Loading people...
Barend Van den Brande is the Founder and Managing Partner of Hummingbird Ventures, currently based in Antwerp, Belgium. Before establishing the venture firm, he worked as a Financial Analyst at Cowen Group from 1996 to 1998 and later served as President of Benelux Tech. He holds a Master's degree in Economics from KU Leuven and oversees an investment firm that manages more than $500 million in total assets across five flagship funds. His portfolio includes early-stage backing for prominent technology companies such as Deliveroo and Showpad, alongside significant gaming exits like the $1.8 billion acquisition of Peak Games by Zynga and the $250 million sale of Gram Games. Today, Van den Brande focuses his primary strategy on seed and Series A investments across the global consumer internet, online marketplace, gaming, and financial technology sectors.
Barend Van den Brande stands as a pivotal figure in the European venture capital landscape, serving as a founding Partner at Hummingbird Ventures. With a deep commitment to fostering innovation, Barend has been instrumental in shaping Hummingbird into one of the continent's most respected early-stage investment firms. His work focuses on identifying visionary founders and providing the strategic capital and guidance needed to transform nascent ideas into market-leading companies.
At Hummingbird Ventures, Barend's investment thesis centers on disruptive technology across various sectors. He actively seeks opportunities in areas such as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), financial technology (fintech), consumer internet, and marketplaces, as well as emerging deep tech innovations. His keen eye for potential has contributed to Hummingbird's impressive portfolio, which includes early investments in globally recognized companies like Deliveroo, Stripe, Kraken, Collibra, and Showpad. While not every investment is directly attributed to him, his leadership and strategic input are foundational to the firm's overall success and investment strategy.
Barend's career trajectory before co-founding Hummingbird Ventures provided him with invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial journey. His background includes experience in building and scaling businesses, which gives him a unique, founder-centric perspective when evaluating new ventures. This hands-on understanding of operational challenges and growth strategies allows him to offer practical, actionable advice to portfolio companies, extending beyond mere capital injection. He is known for forging long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs, acting as a trusted advisor throughout their growth phases.
His approach emphasizes a global mindset, recognizing that groundbreaking ideas can emerge from anywhere and have worldwide impact. Barend is dedicated to supporting companies with ambitious international expansion plans, leveraging Hummingbird's extensive network and expertise. Through his work, Barend Van den Brande continues to play a significant role in empowering the next generation of technology leaders, driving innovation, and contributing substantially to the vibrant European tech ecosystem.
Barend Van den Brande is a founding Partner at Hummingbird Ventures, a leading early-stage venture capital firm. He is known for his expertise in identifying and investing in disruptive technology companies across Europe.
Barend Van den Brande primarily invests in early-stage technology companies. His focus areas include Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), financial technology (fintech), consumer internet, marketplaces, and deep tech innovations.
Barend Van den Brande works as a Partner at Hummingbird Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Europe.
