Frank Appeldoorn, has earned his credits as a venture capitalist with an operational finance and IT background, developing and driving financial performance of strategic business plans. After his time at Volta Ventures in the Netherlands, Frank founded Arches Capital together with two partners and the first group of 15 business angels. Frank loves working with software founders who want to change the world. Frank holds a master’s degree from Rotterdam School of Management and ESADE in Barcelona, Spain. He also received a Register Controller Degree from Nyenrode University. Frank has lived and worked in The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and the US. Frank is married and has three kids. When all this leaves him some spare time, Frank loves to play tennis and keep in shape as a long distance runner.
Diederik Stolk, has been involved in the start-up ecosystem for years, by setting up an alumni start-up investing program and by helping start-ups in various industries with growth strategy and capital raising. Before joining Arches, Diederik worked at a corporate finance boutique. In this capacity he provided founders, board members, shareholders and investors with advice on M&A, capital raising and restructuring. Diederik obtained his Master’s degree in Economics (Utrecht University). He also obtained his Register Valuator degree from Rotterdam School of Management. Diederik lives in Utrecht with his girlfriend. In his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors, hiking the alps and bouldering.
Lotte van Ditshuizen, is a driven professional who started her career in Venture Capital. She began her career as a funding advisor for startup founders, prepare and guiding entrepreneurs to the right investor in the ticket size range of 250k – 2mio. She expanded the investor network. She was able to secure the right investor for over 30 entrepreneurs, across a range of sectors, such as deep tech, energy, media, saas (both B2B and B2C). After that she worked at an M&A boutique, focusing on funding, buy&build, and coaching the startup portfolio. With her extensive network of investors and her keen eye for innovation and potential, she is an asset to the team. Lotte lives in Eindhoven with her partner. In her free time, she can be found on her racing bike, coaching rowers, and enjoying walks with her border collie, Rio.
Ties Hagemeijer,holds a master’s degree in Business Administration specializing in Strategy & Organization and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, political science, and economics. He completed a minor in Tokyo where he followed courses on data science and econometrics. Ties took his first steps in the venture capital world as the Deal Flow & Investment Director at ASIF Ventures. In that role, he was responsible for portfolio management, expanding ASIF’s network, and leading the fellowship team. He built a pipeline of 500+ propositions with his team, and grew the angel syndicate from 5 to 40 members. After ASIF, he moved on to Shamrock Ventures, a pre-seed impact investor in software propositions with an initial ticket size of 100-250k. With his broad experience and enthusiasm, he is joining the Arches team. Ties resides in Amsterdam and enjoys playing tennis, padel, or squash in his free time.
Willemijn Maria, has developed herself into a highly experienced business assistant over the past 12 years. In roles from Office Manager, Project Manager to Executive Assistant for companies such as Spencer Stuart, Henkel and Spark Optimus, she has mastered the challenging profession of support. Her desire to become an entrepreneur unfolded and 3 years ago she started as a freelance business assistant. She enjoys working with small – to mid creative entrepreneurs where she is at her best in an independent and diverse role where the lines are short to offer solid and professional support. Willemijn Maria lives in Beverwijk and enjoys her daily practice of yoga and meditation. “This daily ritual helps me to stay calm and enhances my ability to work with others more effectively and joyfully.”
Michelle ter Laak, is a dynamic professional with a passion for innovation and creation. Armed with a Master’s in Finance and Accounting from the Erasmus School of Economics, Michelle graduated within the Financial Services practice of Accenture. Her Bachelor’s in International Business Administration, with a minor in Smart and Shared Cities, was pursued at the Rotterdam School of Management in collaboration with Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities. Michelle’s entrepreneurial journey began right at the start of her bachelor at the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, where she served as a Vice President, contributing to the mission of inspiring students about entrepreneurship and supporting founders on the Erasmus University campus. Post-graduation, Michelle delved into venture capital through an internship at Rubio Impact Ventures, solidifying her commitment to innovative enterprises. Beyond her career, she embraces a mix of sports—soccer, boxing, and running. Exploring culinary interests adds flavor to her diverse lifestyle. With a robust academic foundation and practical experience, Michelle brings a fresh perspective to the Arches Capital team.