking.com and early Uber involvement into energy transition holdings. Wealth origin traces to online travel and ride-hailing platforms. Koolen Industries commits to direct co-investments, SPVs, and select fund commitments in early-stage and seed opportunities. Asset classes include solar generation, battery storage, bi-directional charging, and agricultural land conversion. Confirmed holdings encompass We Drive Solar for vehicle-to-grid systems and Kraftblock thermal storage technology. Operations span Europe, North America, Asia, and Brazil through the Agri Brasil dairy project. The firm also controls The Green Box Cleantech Campus in Hengelo. The office employs a compact team of five named executives. Additional assets include the Koolen Equestrian Centre in Weert and a Dakar Rally fleet. No public disclosure exists on total headcount or satellite offices. In 2024 the group advanced a joint scale-up of bi-directional charging stations with We Drive Solar. Koolen Industries operates through a one-stop-shop ownership model that combines investment, project development, and operational control under single-family direction. This structure separates it from pure fund vehicles by retaining equity in both technology startups and industrial infrastructure.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
2019
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Netherlands
City
Hengelo
Corporate office
Hengelo, Netherlands
Principals
Kees Koolen
Chief Executive Officer
Louis Willaert
General Counsel
Ahmed Afifi
Chief Investment Officer
Niels Boomkamp
Head of Subsidies & Grants
Ybele van der Veen
Chief Financial Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Koolen Industries?
Kees Koolen serves as Chief Executive Officer. Ahmed Afifi acts as Chief Investment Officer and evaluates new opportunities.
How does Koolen Industries source proprietary deal flow?
The firm draws on Kees Koolen's prior relationships at Booking.com, Uber, and EQT Ventures. Direct outreach from clean energy entrepreneurs supplements these channels.
Does Koolen Industries participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The firm uses a mix of direct co-investments, SPVs, and fund-of-funds commitments. Early-stage and seed checks form the core of its activity.
What investment stages does Koolen Industries typically target?
Activity centers on early stage and seed rounds. The firm also funds operating projects that move technologies into commercial deployment.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
Capital originates from Kees Koolen's exits and roles at Booking.com and Uber. The office does not disclose additional external LPs.
What is Koolen Industries known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The firm maintains co-investment relationships with partners such as EQT Ventures. It also leads its own direct investments in portfolio companies.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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