# Kees Koolen: person

Canonical ID: `64d82b98-f06f-42d0-97a7-8440242fee85`

Dutch businessman and investor. Former COO, CEO, and Chairman of Booking.com (2002–2014), where he scaled the company into the world's leading online travel platform. Early investor in [Uber](/companies/uber) and advisor to Uber's international expansion (2012–2017). Founding partner of [EQT Ventures](/companies/eqt-ventures) (2015). In 2019, founded Koolen Industries, investing over €130M in clean energy and clean mobility companies, including robotics startups like Aziobot (autonomous cleaning robots). An accomplished Dakar Rally competitor — the only person to have completed the race in all vehicle categories — he is developing an emission-free competition vehicle (Project 2030 / Nicias). Studied at Fontys University of Applied Sciences and the University of Twente.

- **Nationality:** Dutch
- **Verification posture:** verified

## Current roles (1)

- [EQT Ventures](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/eqt-ventures.md) Founding Partner (SEC-verified)

## Foundings (1)

- [EQT Ventures](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/eqt-ventures.md) _no longer at company_

See all founders: [/founders](https://registry.deploy.report/founders.md)

## Co-founders (2)

- [Hjalmar Winbladh](https://registry.deploy.report/people/hjalmar-winbladh.md) co-founded [EQT Ventures](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/eqt-ventures.md)
- [Lars Jörnow](https://registry.deploy.report/people/lars-j-rnow.md) co-founded [EQT Ventures](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/eqt-ventures.md)

## Former / Previously (1)

- [Uber](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/uber.md) Advisor — International Expansion (? to 2017-09-01) (secondary-verified)

## Sources (2)

1. https://www.koolenindustries.com/about-kees-koolen
2. https://www.crunchbase.com/person/kees-koolen


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