Build enterprises
with passion.
Our team is our most valuable asset. The 5CS team brings extensive entrepreneurial experience, investment expertise and a growth-centric approach to our companies and management teams. As business founders and entrepreneurs, we know the ins and outs of growing a business and adding value to your company. As experienced investors, we know how to actively support you in taking the next step. We are a team of driven, high-energy and enthusiastic people with a strong network who are always willing to go the extra mile together with you.
Sebastiaan de Koning
Founding Partner
M +31 (0)650 266070
E dekoning@5cs.pe
Sebastiaan founded 5CS together with Charles in 2018, sharing their passion and dedication to reach the full potential of businesses in the Dutch SME space. Before founding 5CS, he started IT-Ernity aged 17. He experienced the highs of running his own company, as well as the lows worrying about new customer inflow or getting the right people in managerial roles.
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Charles Kotting
Founding Partner
M +31 (0)653 171606
E kotting@5cs.pe
Charles has circa 20 years of experience in hands-on investing. After starting working at McKinsey, he learned the investment profession at H2 Equity Partners, where he found his swing in refocusing and re-energizing mid-sized companies in the Netherlands, UK, Sweden and Denmark. In 2008, he joined Gilde Equity Management (GEM) Benelux where he helped companies to go from good to great in manufacturing, IT services, software and e-commerce.
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Pieter van Scherpenzeel
Investment Director
M +31 (0)642 268697
E vanscherpenzeel@5cs.pe
Whilst at university, Pieter got involved with both small challenger companies as well as the investing industry. In 2014, Pieter joined Gilde Equity Management (GEM) Benelux. There followed an exciting 5 years of investments in the software, manufacturing, business services and retail sectors. Shortly after 5CS was founded, Pieter joined the team, drawn to the originality of the 5CS approach to next generation investing and the highly talented and complementary team of 5CS.
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Oliver Weil
Investment manager
M +31 (0)610 155762
E weil@5cs.pe
Oliver started his career at ING Corporate Finance where he advised entrepreneurs in various sectors on the successful sale of their company. After ING he worked for Holland Capital, where he focused on the Dutch healthcare investments. In 2022 Oliver joined 5CS, s attracted by the ambitious, entrepreneurial culture and passion of the team. He is an avid sportsman and a big soccer fan.
Yiting Ye
Investment Manager / Fund controller
M +31 (0)624 778797
E ye@5cs.pe
Yiting joined 5CS in October 2022. Previously, she worked at PwC for 5 years where she gained broad experience within M&A Advisory and Business Restructuring Services. The personal, hands-on approach in investing and the ambitious and entrepreneurial nature of the 5CS team appealed to her and corresponds to her passion to support companies in realising their growth ambitions.
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Frederique Vrins
Investment analyst
M +31 (0)629 003005
E vrins@5cs.pe
Frederique studied Chemistry at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (BSc) and University of Amsterdam (MSc). Throughout her Bachelor she was involved in setting up social enterprises with Enactus Groningen. She accomplished a major in Management, Policy and Entrepreneurship in the Health and Life Sciences and gained relevant experience during her internships in consultancy at Seuss+ and private equity at Bencis and 5CS. In her free time she loves to sail, ski and travel the world.
Frank van der Woude
Operating Partner
Frank is a hands-on CEO with proven track record and over 25 years of leadership experience at international software companies. Frank started his international career at ICL/Fujitsu. Private equity backed, he acquired the largest European reseller of Microsoft Dynamics software, Watermark (formerly Baan Business Systems), active in 12 European countries.
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Mike Gries
Operating Partner
Mike is a sincere, honest, amiable and enthusiastic personality. He is a pragmatic and strategic thinker who is often steps ahead of his discussion partner. He has a clear vision and results oriented approach. With his transparent management style, openness and accessibility, Mike also deserves a lot of respect with his direct reports. His communication is direct, to-the-point, diplomatic if necessary. A powerful personality who has more than 20 years’ experience in the ICT, software and financial market.
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Nordi Malih
Operating Partner
Nordi is a result-driven and analytical team player with a transparent, communicative, and pragmatic approach. He has broad (inter)national leadership, knowledge and experience in dynamic and innovative industries and markets. Nordi has worked in privately held, listed and private equity driven companies such as British Telecom, Schuberg Philis and team.blue.
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Joop van Voorthuijsen
Industry Expert
Joop is a seasoned ICT entrepreneur with more than 35 years’ experience. He started his career at Baan Info Systems, followed by a partner role at Jansen MI Consultants. He co-founded a couple of Microsoft Dynamics VAR- and ISV-companies such as Foqus-ICT (sold to Watermark), To-Increase (sold to Columbus) and Dynamics Anywhere (sold to To-Increase).
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