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LUMO Labs
Identifying senior leaders for portfolio companies
Case study
LUMO Labs is a Dutch venture capital investor focused on early-stage technology companies. In addition to providing capital, LUMO Labs offers founders hands-on support and guidance to help develop and grow their businesses.
For several years, LUMO Labs has relied on Robert Walters Executive Search to identify senior leaders for its portfolio companies. In 2026, Robert Walters presented C-level candidates for several portfolio companies, resulting in multiple successful placements. Through this longstanding partnership, Robert Walters has developed a strong understanding of the dynamics of the various portfolio companies and the specific requirements LUMO Labs has for senior leadership talent.
The challenge
For one of its portfolio companies, LUMO Labs was looking for a COO who could support the CEO in the day-to-day management of the business while further strengthening and professionalising its operational foundations.
The company was entering a key growth phase and was looking to scale up as quickly as possible. This called for an experienced and entrepreneurial COO who could introduce structure and professionalism, further develop processes and build a scalable operating model, without compromising the speed and flexibility of a start-up.
In addition to operational experience, entrepreneurship, strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to act as a strategic sounding board for the CEO were key requirements.
Approach
Robert Walters began with an in-depth briefing with both the company and LUMO Labs. Rather than focusing solely on formal responsibilities and desired experience, we sought to understand the underlying challenges facing the organisation.
We explored the company's key pain points, which responsibilities the CEO wanted to delegate and what type of personality would complement the existing team and company culture. We also discussed with LUMO Labs which qualities were important from an investor's perspective and what experience the new COO would need to successfully guide the business through its next phase of growth.
Based on these insights, we focused our search on candidates combining operational expertise, an entrepreneurial mindset, relevant industry knowledge and a proven track record in professionalising and scaling organisations.
Solution
The search resulted in the appointment of a candidate with extensive experience in the construction and real estate-related sectors and a strong understanding of the dynamics of these markets. He also brings considerable experience in building and professionalising organisations, structuring operational processes and developing new propositions.
His combination of relevant industry knowledge, entrepreneurial mindset and operational strength makes him a strong fit for the company's current stage of development. He is well positioned to relieve the CEO of day-to-day operational responsibilities, introduce greater structure and support the company's continued growth and scalability.
Ultimately, the success of this match lies in the combination of industry expertise, hands-on experience and the ability to bring structure and growth together in an entrepreneurial environment.
Client testimonial
“At LUMO Labs, we believe that great teams build great companies. Robert Walters is a valuable partner that has helped several of our portfolio companies find the right talent.
We are very pleased with our collaboration with Anouk Visser and Pim van der Groen. Their personal commitment, knowledge of the start-up ecosystem and ability to identify the right candidates have genuinely made a difference. They take the time to get to know the people and businesses they work with. This makes the collaboration both effective and enjoyable.”
Andy Lurling
Founding Partner, LUMO Labs
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