With our growing world population we are placing Earth’s natural resources under severe pressure. One of our most pressing challenges will be to feed everyone a balanced and nutritious diet while keeping our effects on the environment to a minimum.
Our Team
A diverse group of passionate and dedicated professionals with entrepreneurial experience and spirits are building this fund together.
Amy Novogratz
Co-Founder, Managing Partner
Amy Novogratz
Amy brings almost two decades of experience in fostering collaborative solutions to some of the world’s big challenges...
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Mike Velings
Co-Founder, Managing Partner
Mike Velings
A lifelong entrepreneur, Mike has spent decades jumpstarting a range of successful businesses....
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Stephanie Rakels
Development &
Investor Relations Director
Investor Relations Director
Stephanie Rakels
Stephanie brings in-depth knowledge of the fund and its investment strategy to head Development and Investor Relations at Aqua-Spark..
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Jeroen van der Zee
Investor Relations Manager
Jeroen van der Zee
Jeroen van der Zee has joined the Development & Investor Relations department at Aqua-Spark as Investor Relations Manager. Previously he...
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Flavio Corsin
Director of Partnerships
Flavio Corsin
Flavio has spent more than two decades working in responsible aquaculture globally for non-profit, intergovernmental, and for-profit organizations ...
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Frans van der Peijl
Finance Director
Frans van der Peijl
Frans heads the Finance team at Aqua-Spark and joined the fund in September 2019. Frans has extensive experience in the finance discipline...
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John Vogel
Head of Legal
John Vogel
John heads the legal and compliance team of Aqua-Spark as of March 2021. Prior he worked at Sanoma Media, a multi-media company, where he managed a legal team...
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Marjolein Jetten
HR Director
Marjolein Jetten
Marjolein heads Human Resources at Aqua-Spark, where she channels her passion for working with people and making connections between people...
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Tom Prins
Head of Dealflow
Tom Prins
Tom manages the process of screening new business opportunities for Aqua-Spark and negotiating new investments. He joined the fund in 2015
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Frank van Roest
Investment Director
Frank van Roest
Frank heads the Investment team at Aqua-Spark. He joined the fund in early 2015, just as the first investments were being made, and spent three years ...
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Kim Wagenaar
Investment Manager
Kim Wagenaar
Kim is part of the Investment Team of Aqua Spark. Prior to joining Aqua Spark, she worked at Low Carbon, a renewable energy investment fund...
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Josien Bakker
Investment Manager
Josien Bakker
Josien is part of the Investment team of Aqua Spark. Previously she worked at Robeco Private Equity, where she was responsible for sourcing deals...
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Kathryn Goris
Associate Counsel
Kathryn Goris
Kathryn is part of the Legal and Compliance team. She brings over 10 years’ experience at US law firm Faegre Baker Daniels LLP in Londone...
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Thomas Giehm
Investment Manager
Thomas Giehm
As a part of the investment team Thomas screens new business opportunities for Aqua-Spark and manages the first stages of the investment process...
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Willem van der Pijl
Editor in Chief Aqua Insights /
Senior Aquaculture Industry Analyst
Senior Aquaculture Industry Analyst
Willem van der Pijl
Willem van der Pijl has been in aquaculture for the past 10 years already. He worked as a business developer for a well known NGO as well as a top university....
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Jan Slootweg
Investment Manager
Jan Slootweg
Jan is part of the Investment Team of Aqua-Spark. Prior he worked at SHV, globally active in energy, animal nutrition, industrial services and private equity ...
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Maria Velkova
Investment Manager
Maria Velkova
Maria is part of the investment team of Aqua Spark. Prior to joining Aqua Spark, she worked as an advisor to the Minister of Energy in Bulgaria, advising on green transition and decarbonization. Before that Maria ...
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Katrina Clem
Portfolio Sales & Marketing Support Manager
Katrina Clem
Katrina Rowley Clem joins the investment team of Aqua-Spark as Portfolio Sales & Marketing Support Manager.
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Chen Zhu
Investment Manager
Chen Zhu
Chen is part of the Investment Management team of Aqua-Spark. She co-founded Mana Impact in 2017, which is an impact investment company in Asia...
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John Mairlot
Investment Manager
John Mairlot
John is part of the investment team of Aqua-Spark. Prior to joining Aqua-Spark, he worked as an Investment Manager at Cobepa...
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Andrews Ansong
Dealflow Manager: Africa
Andrews Ansong
Andrews is part of the Dealflow team as Dealflow Manager Africa. He screens investment opportunities in Africa and helps manage the first stages of the Investment Process. Prior to working at Aqua-Spark...
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Miguel Knudsen
Dealflow Manager
Miguel Knudsen
Miguel was born and raised in Cali, Colombia. He holds a Master in Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management from Wageningen University. Prior to Joining Aqua-Spark...
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Sophie van Dongen
HR Associate
Sophie van Dongen
Sophie van Dongen is part of the Aqua-Spark Human Resources Department, specifically as an HR Associate. She has just finished her Masters's degree in Informatierecht at the University of Amsterdam...
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Niran Warin
Community Manager Thailand
Niran Warin
Niran Warin joins Aqua-Spark's rep office in Thailand as Community Manager Thailand. He holds a Master's in Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management from...
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