Duco Sickinghe

Duco Sickinghe is a Dutch-born technology executive turned investor with more than 30 years of experience in technology and telecommunications. He began his career at Hewlett-Packard in 1985, then joined NeXT Computer, where he served as VP Marketing and later General Manager for France, working under Steve Jobs. He co-founded Software Direct in 1993 (which became a joint venture with Hachette Distribution) and later held a senior role at Wolters Kluwer. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and an LL.M. from Utrecht University.

Sickinghe is best known for his time as CEO of Telenet, Belgium's leading cable broadband operator, a role he held from 2001. He took over when the company was near collapse and led its turnaround, including its 2006 IPO on Euronext. He was voted best CEO of a listed Belgian company in the Thomson Reuters Extel survey in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

In 2013 he co-founded Fortino Capital, a European B2B software investment firm that runs both an early-stage venture capital strategy and a growth private equity strategy. As Executive Chairman & Managing Partner, he provides strategic guidance and continuity to portfolio companies, working closely with founders on strategy, culture, organisational development and sustainable scaling. Fortino has raised over €1.5 billion across its funds, including a €700M close for its Private Equity III fund in December 2025.

Beyond Fortino, Sickinghe has held numerous board and advisory mandates, including Chairman of the Board of Royal KPN in the Netherlands, Senior/Industrial Advisor to CVC Capital Partners, Chairman of Van Eeghen & Co (a family-held Amsterdam business), and a board seat at Zentrick.

• Invests almost exclusively in B2B software — SaaS, PaaS, cloud applications, AI and managed IT services — across Europe, with a strong Benelux and DACH footprint.
• Backs companies across the maturity curve: early-stage/early-growth via Fortino's VC fund (roughly pre-seed to Series A, €0.5M–€3M initial tickets) and profitable scale-ups via the Growth PE fund (€10M+ tickets, ~€5M+ turnover, "profitable in the core").
• Emphasises operational value creation after closing — people, organisational development, leadership and growth strategy — rather than capital alone.
• States he is "passionate about high-leverage settings where bold vision and execution intersect, long-term thinking, and building companies with enduring value."
• Places particular importance on UX and product innovation, and is a frequent speaker on leadership and entrepreneurship in the European tech ecosystem.