The INSEAD Private Equity & Venture Capital Club invites you to hear the ins and outs of two great Dutch growth stories: Crisp (an online grocer, backed by reputed Venture Capital firms) and Keesing (a puzzle company, currently backed by BC Partners).

In the usual informal setting, you will have the opportunity to learn more about these success stories directly from the people who were involved. You will be able to gain key insights about how these companies have developed how they see the future, how they are creating shareholder value and the role played by the various PE and VC parties involved in different stages in time.

In addition, the event is an ideal setting to meet and network with other INSEAD professionals active in private equity and venture capital or who have an interest in the sector.

This event is kindly hosted by Van Doorne in Amsterdam
on Tuesday 27 February 2024

Philip Alberdingk Thijm (Keesing): Keesing - founded in 1911 - is one the world's largest puzzle and braintaiment companies offering both print puzzle publications (e.g., Denksport), puzzle websites and puzzle and brain training apps for iPhone and iPad (e.g., Sudoku and Elevate). After the buyout in 2004 by NPM it was sold to TMG in 2006. Ergon Capital acquired the company in 2017, triggering its international expansion. Following the successful buy and build strategy with Ergon, BC Partners acquired Keesing in 2021.
Philip Alberdingk Thijm has been the CEO of Keesing Media Group since 2014. In that role he oversaw the initial buy out from TMG in 2017 and the sale to BC Partners in 2021. Philip has a long career in media. Amongst his prior roles he was CEO of the FD Mediagroep, member of the board at PCM publishers and CEO of the Skyradio Group. He holds an MBA from IESE and is Chairman of the non-executive board of the European toy company Jumbo Disset and member of the senior advisory board of the PE investor Apheon (formerly Ergon).

Tom Peeters (Crisp): Crisp – founded in 2018 – is the leading Dutch online supermarket building the shortest route to better food. Instead of selling off-the-shelf products, Crisp has built a software and operational system to specifically offer local and fresh products from over 900 different local suppliers and getting them from farm to fork in the shortest time possible. In both 2022 and 2023, the company was chosen as Best Online Supermarket (GFK research). Since its founding, the company has raised €150m of capital from a collection of international venture capital funds (Keen Ventures and Target Global), family offices and well known Dutch entrepreneurs (e.g. founders of Adyen, Mollie, Takeaway.com, Vinted, Flexport, Miro, Sander van der Laan, Strikwerda Investments, Opportunity Partners).

Tom Peeters is CEO & co-founder of Crisp. Prior to founding Crisp, he co-founded Westwing (IPO 2018) and spent several years working for different international investment banks in both London and Amsterdam.

Program:

18.00-18.30 Welcome and bites

18.30-20.00 Presentations (in English)

20.00-21.30 Drinks

Address:
Van Doorne N.V.

Jachthavenweg 121, 1081 KM Amsterdam

IPEC – Thijs Emondts, Marnix van der Feltz, Joost Heeremans and Vincent Lüning

IPEC event: the cases of Crisp and Keesing, 27 Feb.'24