Interview Tom Moonen

Entrepreneurship is like elite sports. At least that's what former top tennis player Tom Moonen believes, who joined Karmijn Kapitaal as an investment associate in March 2025. Together with his colleagues at the Dutch investment fund, he supports entrepreneurs in creating financial and social value. Who is Tom and what does he understand by social investing?

After working in corporate finance for several years, the next step in Tom's career became clear at the end of last year: he wanted to use his skills at an investment fund. Karmijn Kapitaal was at the top of his list, particularly because he strongly identified with the social drive of the Amsterdam-based private equity firm. "My background is in finance; I did a bachelor's in Accounting and a master's in Finance at Middle Tennessee State University. That's where my drive for contributing to financial value comes from; without returns, there's no fund."

"But I'm convinced that monetary returns shouldn't be the only result. Investing isn't just about returns, but about what you achieve with your money. You can make profit from anything, but that doesn't mean it gives you something to be proud of. For me, it feels better to invest in companies that do something good – for people, for society, for the future. It gives me the feeling that I'm contributing to something. That I'm not just working with numbers, but also with meaning. That's why I immediately knew I would feel at home at Karmijn."

Successful business transfer

Currently, Tom focuses within Karmijn mainly on the acquisition of new portfolio companies and on the exits of several portfolio companies. "In the latter case, we sell our stake in the company and thereby end our investment period. This can involve a sale to a strategic buyer or to another investor, but you can also think of a management buy-out, where the existing management - possibly together with another investor - takes over the company. These are processes that easily take three-quarters of a year and require intensive attention.

And here Tom's strength comes into its own perfectly: immersing himself fully in a company's situation. Together with his colleagues, the investment associate analyzes all possible opportunities, examines the company's strengths and weaknesses, and searches for suitable buyer profiles. Intensive contact with the entrepreneur takes priority, mainly because they almost always play a crucial role in a successful business transfer. "We know a lot about a company, but far from everything. That's why it's important during an exit to listen very carefully to an entrepreneur. Being open to all information without immediately wanting to judge it – that's the foundation, in my opinion."

Financing for entrepreneurs

Tom has great affinity with entrepreneurship. "The energy and drive needed to start a company and then build it into a success are qualities I have great respect for. It sometimes seems so easy from the outside, but what you don't see from the outside is the struggle many entrepreneurs fight every day. The efforts required, the fatigue, the disappointments..." And here the comparison with top-level sport is quickly made, because while Tom was studying in the United States at a younger age, he played tennis in the first division for the NCAA, the sports association of American universities. Looking back, this was an incredibly wonderful time for Tom, but certainly not easy; a full-time study and top-level sport are still difficult to combine.

Tom certainly became self-reliant and mature from the five years he spent overseas from age eighteen. And he hasn't lacked social skills since then either. "When you're on your own, everything revolves around connection with others. In my case, those were other internationals who were also far from home and who regularly struggled with missing family and friends. To continue performing well, it's important to dare to express your feelings and at other times to be able to share your joy. I see the same thing at Karmijn: whether it's about acquisitions or exits; everything revolves around connection. That's why I want to make an appeal to entrepreneurs with a social drive who dare to make this connection. Are they looking for financing and seeking an investor who can be a full sparring partner? A fund that brings both expertise and a large network? Then I kindly invite them to connect with me."