Herman Kienhuis

Herman Kienhuis is a prominent early-stage technology investor based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, known for his dual roles as the Founder and Managing Partner of River Venture Partners and a Venture Partner at the established VC firm Newion. Through River Venture Partners, Kienhuis operates an angel syndicate specifically targeting pre-seed and seed-stage technology companies. This syndicate is particularly active in the Dutch ecosystem but also extends its reach internationally.

River Venture Partners focuses on providing crucial early capital to nascent startups. Their typical investment ticket size ranges from €50,000 to €250,000, which translates to approximately $54,000 to $270,000 USD, based on recent exchange rates. The syndicate primarily seeks out opportunities in B2B SaaS, artificial intelligence (AI), and marketplace models, demonstrating a clear strategic focus on scalable, technology-driven businesses. Kienhuis and his syndicate aim to be more than just capital providers, offering strategic guidance and leveraging their network to support portfolio companies through their initial growth phases.

In parallel to his work with River Venture Partners, Kienhuis serves as a Venture Partner at Newion, a well-regarded venture capital firm. While Newion typically invests in later stages (Series A and B), Kienhuis's role there likely involves sourcing deals, providing strategic input, and supporting portfolio companies, bridging the gap between early-stage and growth-stage funding. This dual involvement allows him to maintain a broad perspective across the startup lifecycle, from initial concept to significant scaling, and provides his early-stage portfolio companies with potential pathways to follow-on funding.

Kienhuis's investment philosophy appears to be rooted in identifying strong founding teams with disruptive technological solutions, particularly those with a clear path to market in the B2B sector. His active participation in both an angel syndicate and a larger VC firm positions him as a key player in the European tech investment landscape, capable of identifying and nurturing promising ventures from their earliest days.