The Nest Family Office
Also known as The Nest, TNFO NV
Belgian single family office founded in 2021 by Els Thermote (TNFO NV); invests in food and agriculture companies and VC funds in Europe and North America, about 35 holdings.
USEFUL FOR Fund managers raising capital · Founders · Business owners seeking a long-term partner · Co-investors
Family & background
- HEADQUARTERS
- Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium
- FOUNDED
- 2021
Investment approach
- GEOGRAPHY
- EuropeNorth America
- STAGES
- SeedSeries AGrowth
- ROUTES
- Companies (own capital) · Funds (as LP)
- STRATEGIES
- Direct investmentsVenture capitalPrivate equityFunds (as LP)Impact
- LATEST DEAL
- Lowi (€2.7M round (led)) · Jun 2026
Overview
The Nest Family Office was founded in early 2021 by Els Thermote, former CEO of TVH Americas, after her family stepped back from day-to-day operations of TVH in 2019, which produced a first liquidity event. The legal entity is TNFO NV, registered in Sint-Genesius-Rode. It invests in companies and venture funds working toward a more resilient food system, from early-stage startups to established firms such as Ardo (minority stake, 2024) and Belgomeals (majority stake, 2025), and reports around 35 investments. It also runs a foundation, the regenerative farm Domaine de Graux and the magazine Rooted.
Investment thesis
Food as medicine for people and planet: backs entrepreneurs in food and agriculture improving nutritional value, environmental stewardship and farmer resilience, across the company life cycle in Europe and North America.
Holdings & investments (35)
- BelgomealsFood & Agriculture · since 2025
- ArdoFood & Agriculture · since 2024
- Domaine De GrauxFood & Agriculture
- PradoFintech
- Biotope GroupFood & Agriculture
- Local LineFood & Agriculture
- LowiArtificial Intelligence
- StewardFintech
- EdaciousFood & Agriculture
- ReelDataArtificial Intelligence
- Antler BioFood & Agriculture
- Walden MutualFintech
- PropagateFood & Agriculture
- Atomo CoffeeFood & Agriculture
- Quick OrganicsSoftware & SaaS
- AgricarbonClimate & Energy
- ZymofixBiotech & Life Sciences
- OlombriaFood & Agriculture
- SP Ventures (fund, LP)
- Greensphere (fund, LP)
- AgFunder IV (fund, LP)
- Clear Frontier I (fund, LP)
- Arborview Capital (fund, LP)
- Astanor II (fund, LP)
- Aqua-Spark (fund, LP)
- Buoyant Ventures I (fund, LP)
- Omnivore III (fund, LP)
- Pymwymic (fund, LP)
- Biotope Ventures (fund, LP)
- Synthesis Capital I (fund, LP)
- Blume Equity I (fund, LP)
- YnsectFood & Agriculture · Discontinued
- MonarchMobility & Logistics · Sold
- Trace GenomicsFood & Agriculture · Sold
- SOOSFood & Agriculture · Discontinued
People
- Anouk SchoorsInvestment Director · source
- Els ThermoteChief Executive Officer (founder) · source
- Louis DhontChief Operating Officer · source
- John LaebensChief Finance Officer · source
- Hallie FoxVC Fund Manager · source
- Justine VerstraetenProgram Manager · source
- Johanna DelmelleImpact Coordinator · source
Frequently asked questions
The Nest Family Office is a single family office based in Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium, founded in 2021.
The Nest Family Office invests its own capital into companies and in third-party funds as an LP. Its stated asset mix includes direct investments, venture capital, private equity, funds (as lp) and impact.
The Nest Family Office invests at Seed, Series A and Growth stages in Food & Agriculture and Climate & Energy.
Key people at The Nest Family Office include Els Thermote (Chief Executive Officer (founder)), Louis Dhont (Chief Operating Officer), Anouk Schoors (Investment Director) and John Laebens (Chief Finance Officer).
The Nest Family Office's holdings and investments include Domaine De Graux, Ardo, Belgomeals, Prado, Biotope Group, Local Line, Lowi and Steward, among others.
The most recent publicly reported investment by The Nest Family Office is Lowi (€2.7M round (led)), announced in Jun 2026.