From office neighbours to $22M deal: How collaboration sparked success at The Hague Tech

A story we're beyond proud of, because The Hague Tech wasn't created just to be a place to work. It’s where everyday encounters can lead to game-changing outcomes. Just ask Wes Oudshoorn, Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder of AppSignal, and Martijn Voorhuis, M&A Advisor for tech companies at NexyZ. Two community members whose collaboration turned a casual meet-up into a multi-million-dollar milestone.

Martijn Voorhuis from Nexyz and Wes Oudshoorn from AppSignal.

A slice of serendipity

Although Wes and Martijn sat just offices apart at The Hague Tech, they had never formally met—until Product & Pizza, an event hosted by Wes to bring product-minded tech professionals together over informal conversations and sliced Italian goodness. What started as small talk over shared interests quickly evolved into a deeper exchange about growth, strategy and the future of founder-led companies.

Wes Oudshoorn at his community event Product & Pizza.

AppSignal meets NexyZ

So, we have two companies. First, AppSignal: A developer-favourite tool for monitoring and improving the performance of web applications. For over a decade, Wes and his co-founders built a strong, sustainable, and profitable company: bootstrapped, customer-first, and focused on delivering real value to developers. Then, when the time came to scale, Wes found the perfect partner sitting just an office away: Martijn from NexyZ. NexyZ specialises in helping founder-led, profitable tech companies grow without compromising their core and finding the best partner for the next phase of company growth. Together, they secured a $22 million growth investment from Elsewhere Partners. 

Martijn Voorhuis from Nexyz at THT

The power of the right partnership

After bootstrapping AppSignal for thirteen years, it was time for a more ambitious approach, now made possible by the funding raised with support from NexyZ and their commitment to staying close to their clients’ challenges and values. All while building trust-based relationships with the company owners they support. This investment wasn’t about changing what AppSignal had built, but about elevating it. Through NexyZ, AppSignal found the right partner, Elsewhere Partners, to expand its global footprint and strengthen its already deep connection with the developer community. It’s a textbook example of what can happen when product vision and strategic capital meet at the right moment, in the right space.

Why we love this story

At The Hague Tech, stories like these are what we live for. Collaboration isn’t just encouraged. It’s built into our DNA (and sometimes, into pizza nights). Wes and Martijn’s journey is a reminder that you never know where your next great idea (or partner) might be sitting. We’re incredibly proud to see how their shared spark turned into something exceptional and we can’t wait to see what comes next!

Come meet the community and experience THT for yourself

If you haven't heard by now: The Hague Tech has a new home. If you're interested in checking out the community, options and the building, join us to celebrate the Grand Opening. We can't promise any multi-million-dollar investments, but expect community, collaboration, and plenty of inspiration. Whether you're a long-time member or just curious—come experience the energy of THT firsthand! Read more about the event and sign up here on our Eventbrite.