YOUNG
PEOPLE

The success of the entire YOUNG group is thanks to all the people who put in the effort, from our co-founders to our subcontractors and dedicated partners. Yet, the real driving force behind our success is our core team. Let us introduce them one by one:

Management

Wim de Jong is the Founder and Owner of Young and is actively involved with the entire team as the dealmaker, strategist, and challenger. He derives energy from exploring new opportunities, pioneering ideas, and making strategic moves that have a lasting impact.

For Wim, Young is not just a company; it’s an empowering force dedicated to disrupting markets alongside other down-to-earth yet fearless entrepreneurs who are equally driven as he is. Together, he aims to shake up standards in proven and established markets and show the world that there’s always room for something new, something different, something better

Wim de Jong

Founder

Valeria Zancaner is the CEO Designate of YOUNG, becoming our official CEO as of January 1st, 2026. She is dedicated to ensuring the success of both existing and new ventures by driving strategic decisions that maximize growth and efficiency. With her strong problem-solving skills and proactive approach, she helps teams navigate challenges before they escalate. Valeria thrives in dynamic environments and believes that a collaborative and results-driven culture is key to long-term success.

Valeria Zancaner

CEO

Juan Cruz is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at YOUNG. He ensures that the company’s vision is executed with precision, translating strategy into actionable plans and measurable results. With a strong focus on alignment, efficiency, and accountability, Juan oversees the performance of all ventures, ensuring that each operates cohesively within the broader YOUNG ecosystem. His analytical and structured mindset drives clarity across operations, enabling data-informed decisions and consistent momentum. By fostering effective communication and streamlining workflows, he plays a central role in scaling YOUNG’s impact and sustaining its operational excellence.

Juan Cruz Mesigos

COO

Support

Eduardo Casares Martínez is one of our Financial Specialist at YOUNG. He brings analytical rigor and structured thinking to the organization, turning complex information into clear financial insights that guide decision-making. With experience at Disney and in investment banking, Eduardo combines operational discipline with a deep curiosity for how great businesses are built from the inside. His ability to create clarity from scattered inputs strengthens YOUNG’s financial foundations and supports the strategic execution of its ventures.

Eduardo Casares

Finance Specialist

Ailin Werner is the Head of AI at YOUNG, responsible for driving the integration and optimization of artificial intelligence across the entire ecosystem.

With a background leading development teams in global tech environments, Ailin combines strong technical depth with a practical, business-first approach. After transitioning into AI automation, she co-founded MondIA Labs, where she focuses on building intelligent systems that eliminate repetitive work and improve operational efficiency.

At YOUNG, her role is to identify where AI can create real leverage, implement scalable solutions across ventures, and ensure the group stays ahead in how technology is applied to build and operate companies.

Ailin Werner

Head of AI

Ulrike (Rika) acts as a strategic extension of the founder, focusing on four key pillars: oversight, structure, communication filtering, and advisory support. Her job is to protect the founder’s time, establish a clear operational structure, and signal critical insights before they become bottlenecks. By managing information streams and ensuring team alignment, Rika enables the founder to stay focused on high-level strategy while she handles the structural execution.

Ulrike Krendl

Founder Support

Sander Nijman is the CFO of YOUNG, responsible for building the financial architecture that gives the group and its ventures the visibility they need to grow with confidence. With a background in audit, consolidation, and business control, he brings structure and clarity where it matters most. He believes that solid financial foundations are not just a necessity — they are a strategic enabler for growth. At YOUNG, his focus is on creating transparent, scalable reporting that supports data-informed decisions across the entire ecosystem.

Sander Nijman

Fractional CFO

Demi van der Stelt, our Management Assistant, is the warm welcome that greets everyone who walks through our doors. She’s the embodiment of a memorable first impression. But Demi’s role goes far beyond a friendly smile. She’s the engine that keeps our operations running seamlessly. Handling everything with meticulous attention to detail, Demi ensures Young functions like a clockwork. What drives Demi is the electric energy of Young, where we believe the sky’s the limit.

Demi van der Stelt

Founder Support

Marni Rohrs, our Finance Expert, brings a wealth of experience and precision to the real estate industry. With a passion for accurate financial reporting and a keen eye for detail, Marni’s mission at YOUNG is to elevate financial transparency and efficiency. Her dedication to excellence and her adept navigation of the complexities of the real estate market ensure that all financial operations align seamlessly with the company’s strategic goals. Marni’s expertise is instrumental in driving success and growth for our financial objectives, making her an invaluable asset to the YOUNG team.

Marni Rohrs

Head of Financial Administration

Founders Circle

Felipe is our partner in YOUNG Hotels, overseeing strategy and performance across the group’s hotels. With a strong focus on guest experience, operational excellence, and brand growth, he ensures each vertical delivers distinctive, high-quality experiences while staying aligned with YOUNG’s overall vision.

Felipe Robles

YOUNG. Hotels

Vince Brothwell is the CEO of YOUNG. Media, the media and content venture within the YOUNG Venture Group. With a strong background in commercial strategy and sales leadership, Vince was brought in to shape YOUNG Media into a future-proof, revenue-driven media company — built for the way audiences and brands connect today.

Vince’s approach is defined by his belief that great media and smart commerce go hand in hand. His focus on building strong podcast brands, video formats, and digital platforms means that YOUNG Media’s partners don’t just get reach — they get relevance.

Under Vince’s leadership, YOUNG Media is setting a new standard for what a modern media company can look like: lean, creative, and built to scale.

Vince Brothwell

YOUNG. Media

Marcos leads the YOUNG Coffee vertical, driving the operational and commercial strategy across markets. With a hands-on approach and a sharp focus on product quality, customer experience and brand growth, he is building YOUNG Coffee into a distinctive presence within the YOUNG ecosystem. His mission is simple: make every cup mean something, and never settle for average.

Marcos Herrero

YOUNG. Coffee

Nanne Veenstra, the Managing Director of Rebirth Development, is reshaping the landscape of real estate with a commitment to sustainability and strategic growth. With a natural talent for seeking the right real estate opportunities along with his dedication to community impact, Nanne drives Young Rebirth’s Development mission to revolutionize the industry through thoughtful development and acquisitions.

Nanne’s leadership is defined by his extensive expertise in real estate, financial services, and investment management. His innovative approach ensures that Rebirth Development’s portfolio not only thrives but also contributes to the well-being of the communities it touches. Under Nanne’s guidance, and thanks to his ability to balance profitability with purpose, Rebirth Development’s sets a new standard in the industry. Nanne’s relentless pursuit of excellence and forward-thinking approach ensure that Rebirth Development remains a leader in sustainable development and strategic real estate ventures.

 

Nanne Veenstra

Rebirth | a YOUNG. Company

Associates

José Benet

Law & Labor Strategist

Alexander Tezlaw

Growth & M&A

Louise de Voogd

Creative partner

Victoria Rodriguez

Interior Desginer

Rau Hafsi

Brand Experience

Eugenie van de Poll

Brand Strategist

Jeroen Dekkers

Tech & IT

Board of Advisors

Frans van Steenis

YOUNG Advisor

Susanne Stolte

YOUNG Advisor

Paul Zuiderwijk

YOUNG Advisor

BUILD WITH US

We’re a venture group building brands, companies, and platforms across Europe, Africa, and the US. We do this together with entrepreneurial talents who have the drive to build, take ownership, and lead — ambitious individuals ready to become co-founders within our YOUNG family.

Alongside launching new ventures, we’re also seeking co-founders to step into businesses that are already up and running. These ventures are backed, branded, and ready to scale — now they just need the right person to lead the way.

Are you the one we’re looking for — our next co-founder? Explore our current business opportunities.

WORKING AT YOUNG?

While our ventures are led by entrepreneurial co-founders, it’s the people behind the scenes who keep everything moving. From operations to finance, from HR to marketing — our core team makes sure the ventures can thrive and scale.

Please check out our vacancies here

Partnering with YOUNG.

At Young, we believe collaboration is the ultimate growth accelerator. That’s why we team up with exceptional partners: experts in their fields who help our ventures move faster, scale smarter, and reach further. From branding studios to tech agencies, from legal advisors to growth specialists; our associates bring the know-how that powers the next generation of businesses.

We’re always open to connecting with partners who share our entrepreneurial mindset and passion for building what’s next.

Interested in partnering with us? Reach out at info@young.com

Get in touch