When Thijs Verheul was 18, he did not yet know what he wanted to become. He started studying Law in Utrecht, dropped out after two weeks and left for Tyrol to work as a ski instructor for a season. Back in the Netherlands, he chose to study Business and Consumer Sciences at Wageningen University. There, he met Sjuul Berden, with whom he founded United Wardrobe in January 2014 together with Joep Dohmen.
What started as an idea among students grew into one of the largest second-hand clothing platforms in the Netherlands. Thijs and his team raised €3.5 million in investment, built an organisation of more than 40 employees and operated from an office on the Oudegracht in Utrecht. When competitor Vinted came with an “offer you can’t refuse,” they sold United Wardrobe, making Thijs financially independent – a result he had never dared to dream of himself.
Thijs is currently active as an angel investor in companies including Breeze, Eddy Grid, Hadrian.io, BookBoost.io, BeachPilot.nl and Njiapay. He also wrote the book 'Voor hoeveel heb je het verkocht?', the open and honest story of United Wardrobe, from idea to exit.
Thijs as a Speaker
In his keynote, Thijs Verheul shares the personal story behind the success of United Wardrobe. He explains how, as a student with no IT knowledge, he built a platform, scaled it, raised growth capital and ultimately sold it to an international player.
With an engaging mix of down-to-earth realism and energy, Thijs shows that entrepreneurship is primarily about having the courage to take action and learn along the way. He openly shares both his successes and the mistakes he made along the way. His story is relatable, inspiring and offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs, students and anyone with a good idea and the ambition to grow.
Career
Thijs Verheul is an entrepreneur, speaker and investor. Following the successful exit of United Wardrobe, he focuses on supporting new startups as an angel investor, with a focus on technology, sustainability and social impact.
His entrepreneurial journey, from spontaneous beginnings to an international sale, has made him a sought-after speaker at events on entrepreneurship, startup culture, investment and personal growth. Through his book and keynotes, he aims to help others navigate the path to success with greater insight and fewer illusions.
