Quentin Nickmans

I was born into an entrepreneurial industrial family, which awakened my entrepreneurial roots early on. Very little, I witnessed the transformative impact of the first ERP "Wang" computer mainframe on our family business. Around the same time, my first computer, the iconic Commodore 64, introduced me to the tech world.

During my engineering studies at university, I found that business strategy and finance were the subjects where time flew and the topics felt most captivating. Upon graduation, I joined BCG, where I learned principles that still guide my thinking today:

• Some industries are inherently better than others.
• Data is king—what gets measured improves. Too many businesses suffer from poor data, leaving them blind to future opportunities.

The entrepreneurial drive soon took over, and my first venture was in the food delivery sector. Success there came down to efficiency, achieved by leveraging the Internet and emerging software tools for SMBs. I loved building a company from the ground up and shaping its DNA for decades to come. However, I realized that managing a growing business wasn't my passion. I thrive on the energy and variety of the early days. This realization led me to sell my first company and start Hexa.

My superpower? A strong business acumen that enables me to help partners and founders frame their ideas into something truly impactful.

I believe in the passion of entrepreneurship. What I value most in Partners at Hexa is their relentlessness and curiosity about a wide range of ideas—a quality I like to call having their “head in the stars.” They are always looking at the glass as half full, always seeking the positive opportunity in every situation.

This positive attitude and willingness to see opportunities is what makes a Partner a magnet for ambitious founders. The ideas I want my partners to pursue must also be ambitious. Some will be “moonshots,” reinventing entire ways of working. Others will be simple ideas, executed brilliantly, that smartly and progressively tackle major industries. At Hexa, you are encouraged to think big. I admire Partners who become obsessed with certain ideas—obsession that becomes contagious and increases the odds of success by attracting and collaborating with the best founding teams.

I value people who live by the motto, “done is better than perfect.” While thoughtful planning is necessary—and Hexa’s methodology provides structure—partners in the early days must focus on building and iterating quickly. Another principle I admire is “lead by example.” The best founders will want to work with you because your actions and daily interactions inspire them.

That said, there’s an important nuance to this role. While your job is to partner with the best founders, it’s equally critical to give them the space to fully own and lead the companies they’ll be building for the next decade. Just because you can step into a project at any moment doesn’t mean you should. Your role is to serve as the entrepreneurial coach every founder dreams of having—deeply invested in their success and the success of their company.

Finally, a great Hexa partner keeps their “feet on the ground.” This means not only working hands-on with their own ideas but also cultivating the humility to step back when necessary. This balance allows you to maintain perspective, even as you remain deeply committed to your vision.

The journey is amazing, but it’s not a sprint—it’s a marathon.

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