Adine Rooyackers, a wandering writer, doesn’t need a lot of words to get your message across. Whether as a copywriter, content manager, an editor, or a community manager at Leapfunder, she has always been present on the Dutch startup scene. She made Leapfunder Round Table Sessions what they are today: fun and enjoyable, with experienced investors and promising startups. Find out more about her experience at Leapfunder, her new job, and her advice for future community managers.

Interview with Adine Rooyackers

1. Hi Adine, thank you for agreeing to do the interview and for everything you did for Leapfunder. Tell us a bit about your background and what was your role at Leapfunder.

Of course! I always had a great time working for Leapfunder, so it’s the least I can do. I started working for Leapfunder about a year and a half ago. I’d been a freelance copywriter in the startup scene for a few years already. I was busy writing and translating for companies and startup blogs. Which is all really cool, but also really unstable. So when Tienko and Rutger approached me to build out the community events they’d started part time, I jumped at the chance.

By then there were still 3 events: a meetup for investors only, a day course for startups covering different topics and the Q&A between investors and startups that grew into the Round Table Sessions. One of the major challenges was to find out how all the events fit the company’s goals.

2. What did you do to make our Round Table Sessions such a success?

That’s a tough one. I actually think one of the best decisions we made was to push the Round Table Session forward as the one community event that we’d host regularly. The concept of it just worked. Sure, we made some tweaks to the event, but the general concept of multiple investors in a private Q&A with a single startup stayed the same.

Then there was, of course, the actual organizing and hosting of the event. Especially the hosting is crucial when you’re building an event: people need to enjoy coming after all. Luckily, people who come to the Round Table Sessions have always been nice and interesting people, so it was always a lot of fun.

3. Have you noticed the startup scene change during your time at Leapfunder? Do you think the Round Table Sessions contributed in any way?

Yeah, I have, even though the changes may seem subtle to some. One of the goals of Leapfunder events has always been to try to connect Angel investors, rather than invest from their own islands. So it’s always really cool to see investors who met during the sessions walking together at a Startupbootcamp DemoDay or another event.

As for the startups, I really think the sessions have increased the understanding of what Angels actually do, and how they look at a company. There’s this mystery around investing and what investors actually look like. Entrepreneurs tend to focus on a single aspect of their pitch and investors are always looking for a realistic, full picture.

4. You’ve done a great job at Leapfunder and we’re very grateful for that. Could you tell us what Leapfunder did for you? What will you do at your new company?

Working for Leapfunder taught me a lot about investing and strengthened my knowledge about community building. It also strengthened my network in the startup and investor scene, which is never a bad thing.

I also met the people from Palmarium Ventures during one of Leapfunder’s events, the people that I’m working for now. It’s the ventures branch of Palmarium, a Swiss firm that has a focus on alternative investments and emerging markets.

5. What’s your biggest advice for our future community managers?

Have fun and don’t worry too much. The events never go according to plan but everything always ends up okay. So make sure you keep your cool and enjoy the ideas and bright minds.

Thank you for the chat Adine, we wish you best of luck in your future endeavors.

Check out Leapfunder events and sign up for a Round Table Session.