Improven builds relationship with investor for next phase of growth

Improven is ready for the next phase of growth. Together with investor of the first hour Quadrum Capital, the foundations have been laid for further organic growth and targeted acquisitions.

The Utrecht Improven, whose roots go back to PwC Consulting and ConQuaestor, has been operating under the current name Improven.

At the time, Improven's start-up was co-funded by Quadrum Capital, a Woerden and Almelo-based investment company with now some 30 holdings in sectors such as technology, IT, healthcare and packaging.

"Quadrum Capital has always operated in the background, where it provided capital with a view to our growth and offered strategic guidance," says Jan Bosman, who has been at the helm of Improven since its inception.

In recent years, Improven has built a made a big growth spurt - from the 50 consultants who were part of the founding team to the over 150 consultants today.

"With demonstrable results and a proven approach, Improven has now claimed a wonderful position within the Dutch consultancy market," says Peter Oostenenk, Managing Partner of Quadrum Capital. "We are proud to have been able to contribute to that."

Improven works in a variety of sectors, but specialises in three themes: finance, risk and digital transformation. "We help organisations in transition at the intersection of improvement programmes and house-to-order projects through standardisation, process innovation and digitalisation," Bosman explains.

The agency's clients include well-known names such as ABN Amro, Heineken, COA, Essent, Municipality of Amsterdam, the central government, Essent, Stork and several other prominent clients.

"In the coming years, we want to strengthen our leading position in the Dutch consultancy market," Bosman says of the consultancy firm's ambitions. To achieve this, Improven wants to double in size in order to compete for the most appealing and complex projects within the sector.

The acquisition of a stake by the Quadrum Evergreen Fund - financial details were not disclosed - provides Improven with a robust financial base to achieve these goals. The company targets organic growth of 10%+ a year and selective acquisitions within its specialism.

"We choose the Quadrum Evergreen Fund because this fund, with an indefinite maturity, focuses on sustainably growing companies with a long-term horizon," Bosman said.

Improven's move puts yet another well-known homegrown consulting firm (partly) in the hands of an investment fund. Previously, BlinkLane Consulting, Verdonck, Klooster & Associates, House of Performance (all part of Highberg Group), First Consulting (now Valcon), Magnus, Nextview, Dimensys and Zanders, among others, turned to private equity.