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Kees Koolen is a prominent angel investor and partner at Koolen and Partners, widely recognized for his entrepreneurial success, particularly as the former CEO of Booking.com. He is known for investing in and mentoring disruptive technology companies.
Kees Koolen primarily invests in disruptive technologies with a strong focus on sustainable energy, smart mobility solutions, and innovative digital platforms. He seeks companies that offer scalable solutions to global challenges.
Kees Koolen works as an Angel Investor and Partner at Koolen and Partners. He also founded Koolen Industries, a clean energy group, demonstrating his commitment to sustainable innovation.
Kees Koolen is the Founder and CEO of Koolen Industries and an angel investor at Koolen and Partners, based in Hengelo, Netherlands. He previously served as CEO and Chairman of Booking.com, scaling the platform before its €110 million acquisition in 2005, and later acted as COO of Uber International. As a Founding Partner at EQT Ventures, he helped grow more than 15 unicorn startups. In 2019, he established Koolen Industries, investing over €130 million to build a conglomerate of more than 25 clean energy companies, including Super B. Beyond his corporate ventures, he is a rally racer and was the first competitor to finish the Dakar Rally in all four vehicle classes. The Twente University alumnus now focuses his capital entirely on accelerating the global clean energy transition through strategic cleantech acquisitions.
Kees Koolen stands out as a highly respected angel investor and a key figure at Koolen and Partners, bringing a wealth of experience and a visionary approach to the startup ecosystem. Renowned for his strategic acumen and deep understanding of market dynamics, Koolen focuses on identifying and nurturing companies poised for significant global impact. His investment philosophy is deeply rooted in fostering innovation, particularly within sectors that promise a sustainable future.
Koolen's illustrious career journey provides a strong foundation for his current investment activities. He is perhaps best known for his transformative leadership at Booking.com, where he served as CEO. Under his guidance, Booking.com evolved from a promising startup into a global powerhouse in the online travel industry, demonstrating his exceptional ability to scale businesses, navigate complex international markets, and build robust operational frameworks. This hands-on experience in hyper-growth environments is invaluable to the entrepreneurs he now supports.
At Koolen and Partners, Kees Koolen leverages this extensive background to provide more than just capital. He acts as a strategic mentor, offering unparalleled insights into product development, market entry strategies, and operational excellence. His investment focus areas are broad yet interconnected, primarily centered around disruptive technologies that address pressing global challenges. This includes a strong emphasis on sustainable energy solutions, such as advanced battery technology, electric vehicle infrastructure, and renewable energy generation. He is also keenly interested in smart mobility solutions, artificial intelligence applications that drive efficiency, and innovative digital platforms that redefine industries.
Koolen's commitment extends to fostering a new generation of companies that are not only profitable but also contribute positively to society. His work with Koolen Industries, which he founded, further exemplifies this dedication, investing in and building a group of clean energy companies. While specific individual angel investments are often private, his track record with Booking.com and his ongoing ventures through Koolen Industries highlight his consistent success in backing and building ventures that achieve significant scale and market leadership. Entrepreneurs seeking to revolutionize industries with sustainable and scalable solutions often find a powerful ally in Kees Koolen, benefiting from his operational expertise, strategic foresight, and expansive network. His presence at Koolen and Partners signifies a commitment to driving forward the next wave of technological and environmental innovation.
