In this series, weโre excited to introduce you to one of the founders behind our portfolio companies. This time: Menno van der Zalmย fromย FuelFWD
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐น๐๐ช๐?
Isnโt it bizarre that we need to accelerate the energy transition, yet regulations, administrative burdens and a lack of transparency are actually slowing down the trade in sustainable fuels? There has to be a smarter way. My co-founder, Vincent Tribou, saw this as a problem that needed solving and laid the foundation for what is now FuelFWD. For me, entrepreneurship is not a goal itself but a means to drive change in something I truly believe in. So much so that I personally invested in the last round with Value Factory.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐?
With Value Makers, Value Factory offers not only capital but also tangible support on both an operational and strategic level. This gives us immediate leverage to grow faster. Additionally, the Value Factory team is made up of entrepreneurial individuals with a true Rotterdam hands-on mentality. <read more>
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐โ๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฟ?
Focus on traction, not perfection. By continuously learning and adapting, weโre not developing FuelFWD in an ivory tower but together with our launching customers. This not only makes our product better but also truly relevant to the market.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฟ?
Our first paying customer! The moment they said, โThis is exactly what we needโ, it confirmed that weโre on the right track.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ผ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ?
The complexity of the biofuels market, which we initially focused on. When we first decided to dive into space, we naively thought weโd understand the landscape within a few weeks. Boy, were we wrong. But honestly? Iโm glad we were. If we had known back then just how complex it really is, we might have never started. But thatโs exactly what makes our mission so valuable. Turning something complex and time-consuming into something clear and efficient through digital technology – thatโs what FuelFWD is all about. How amazing is it to contribute to the energy transition by helping companies take control of their compliance and trade? Thatโs what fuels us!
Want to learn more about FuelFWD? Visit their website here: https://www.fuelfwd.io/ย or connect with Menno van der Zalmย to explore collaboration opportunities!
