
Valeria Zancaner
Young Direction is the beating heart of our strategy and culture. This is where you'll find the thinkers, decision-makers, and accelerators who set the course, spot opportunities, and keep the fire burning.
Young Co-Founders & builders are the driving force behind our ventures. They build brands, lead teams, and make a difference on the ground every single day.
Ana Espla
Annemarie van Gerrevink
Nanne Veenstra
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.
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
Valeria Zancaner
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.
Wim de Jong
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
Melanie Joubert
Melanie Joubert, our CFO, is the financial and analytical leader. Melanie doesn’t just crunch numbers; she paints the financial future of Young. With a background steeped in corporate finance, controlling, portfolio management, and consulting, Melanie is the mastermind behind Young’s investment strategy. She is always leading towards down-to-earth financial decisions. Melanie is empowered by her passion to decipher businesses through numbers, crafting strategies and creating tangible value for Young.
Junjie de Graaff
Junjie de Graaff, our COO dynamo, isn’t your typical suit-and-tie exec. He’s the force behind our operational finesse at Young, blending his tech-savvy background, growth strategies, and knack for process optimization to ignite our brand and ventures.
With relentless drive, Junjie fuels our growth ambitions, turning challenges into stepping stones for success. His radar for opportunity and inventive solutions keeps Young on the cutting edge. But it’s not just about profits; Junjie’s all about building bridges and fostering sustainable growth.
Juan Cruz Mesigos
Juan Cruz is the Business Developer at Young. He focuses on optimising processes, tracking key initiatives, and ensuring seamless coordination between Business Development & Innovation (BD&I) and the ventures. With a structured and analytical mindset, he oversees project progress, ensuring that decisions are driven by accurate and up-to-date data. His work streamlines operations, maintains effective communication, and contributes to the ventures’ rapid profitability. His ability to structure reports, manage follow-ups, and enhance workflows makes him a key player in the company’s growth and expansion.
Guillermo Jimenez
Guillermo is the Investor Relations Manager at Young, fostering transparency and building strong, lasting partnerships. With a strategic approach and clear communication, he ensures that Young’s vision and milestones resonate with its stakeholders. Having lived in six different countries, Guillermo is adaptable and driven, bringing a global perspective to everything he does. He is an avid cyclist and enjoys challenges both in his personal and professional life, embracing every opportunity to grow. He loves to travel and spend time with friends and family. Beyond managing investor relations, he collaborates closely with the leadership team, driving initiatives that align financial goals with operational success. Guillermo believes that trust, open communication, and adaptability are the cornerstones of impactful collaboration.
Rebeca Fernandez
Rebeca Fernandez, our Management Assistant at YOUNG, is the organizational backbone that keeps our fast-paced operations running smoothly. With precision, discretion, and a proactive mindset, she ensures that every detail is taken care of anticipating needs, coordinating teams, and streamlining processes. Her ability to stay ahead in a dynamic environment makes her an indispensable support to leadership and a key enabler of our collective performance. Rebeca brings agility, trust, and excellence to her role.
Marni Rohrs
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.World 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.World team.
Demi van der Stelt
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.
Ana Espla
Annemarie van Gerrevink
Annemarie redefines what it means to lead in the media landscape. With a keen eye for innovation, Annemarie drives Young Media’s creative hub, turning niche media brands into compelling narratives to push their great ambitions of resonating globally.
Nanne Veenstra
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.