Andre Smith

Loop Earplugs: Born after too many nights out left ears ringing 🎶 Aquablu: Inspired by a sea of plastic bottles while chasing surf waves 💧 Basic-Fit: Started to make fitness accessible for everyone 🏋️ Bynder: Kicked off with a goal to simplify digital asset chaos 📁 Groendus: A bold move to help companies go green efficiently 🌱 Giftify: Started as a way to avoid bad gift choices 🎁 → Starting a business is easy. Scaling it takes grit. Proud to have contributed to the growth of these and other scale-ups in 2024. 🤓 Evolving operating models 💡 Scaling the People function 💰 Implementing reward strategies 🚀 Leading companies through hypergrowth 🔍 Assessing and improving company culture 📈 Hiring VPs of People and Chief People Officers 🤩 Turning underperforming companies into high-performing 🎯 Coaching founders, executives, and People & Culture leaders and much more. We ❤️ doing all of this. A big thank you to everyone we collaborated with.  Here’s to more bold moves and big wins in 2025! Eveliese Luiting Anke Berends Anil Kishoendajal Martine Buis Emilie Van der Lande Sanne Verhagen Michaela Bartlam

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🏑 From Polkadots to Penalty Shots (and Planes)! 🏑 We’re not just spreading risk across Spain, the Netherlands, and Dubai – we’re also spreading cheer as proud sponsors of the Fletiomare Girls U12 hockey team (rocking their polka-dotted socks 🧦) and the Kampong Gents 1st Team (no polka dots, just goals!). 🎯 Oh, and if you spot the company logo on the Kampong shirts, that’s one of our very own concepts – part of the group! 🙌 You’ll see it in action starting this Sunday as Kampong faces off against Klein Zwitserland. 🏑 Currently cheering from Dubai (with sand between our toes), but catch us tomorrow flying off to Spain. 🌍✈️ Who says spreading risk and managing real estate can’t be a globe-trotting adventure? Our website? Still a “work-in-progress” (kinda like our jetlag recovery 😴), but between closing deals, boarding planes, and cheering from the sidelines, we’ll get there. Eventually. Until then, whether it’s real estate, risk management, or really good hockey, we’ve got you covered. And if you spot us at the games, come say hi – we’ll be the ones juggling phones, laptops, and pom-poms. 🖥️🎉 📢 By the way, Spain and Dubai are full of exciting opportunities right now – whether you’re investing in real estate or looking to minimize risk, there’s never been a better time to talk! #HockeySponsors #RealEstateAndRisk #PolkadotsAndPenaltyShots #DubaiToSpain #TooBusyWinning #OpportunitiesInSpain #OpportunitiesInDubai #Kampong

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The Netherlands Consulate brought female founders to LA last week to share awesome elevator pitches as consumer product, media and social network entrepreneurs. We also shared insights on LA's business environment; and some of our favorite secret spots with them.   Many major differences in the business landscape here compared to European countries like the NL (or my native UK) reflect the sheer scale and financial firepower of LA, California and the US. The 2024 EU population is ~450m across 27 countries, vs. ~333m in the US alone. The valuation of Nvidia is about the same as that of the UK's entire FTSE 100. And the median salary in LA is ~$72k vs. ~$59k in London. This means in LA: 🚀 It can be expensive for EU companies to launch. 💸 Business valuations are significantly higher (7x European early stage) in the US, and in California vs. the US, so you can raise higher funding rounds. 💄  Consumer companies often charge more for products. 🎯 Antonia Tritthart helps LA businesses stay relevant by knowing their customers in target niches - this is made possible by the large consumer pool here. 🤗 Professionals in LA are pretty open to newcomers and mutual collaboration vs. Europe; I find it 10x easier to build community here than London.  😇 There are many funds, angel investors, communities and grants focused on underrepresented founders and investors (including women) in California. Thanks you Rachael Kim for organizing & moderating the panel, the Netherlands Consulate & the founders who pitched for the inspiration and goodies from all of the companies including Aroma Skincare Bon Ton Toys (B Corp) Female Leaders Club O My Bag Amsterdam Pasper B.V. ⭐ This Friday 12-3pm I'll be leading a meditation at The KINN in Venice Beach for their open Kinnship Day event, with yoga, an IR sauna, ice baths & a sustainable marketplace. The KINN is my favourite event space in LA for conscious entrepreneurship and launches 💫 #femalefounders #venicebeach

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Business owners struggle coming up with good posts. Here's how 2 Dutch founders changed that. Small business owners are in constant panic mode about sales and end up posting about their products and services. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺? If you try to sell in 95% of your posts it puts people into a deep snooze mode 💤 and slowly drags your visibility into oblivion. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗜 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲—𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹: Instead of churning out the usual "buy my stuff" posts, they flipped the script and started a public business diary. 𝗛𝗼𝘄’𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁? They have a BEHAG, a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal, a vision for where they want to take their company. And they use it to guide their content ideation. What is their BEHAG? They want to change mobility. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸: ➡️ Start by thinking where you want to see your company in 5 years? ➡️ What's your mission? What do you genuinely want to change? Focus on those big dreams and start documenting your daily grind. Share the small wins, the fails, and the behind-the-scenes chaos that’s bringing you closer to those goals. This way, you'll never run out of things to say. And, instead of being that person repeating the same tired pitch like a broken record, you’re actually sharing your story. 😘 And here’s the kicker: You’ll connect with people on values, not just price tags. When people buy into your vision, they’re not just customers—they’re your biggest fans. 🎉 ➡️ So, instead of settling for a thinly veiled sales pitch: Just start sharing your mission, share your steps towards it and watch your audience grow with you (Max Schalow 👨‍🚀 and Chingiskhan Kazakhstan 🤠 grew theirs to 25.000 people). 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘁? ⤷ Listen to Max and Chingiskhan on this LinkedIn Live https://lnkd.in/e-SUSdZr P.S.: Does this count a sales pitch? Me selling you on this LinkedIn Live recording? 🤔 ------------------------------------------------------ I'm Simon, and at StoryLux, we help small businesses win the content game with custom-built AI writing agents that drive real results. This post took me 32 minutes of editing after it was pre-written because I couldn't decide on an image.

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✨ Another project completed for Noortje van Heijst & Merijn ten Thije from DOEN Participaties B.V.! ✨ This time, we explored the fascinating yet challenging world of impact-driven cosmetic brands 💚, uncovering key industry problems and identifying which brands are disrupting the industry in an innovative way combined with a relevant brand positioning.   In this category it’s often more about personal interests than societal importance, but it’s time for a shift, because the challenges in the industry are huge. To name a few: ❓ Lack of transparency: where do ingredients come from and how are they sourced (with an ingredient label most of us cannot read) 🧴 120 billion pieces of plastic are generated annually by the cosmetics industry ❌ Many products still contain microplastics, harming our environment (need help with checking your cosmetics - check out the BeattheMicrobead app) Sprinkles Innovation - Loes Altena

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Don’t sell a product, sell a lifestyle. Loop Earplugs are a great example of this. They reached £126.5 million in sales doing just that. I’m breaking down some key areas of their brand positioning that drove their success. 1️⃣  Design = key. Loop earplugs saw the problem: traditional earplugs = poor design + bad UX. They identified the pain point and capitalised. Their value proposition? Sleek, stylish earplugs with top-tier noise reduction, tailored to a modern, fashion-forward audience. This design shift boosts perceived value and aligns with premium brand positioning. Result? Better product-market fit and stronger consumer buy-in. 2️⃣ Functionality = key USP. Traditional earplugs? Just block sound. Loop? Noise reduction + sound quality retention. For music lovers = total game changer. You get protection without sacrificing sound clarity. Huge win, and sets them apart. 3️⃣ Comfort addressed. Designed for long-term wear, with multiple size options—because not everyone is built the same. Another win for usability and customer satisfaction. 4️⃣ Built for purpose: SKUs = product diversification. Loop isn’t just selling one-size-fits-all earplugs—they’ve tailored their range to fit different needs. High noise reduction for concerts, lighter options for daily use. Benefits? More SKUs = wider market reach. By offering tailored solutions, they cater to multiple customer segments, boosting customer satisfaction and increasing overall LTV. Product variety = more sales opportunities. 5️⃣ Positioning = premium. Loop isn’t just ear protection—it’s a premium, lifestyle accessory. Target audience? Active, conscious consumers. Co-founder Maarten Bodewes: "Live life at your own volume." Function + lifestyle = value. It’s about mental well-being, reducing stress, and elevating daily experiences. Not just blocking noise, but enhancing life. Loop’s success comes down to one thing: they didn’t just sell earplugs—they sold a lifestyle. Key takeaway? Understand your market, address the pain points, and position your product as more than just functional. That’s how you hit £126.5 million.

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Wow! Just discovered clients let me (🐔) spend €100.000> yearly on link building. Why? 👉🏻 My clients often don’t create content that is interesting enough to attract organic links with. 👈🏻 While they frequently expect higher rankings as soon as possible… This is why I see link building as an amazing way to jumpstart the SEO process. Here are some of my favourite platforms to work with: backlink.nl WhitePress® Popi B.V. Bazoom Group MotherLink Do I like this practice? I see it as a necessary evil. 👿 I prefer to work with companies that have stories worth telling and a well-thought-out PR strategy. This allows them to effectively communicate their narrative to the appropriate audience, which will get them the right backlinks along the way. Does this mean we need to manually reach out to the right media within your niche? Certainly not! Life's too short. Consider tools like Respona, which offers outstanding outreach capabilities and provide a quick fix to make PR scalable again. #SEO #PR #backlinks #linkbuilding

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🚀 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 2025 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 (𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀). Clear goals = focused strategy = measurable success! 🚀 But here’s the truth: too many people dive into social media without a plan. Let’s make 2025 the year you grow with intention! 🌟 1️⃣ 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 - Is it gaining followers? - Boosting engagement? - Increasing sales? Your success is personal—get crystal clear on what it means for you! 2️⃣ 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 3 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 Focus on what drives results for YOUR business. Examples: - Building brand awareness - Fostering community - Driving traffic to your website 3️⃣ 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 Specific numbers make goals actionable. 🎯 ❌ “Get more followers” ✅ “Add 1,000 followers by Q1” 4️⃣ 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 - Deadlines keep you motivated and accountable. - Whether it’s weekly, monthly, or quarterly, give your goals structure. 5️⃣ 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 Your content should match your objectives: - Want engagement? Share relatable posts or carousels. - Want sales? Highlight testimonials or product features. 6️⃣ 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁 - Keep an eye on your analytics. 📊 - If something isn’t working, adjust and try again. Progress isn’t always linear—and that’s okay! ✨ 2025 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗅 What’s your top social media goal for the new year? #goalsetting #socialmediagrowth #smm #socialmediaagency #socialmediamanager #socialmediamanagement #socialmediamarketing #socialmediastrategy #socialmediatips #socialmediaforbusiness

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The tenth round of AI showdown! 🤖     Promotional Photoshoot  📸   Following my Monday routine, it's now the time for the tenth out of twelve rounds, during which I'm comparing the abilities of AI tools. 🖼️  Product photoshoots are one of the main functionalities of such AI tools in business. Thanks to them, it is possible to prepare attractive photos of our products. In the result, its possible for us to save large amount of money and time. In this case, I wanted to compare the capabilities of 7 tools for generating photos in the style of a product session for perfume. 💰 On the occasion of the 10th round, I have decided to add an additional, bonus tool for comparison. Since the scoring has been established over the 9 previous rounds, AGIMAGEAI will not be graded by me, but I am really curious about your opinions on this tool. 📊   Scoreboard after 10 exciting rounds: 📈     1. DALL-E - 166 points     2. MidJourney - 164 points    3. Stable Diffusion - 145 points     4. Canva - 124 points     5. Runway – 117 points    6. Leonardo - 116 points    7. Adobe FireFly - 114 points     Stay tuned for the upcoming challenge! Coming up next Monday, we'll explore a fresh graphic style for our participants! 📅 

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… And this is why I advise founders never enter into a start up with your besties 🤣 #Entreprebeurship #Homiesdoingbusiness #Business #Startup #Startuphack 🫣

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Is Threads app still worth it for brands in 2025? 🤔 I'm dishing the pros and cons of Threads app, how to use Threads app for success, and who can really benefit from the platform. In this video, you'll get my Dutch Direct review of Threads app after a year of scaling my own Threads profile along with our other social media management clients. Find out if it's right for your brand here: https://lnkd.in/gJAxCsX5 #Threads #Instagram #SocialMediaManager

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A (Dutch) study shows "cyclists and pedestrians contribute about 25% more to total spending in (city) centres than car users". What are some city planners thinking? ++ Added the correct source ++

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