Tech entrepreneurs launch investment fund DEC-Alliance

July 9, 2024

New, alternative long-term fund invests directly in innovative IT companies Avisi and iDalko

Today, the newly established investment fund DEC-Alliance (Dutch Entrepreneur Continuity) announced its investment in software development and consultancy companies Avisi and iDalko. This marks the launch of the Dutch initiative's "evergreen" fund for tech services vital to the Dutch economy. The goal is to offer these companies long-term continuity, contributing to the sovereignty of vital Dutch (IT) business chains, processes, and infrastructure.

The DEC Alliance was initiated by Erik Leus and inspired by Dutch tech entrepreneur Ludo Baauw of the Intermax Group, who serves as an ambassador for the initiative. Jan Bakker, Barri Jansen, and Gert-Jan van de Streek, the founders and majority shareholders of Avisi and iDalko, have now joined the DEC Alliance with their companies.

DEC-Alliance is an alternative to regular private equity funds. Its goal is to ensure continuity for key stakeholders in companies, such as customers, employees, society, and shareholders. This is achieved in a way that facilitates gradual entry and investment in healthy growth, but without exit pressure or a focus on short-term profits, while maintaining the human touch and corporate culture.

The fund focuses on established companies with proven innovation capacity and growth potential. These are companies that want to collaborate within a larger ecosystem. The DEC Alliance focuses on leading Dutch technology companies active in software, data, cybersecurity, managed services, and cloud services, or in specific market segments and digital supply chains.

Investment fund by and for entrepreneurs with relevance for the Netherlands

The DEC Alliance was founded and funded by and for successful entrepreneurs seeking continuity for their life's work. A key principle is that IT for vital business processes and infrastructure remains in Dutch hands. Due to geopolitical developments and the power position of big tech, it's crucial to form an alliance to counterbalance and maintain control over technology, digital chains, and data. The DEC Alliance, with its evergreen fund and collaborative alliance, enables ambitious Dutch market participants to offer this continuity.

Investment in Avisi and iDalko, more companies to follow

Sister companies Avisi and iDalko are the first two companies to join the DEC-Alliance through a minority stake. Avisi is a pioneer in software development and IT, serving clients such as the KNB (Royal Dutch Association of Civil-Law Notaries), HDN (Mortgage Data Network), and ECH (Electronic Mortgage Communication). It also develops advanced data, hyperautomation, and AI applications in sectors such as communications, healthcare, finance, and utilities. Virtually every Dutch person encounters software developed by Avisi at least once.

As an independent sister company of Avisi, iDalko offers consultancy for digital collaboration using software from fast-growing software platforms such as Atlassian and Monday.com . Together, Avisi and iDalko mark the start of further investments by the DEC Alliance.

"We are proud to contribute to the future and continuity of Avisi and iDalko. They support the DEC-Alliance philosophy," says Erik Leus, initiator and managing partner of DEC-Alliance. "We see and speak with many like-minded IT entrepreneurs who feel responsible for the long-term future of their company and stakeholders. Our goal is to connect them and facilitate sustainable growth with a long-term horizon, while maintaining their own identity. We are grateful to the investors in DEC-Alliance for their confidence in launching this way."

"DEC-Alliance demonstrates the potential to make a difference for the Dutch private equity sector," says Jan Bakker, CEO of Avisi. "Tech companies need continuity, innovation, and growth, without the short-term pressure of acquiring a majority stake or a quick exit. DEC-Alliance's distinctive model focuses on continuity. I therefore look forward to collaborating with the fund management and other DEC entrepreneurs so that we can jointly strengthen our market position."

Avisi: https://www.avisi.nl/

iDalko: https://idalko.com/

For questions please contact:

Nathan Kotek, Partner at DEC Alliance

+31 6 330 46 125

nathan@dec-alliance.com