Illustration by Thomas Libetti Thomas by Illustration su 22 issue strategy+business The Twinning Center, based in , is run is by in Amsterdam, based Center, Twinning The Amster- — centers in the three With the incubator concept is ideally Although he believes has no illusions that it will be easy to Pieper Mr. But especially venture capitalists (VCs), lawyers, consultants, lawyers, (VCs), capitalists especially venture and bankers. the by company owned a private Holdings, Twinning Twinning also manages the which government, Dutch uni- the leading Dutch has close links with funds. It VC unusual arrangement, the Dutch this Under versities. to and is committed is the sole shareholder government million) over $41 million gilders (around 90 providing Fund, funds: the Seed Twinning to the two years seven Fund, early-stage finance, and the Growth which invests also commit- are VCs Dutch Ten for expansion funding. at least 11 million gilders ($5 million) in ted to investing with the government. the returns the funds and will share services. also offers a range of incubator Twinning office — and a “foothold” Twente and dam, Eindhoven, approximately has launched Twinning Valley, in Silicon bots” an online “shopping Tryllian, 40 startups, including Twinning would like to see Pieper time, Mr. In company. with franchised incuba- the Netherlands, expand beyond has been discussed “Twinning Europe. tor centers across says. Pieper model,” Mr. as a role Union the European by gap in startup expertise and suited to filling Europe’s on the regulatoryearly-stage funding, he is also focused biggest brakes on entre- one of the tape that remains red Twinning when 1997, “In activity in Europe. preneurial to the was started, the government I fundamentally forced in a fund they didn’t They invested same side of the table. about it and they became so excited understand, really in environment in the legislative changes that they drove doing.” were to what we response no “There are in Europe. culture an entrepreneurial create too many rules are There good blueprints in Europe. what happened in France all know We making it difficult. have now when they changed the tax legislation — you communities in Silicon one of the biggest expat French to entrepre- attractive it more to make have We Valley. neurs to stay in Europe.” — Des Dearlove . He may be the closest thing the . He Red Herring Red

In the 1990s Mr. Pieper earned a reputation for turn- earned a reputation Pieper the 1990s Mr. In the former Wijers, and Hans Pieper 1997 Mr. In

Twinning Network Twinning Chairman A 20-year veteran of the technology world, the ways of Silicon understands Pieper businessman Roel Dutch York–based at New managing director a Today Valley. firm focused on (an investment Capital Partners Insight and the U.S.) and e-business opportunities in Europe (an Network Twinning chairman of the Netherlands’ sector a public sector–private incubator formed through has become popular with the Pieper partnership), Mr. his efforts through to help Euro- business press Dutch made and has even entrepreneurial, peans become more of the cover Netherlands has to a Bill Gates or a Jim Clark, although Clark, or a Jim Gates has to a Bill Netherlands in Europe. rare are such larger-than-life entrepreneurs errant organizations, first as CEO of AT&T’s ing around Tandem of Laboratories, then as CEO Systems Unix its sale to the he oversaw where Computers Inc., in 1998, he But Computer Corporation for $4 billion. slot at to fill the number-two to the Netherlands returned electronics the Dutch NV, Electronics Koninklijke experience. He The homecoming was a mixed giant. to back refused board in 1999 when the Philips resigned which he Instrument, of General takeover his proposed business into VCR Philips’s was vital to move believed Pieper’s Mr. The decision confirmed new digital formats. in Europe. drive concerns about a lack of entrepreneurial Twinning minister of economic affairs, founded Dutch incuba- European one of the first distinctively Network, the commissioned by The catalyst was a report tors. which Booz-Allen & Hamilton, from government Dutch were in the Netherlands indicated that entrepreneurs dis- struggling to raise early-stage finance, and were network, the lack of an entrepreneurial by advantaged

Roel Roel Pieper Zealot Zealot Profile

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