One of the fastest growing fintech companies in Europe. 22,000 business users. Billions processed. 37% growth every single month.
All in less than two years, and they’re just getting started.
Today I sat down with Thomas Vles, founder and CEO of GoDutch, the business bank that saves entrepreneurs time and money. Former CEO at Tellow and CRO at Ageras. One of the most clear-eyed fintech builders I have spoken to.
Over how you build a finance OS for European SMEs in a market full of established names and still grow faster than you can handle. Over why caring, is the real engine behind 37% monthly growth and near-zero churn. Over what it takes to scale from the Netherlands across Europe, and why the timing has never been better.
📌 What you'll discover in this episode:
* From strategy consultant to serial founder with multiple exits
* How GoDutch grew from idea to 37% MoM growth in less than two years
* 200,000 exclusive leads built without paid marketing in year one
* Why he deliberately capped his own growth, and what that says about how he builds
* The future of banking when AI becomes the interface and banks become invisible infrastructure
* What separates a business account from a finance operating system
* Series A on the horizon: what he's looking for and why now
* The human side of entrepreneurship, as you rarely hear it.
Chapters - jump straight to what helps you:
0. Intro
(00:00:00) Intro: Thomas Vles, founder of GoDutch
1. The Origin
(00:01:25) From consultant to entrepreneur: the beginning
(00:03:00) Poopy Cats and the first step as a founder
(00:04:45) Failing, losing confidence and getting back up
(00:08:05) CEO at Tello: regaining trust
(00:09:35) Why things fail and what counts as real failure
(00:10:40) The idea behind GoDutch: banking that people love
(00:12:30) Transparency, revenue share and sustainability as pillars
(00:15:15) What entrepreneurs really want: the pivots that followed
2. The Person Behind It
(00:29:40) A toxic relationship as a personal reset
(00:31:55) Breaking free from expectations of parents and society
(00:33:00) Mindset: being kind for free and paying it forward
3. The Reality of Entrepreneurship
(00:34:20) Growth: 8.4x revenue and 37% month-over-month
(00:35:10) Acquisition: organic, partnerships and paid marketing
(00:38:55) Growth cap: deliberately slowing down to protect quality
(00:42:35) Business model: how GoDutch makes money
(00:47:35) Dream scenario: GoDutch as AI-OS for European SME’s
(00:49:30) Team culture: small, fast and driven by care
(00:53:05) The future of banking: platform versus provider
(00:55:55) Human customer service as a strategic choice
4. Reflection & Meaning
(00:59:15) Series A: fundraising on the horizon
5. Insights & Closing
(00:59:45) Think: The Daily Stoic as a daily compass
(01:01:15) Build: Claude, ChatGPT and Lovable as favorite tools
(01:02:20) Live: strict routine as the foundation for focus
(01:05:10) Closing
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About Purpose Driven:
My name is Michel Breeuwer, founder and host of the Purpose Driven Podcast.
In this podcast we explore what lies beneath the surface of entrepreneurship. The stories, choices, strategies and inner processes that usually remain invisible.
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Links from Thomas Vles & GoDutch: