Ralph de Vries is a seasoned business development professional, dealmaker, and investor with a deep passion for building lasting partnerships and empowering people to grow. As Senior Advisor, he supports Vesper Ventures in expanding its presence in the Netherlands, with a special focus on Vesper Vanguard: an investor collective with the aim to grow and build SMEs to European leaders.

A proud Amsterdammer, family man, and sports enthusiast, Ralph draws inspiration from his travels and long walks through cities, parks, and beaches - where, as he says, “the best ideas come to life.” He believes strongly that “there is no B2B without a C”, and that sustainable success is built on long-term relationships grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared value creation.

Ralph’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2001 when he joined his family business as the fourth generation, shortly after losing his father. Together with a dedicated team, he led the company through a period of remarkable growth, preserving and expanding its heritage. In 2014, a strategic investor came on board, setting off a successful buy-and-build journey, which Ralph helped steer as Chief Commercial Officer. The business was sold to Equistone in 2017 and later to Parcom in 2021.

Over the years, Ralph has gained extensive experience as both Limited Partner (LP) in private equity and venture capital, and as an active participant in several tech startups - learning firsthand that not every startup succeeds, but every challenge brings growth. As the founder of RDV Partners, he now channels this experience into helping businesses and entrepreneurs with strategic growth and business development, focusing on connecting people, unlocking potential, and driving sustainable success.

With the Vesper Vanguard platform behind him, Ralph is excited to leverage everything he has learned - the wins, the lessons, and the relationships - to help founders and companies take their next big steps, build strong platforms, and create lasting impact together.