Remco Livain | GANDT Ventures

My name is Remco Livain, I am from the Netherlands and live in Switzerland. I use this site to share personal views on world events, keep you up to date on what we are up to at GANDT Ventures GmbH, and give you some insights into my life.

Get in touch

Looking for a strategic digital sparring partner? Or would you like to dive into one of the topics you’ve read about on my blog together? Reach out using the contact form below. 

Dutch entrepreneur in Switzerland

I‘m a digital entrepreneur and marketing professional, whose had the privilege to work with outstanding, innovative teams at: FriendScout24, be2/C-Date, Westwing Home & Living (Rocket Internet), MIFLORA (Venture Stars) and our clients at GANDT Ventures.

At heart, I am a performance marketeer who loves to push the boundaries of that what is technically possible. Data-driven marketing fascinates and helps me to take qualified decisions in my endeavors.

Furthermore, I believe there is a wide gaping knowledge gap with regards to how we can apply the digital tools that are at our disposal, today. Both individuals and organizations need to learn how to work with digital assets, and adjust the way they approach their daily lives as well as business models, accordingly.

Therefore, I aim to share my thoughts on how to run a successful digital business as much as I can. Through my consulting services with the GANDT Ventures team, in personal one-on-one sessions and of course on my personal blog (be sure to subscribe for the latest updates).

Remco Livain | Personal, spare time
Next to my digital work and life, I challenge myself by riding my bike across the Swiss Alps; I am not the best biker in the world, but endurance sports are the perfect way to get my mind off things, focus on long term goals and push my physical boundaries.

Sports are a big part of my life. During my studies (at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands) I did judo on a semi-professional level and reached the Dutch national squad.

GANDT Ventures

The GANDT-Team consists of venture builder and digital business consultants. With our pragmatic approach to strategic consulting and business development, we allow your company to focus on its core competences. Together we develop digital strategies, plan and execute new digital products and services – which we refer to as “ventures.”

GANDT Ventures was founded in 2015 and we’ve been going strong ever since. We coach, educate and help (corporate and SMB-)organizations and later stage ventures. One of our main strengths creation of a long term strategic basis for innovation within organizations; we make sure to promote organizational change through continuous innovation development.

GANDT Ventures | Industries

The key industries in which we operate are International Omni-Channel Retail (Luxury Goods, Watches, Jewelry and Fashion), Consumer Goods (Food Supplements, Swiss Medic products) and Digital Services (Internet Provider, Insurance).

To find out more about our projects and solutions, visit our webpage or contact me.

Our core team is based in Zürich (Switzerland) and our IT and Design team is based in Munich (DE).

Remco Livain NexusLab Blockchain Mentor

I am a mentor for one of the blockchain startups on the NexusLab Blockchain Programme in Zurich. Nexussquared is a Zurich-based business platform with a focus on blockchain technology and its application to business models across different industries. With a view to supporting diverse and broad-based innovation, nexussquared partners with institutions operating across the entire financial services spectrum and beyond.

Nexuslab hosts its three-month programme, which takes place in a predominantly virtual setting based on a secure collaboration platform to facilitate tailored coaching sessions and offer on-demand training. Three weekend hangout sessions in major European cities will provide founders of participating startups with the opportunity to meet face-to-face and learn directly from successful fintech companies.

Throughout the program, the start-ups are individually matched with senior level mentors and financial services experts to receive practical advice on regulatory, technical and commercial aspects of their specific business.

MIFLORA & Venture Stars

In 2013 I co-founded the MIFLORA GmbH (founding Team: Christoph Hadenfeldt, Tobias Mazet & Remco Livain). MIFLORA is a flower/gifting company based in Munich (Germany). As MIFLORA’s Chief Marketing Officer I was responsible for our general marketing strategy and our product experience. We aim to become the largest flower gifting company in Germany in the coming few years, offering a superior product experience to our competitors.

MIFLORA has a number of prominent investors such as: EXTOREL, the BayBG Bayerischen Beteiligungsgesellschaft, Heilemann Ventures, Atlantic Capital and Venture Stars.

Update November 2017: The MIFLORA GmbH was successfully sold to Blume2000 – find out more about the exit right here

Westwing Home and Living & Rocket Internet

In 2011 I joined Westwing Home & Living to lead the Global Online Marketing Team. As the Head of Online Marketing I was responsible for all global online marketing activities of Westwing Home & Living, Dalani, Heaven & Home as well as (Project) Bamarang. My Team consisted of over 25-30 highly skilled online marketing experts.

With our clear performance marketing focus, we managed to motivate millions of people around the world to join our exclusive shopping club for home and living products. Westwing home and living was founded by Rocket Internet in Berlin, with a core Team of excellent Founders around Stefan Smalla in Munich.

Online Dating (FriendScout24, C-Date & be2)

In 2007 I moved to Munich (Germany) where I worked in the online industry (Dating, Matching and Online Communities) for 4 years (FriendScout24, C-Date & be2). This was a great introduction into the online performance marketing world.  As C-Date’s first employee I was part of the management team. 

My job within the team was to structure and setup C-Date’s performance marketing and close large scale international cooperations with renown partners such as: Microsoft, United Internet Media, Yahoo!, Facebook and Ströer Media. It was at Insparx (C-Date & be2) that I developed my core competence in performance marketing, display marketing and cross platform international rtb-buying.

International Business Studies in Maastricht (the Netherlands)

I studied International Business (Bachelor) at the University of Maastricht (NL) majored in Management and Innovation.

During my studies I had the possibility to study abroad at a number of renown international Universities: Universidad Carlos III in Madrid (Spain), the RWTH Aachen (Germany), the University of Augsburg (Germany) as well as at Hanken University in Helsinki (Finland) where I did a summer course in “customer equity and customer relationship management”.

International Baccalaureate

I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship for the international baccalaureate at the age of 12. From the first day I set foot in the International School Hilversum, I started my bilingual education – in both English and Dutch. “Growing up” in an international environment was very valuable to me. It opened my horizon and gave me the possibility to meet and learn a lot about many interesting cultures.

The experience of learning the tricks and trades of subtle cultural differences at very young age to be invaluable to my personal development. I successfully finished the IBMYP and International Baccalaureate (Bilingual Stream) at the Alberdingk Thijm College/International School in Hilversum (The Netherlands).