Ytsen van der Meer's background is unusual for a venture investor because he has spent years working both at Golden Egg Check and at NOM, the regional development agency for Northern Netherlands, giving him firsthand experience with how the earliest Dutch startup rounds come together and shaping his view that these regional agencies, not VCs, are actually the most active early investors in the country. He combines this with a distinct investing style that mixes a diversified portfolio with co-investing alongside conviction-led VCs, a skepticism toward the idea that any "safe" bets can hedge a venture portfolio, and a Lean & Six Sigma Black Belt certification that sets him apart from most early-stage investors.