Mv

Michiel van Deursen

Vegan Investor at Capital V

Portugal

Work Experience

2015

  • Founder

    2015

    Our goal is to transform the world by eliminating the need for animal products. Creating better alternatives for a sustainable behavioural change in consumers and industries. We bring companies together from all over the world, creating a portfolio of companies that can help each other in different markets, by sharing best-practises, resources and more. We provide Angel, Seed and Early-Stage investments and Support to Founders in our ecosystem to help build healthy, scalable and lasting companies.

  • Chairman of the Board

    2023

    We are a non-profit organization dedicated to improving animal welfare, reducing their exploitation in production, and ultimately ending their use in production altogether. We strive to empower individuals, organizations, and businesses to make conscious, compassionate decisions when it comes to the animals they use. Our mission is to create a future in which animals are no longer used as commodities, but instead are respected as sentient beings. We believe that this goal can be achieved through education, advocacy, and collaboration with individuals and organizations who share our vision.

  • Board Member of the Animal Labour Union

    2023

    My mission as an investor has always been to get as many animals from supply chains as possible. Animals are not products but individuals, as anyone with a pet knows, and are entitled to enjoyment and happiness. The Trade Union for Animals aims to represent the voice of the billions of animals already in the system. For me, being involved on another level is a logical next step. Whenever I get the chance to make an animal's life a little better, I am in. By working with leading experts, governments, farmers, animal activists and anyone else who thinks these individuals deserve more, we can listen to the animals in the industry and give them a place at the negotiating table. I am convinced that with the first-ever Trade Union for Animals, we can have a huge impact. On the welfare of working animals, but also to give them a voice and face and empower more people to see these animals as more than a product.

  • Chairman Of The Board

    2019

    Kale United is a Swedish company creating a global ecosystem for plant-based businesses.

  • Board Member

    2020

    Vevolution is the home of the plant-based business community, where startups and investors come together to change the world. Giving investors access to my dealflow and startups the chance to pitch to leading mission aligned capital.

  • Expert & Jury Member European Innovation Council

    2021

    Evaluating business cases for the EIC SME 2 instrument in Brussels as an expert and jury member. The EIC Accelerator is designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMES) with radically new ideas underpinned by a business plan for rolling out marketable innovation solutions and with ambitions to scale up. https://eic.ec.europa.eu/index_en

  • Investor

    2020

    Building the leading ecosystem in plant-based food with an integrated cycle of investing in our portfolio companies and supporting them with access to raw material and distribution, as well as best-in-class digital marketing services.

  • Founder

    2019

    Upbeat Ventures Ltd is active in the plant-based space. Our portfolio companies are working on innovations. Ranging from Food to Agriculture, from Health and Fashion to Technology and Materials.

  • Founder

    2016

    Fast Lane Ventures, based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is combining purpose and profit. It provides positive social or environmental impact beyond financial return, by providing debt or equity to early stage ventures.

  • Investment Advisor

    2021 - 2024

    The Material Innovation Initiative exists to make the sustainable option, the easy option. We believe that markets and technology have the power to transform the materials industry and solve the enormous environmental challenges it faces. We fast-track this process by accelerating the development of next-gen materials that are high-performance, animal-free, and more sustainable for the fashion, automotive, and home goods industries. Our team works to advance this next-gen materials industry by providing vital expertise and bringing together all key players along the path from concept to commercialization.