Entrepreneurship was in Arnoud Kuipers' blood from an early age. At the age of 10, he set up his first "company. He is now an avid entrepreneur with two successful companies: Tubble and website factoringvergelijken.nl. MASTERS talks to Arnoud. How did he come up with his innovative ideas? And who was his wheelbarrow?Text: Noa Verseveldt
Online editing: Patrick Stoffer

What was your very first job?

"My first side job was filling shelves at the supermarket. But trades I found interesting at a young age, when I was ten or so it started. At the market I saw a very large stack of Donald Ducks for two guilders fifty. I then borrowed money from my mother and sold them on to friends individually. I think that's kind of how entrepreneurship started. I also later sold wireless phones, watches, stuffed animals and game consoles, among other things."

How did you end up in your current job?

"I have two businesses. I was a banker for a long time at ABN-AMRO, later at Deutsche Bank. There I worked in factoring, a niche in the financial world. Simply put, it's about selling your outstanding receivables. After I quit my job ten years ago, I set up the first online broker. I had worked in the industry for a very long time, and I knew that brokers (intermediaries) generally operated in an old-fashioned way. Thus, it was actually a very natural step to start Factoringvergelijken.nl. This allows companies looking for factoring to compare the best factoring quotes very easily and free of charge. I also have the company Tubble, a webshop in the field of home wellness. This started with an inflatable bathtub. I was in the shower and I wanted to take a bath. Then I thought, 'isn't there anything inflatable that you can use once in a while?' I searched for a long time, but couldn't find anything. Then I started working with a design firm to develop the ideal airbath. The Tubble bath is patented and has won a number of international design awards. It is now also sold in something like ten countries."

In that, who was your wheelbarrow?

"I don't really have a wheelbarrow; I don't come from an entrepreneurial family. Both my parents are psychologists. It really comes out of me that entrepreneurship. I did read a lot of these booklets about entrepreneurship, which did inspire me. Obviously 4-hour workweek, everybody knows that one. The very first entrepreneurial book I read was by Bram van Leeuwen. The book 'How to become a millionaire'. I absolutely loved it, blue book with gold lettering. He explained how to do business in China and how to get products from there. What also helped me is that I joined a co-working space. I was at 'Boven de Balie,' which was a co-working space in Amsterdam near Leidseplein. You rented a desk there. You sit next to all these other entrepreneurs and freelancers. First of all, it's a lot less boring than working from home. But you also really learn from it, especially if you're just starting out. You always meet someone there who can help you further. I would also recommend it to anyone who wants to become an entrepreneur to join a co-working space.

What is your greatest passion in your profession?

"Ultimately building something. May sound obvious, but you invent something that is not yet on the market. It's still in your head, you take a risk and you build it. Then when it works and the first orders and sales come in, that's just kind of magic. I also remember the first time someone ordered from abroad, I think it was Belgium, now those are nice things. But also good reviews or people saying they are super happy that they finally have a bath. That's nice, isn't it? Personally, I also like it best to release something new and innovative on the market. Wouldn't be so quick to copy something that already exists. I like building my own brand, developing new products or services a bit more than dropshipping, for example.

What has been the biggest learning moment in your career?

"Biggest learning moment in my career is to never do business with friends. I did this once and it didn't end quite right. I just really don't do that anymore either. Also, getting into action faster. My very first idea flopped when I quit my job at the bank. I had an idea with shower curtains. I spent way too long on that and I was just messing around on that website. I should have taken that idea to market much earlier. There's a nice word for that: 'minimum viable product.' So don't spend a year messing around with a product or site, but get in touch with your potential customers as soon as possible and see if there's a demand for it."

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

"I'm never much for looking back with 'I should have done that better.' But I think generally more travel. I once took a seven-month trip around the world, which I thought was absolutely fantastic. I actually would have liked to do that more often, and of course these days you can run your business abroad with your laptop."

Have you been a wheelbarrow for anyone?

"People sometimes come up to me: 'I want to start a webshop.' Then I sit down with them for an hour and give them some tips. Ultimately it has to come from the person themselves, because many people want to become entrepreneurs and talk about it. But in the end you also have to do it yourself, because you often don't hear about it anymore. Which is also fine. It's not given to everyone to really become an entrepreneur. But maybe Jasper Stas, I certainly can't say I was his wheelbarrow but that did become a very good entrepreneur. He was also in the co-working space with me and was also going to start a webshop. I was able to give him some advice in the beginning. Now it's more exchanging tips and tricks back and forth."