Hans traces the origins of discovering his purpose to a pivotal childhood moment: seeing a banker help his mother with her mortgage after his father's passing, a scene that clearly shaped his future outlook. He knew at that moment that he too wanted to help people, and that this desire didn't have to be limited to conventional professions such as healthcare. Coupled with his innate passion for money and maths he went on to qualify as the youngest certified financial planner in the Netherlands and was now able to help people by planning their financial futures.
What followed was an upward trajectory, soon becoming a wealth manager advising the more elite members of society. But despite its perks, Hans couldn't shake the feeling that this high-flying life lacked deep purpose. Seeking a more meaningful way to help people, he re-examined his 'why'. A conversation with a friend on transforming ideas into real businesses followed which had a profound impact on his understanding of how he could offer value beyond traditional wealth management. Hans realized he possessed the critical, missing piece required to bring any business idea to life: his extensive investment knowledge. Soon, Brooklyn Ventures was born, affording Hans the opportunity to spend the coming years investing in entrepreneurs and growing their ideas into businesses.
'Building businesses across the globe, I learned a lot, and gained a deep understanding for what I liked, and importantly what I didn't like. The most rewarding part was combining purpose and profit. That's how you ultimately keep a business moving forward, share in its success, and inspire others along the way.'
One of those ventures was Talk360’s predecessor, also a calling app technology which became the second largest travel app of its time. However, the advent of unlimited data in Western markets allowed services like WhatsApp to eventually eclipse it. Hans was faced with another moment of introspection, compelled to re-evaluate how he could pursue a purposeful path that genuinely impacted people's lives. At this time, Hans was fortuitously introduced to Dean, another key conversation that would impact his redefined path towards what meaningful venture creation looked like. Hans entered the conversation convinced there was no room left for a travel calling app. He was right, but in a twist of fate, he left the conversation enlightened by the opportunity to offer African diaspora access to their family and friends back home through a calling app service.
T'he product was extremely relevant to the African market. International calling was very expensive and people needed to connect with family regularly. This was about fostering social cohesion, the glue that binds families together across distance.'
The technology existed, but this was a matter of spotting opportunity, something everyone else had overlooked. No one was offering this to the African diaspora. Dean and Hans quickly realized the key challenges: offering the service in local African currencies, in lower denominations, and ensuring both accessibility and trust. A tall order but they were up for the challenge.
'We had to make this as easy as buying a loaf of bread. Easy to say but difficult to implement. We spent the next three years making this possible. Local traders can now make an extra buck selling the international airtime to their customers, and the local community members can now use a safe and trusted service to connect with family abroad.'
To build a business with such high aspirations, Hans and Dean desperately needed to add a real operator to the mix, in order to reach their growth targets. Jorne completed the trio as late Co-Founder and essentially their swiss army knife, flexible in the requirements needed to seamlessly navigate varied tasks and contribute to every aspect of growth to get the business to where it is today.
'Imagine the first time you get your smartphone. You finally understand how it works, looking for easy services that you really need on a daily basis. You use the free services and then you decide on a paid for service. Always a scary thing, building trust and avoiding fraud. That essential, trustworthy, paid-for service? That's Talk360.'
Africa's digital transformation is still in its early stages, brimming with immense potential. Within this landscape, Talk360 is thriving, a journey Hans describes as both challenging and rewarding. With customer demand driving endless opportunities for expanding their offerings, the future is optimistic. Hans remains committed to solving current and future customer challenges, whether organically or through strategic partnerships, ensuring African consumers can fully leverage the digital age.
With such a bold vision comes immense responsibility and Hans tackles this head-on, leading by example with a strong growth mindset, a future-ready outlook, and a positive can-do attitude that leaves no room for ego. His enthusiastic, direct nature, combined with a love for deep conversations and numbers, has driven him to found a business that actively reinvests in local communities, creates jobs, and fosters connection. This is precisely how you align profit with purpose.
