Theo Hendriks is a pioneering Dutch entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience bridging the public, nonprofit, and commercial sectors. Known for his visionary leadership and deep understanding of complex organizational structures, he has conducted hundreds of consultations and continues to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs through nlgroeit since 2017.

In 1996, Theo founded the Sports and Leisure Group and scaled it into a powerhouse of over 1,000 employees. Under his leadership, the group developed two successful brand labels: Capital Sports and Family Fitness. Theo also had early influence in creating large Dutch brand, Basic Fit.

He was also the first entrepreneur in Europe to introduce Spinning (1994) and the first to integrate fitness into a multifunctional center—innovations that earned him recognition as European Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009.

His business philosophy is grounded in learning quickly, replicating proven models, and executing them with excellence. He avoids reinventing the wheel, instead favoring smart adaptation and strategic innovation. Theo understands that working in fast-paced industries with large investments and rapid depreciation cycles requires diversification, strong leadership, and tight operational control—skills he has honed over decades of experience.