Everyone has the opportunity to be a pioneer.
Everyone has the opportunity to be a pioneer.
Onze Verhalen
Tomas
Tomas
Tomas van Rijsse
10
.
02
.
2026
6 min read
Hi! My name is Tomas and I'm 37 years old.
I studied HBO Informatica. Thinking back, that was a long time ago, and I’m not really sure what to say about it. I never really knew I was good at programming before I started. I hadn’t done anything like it before. I chose the study mostly because people said, “Oh, you’re into computers.” And I thought, “Yeah, maybe.” I liked games and messing around with hardware, but I never considered myself a real nerd. So I was kind of surprised that I enjoyed programming, and during my studies, I realized, “I’m actually really good at this. I like this a lot.”
I studied HBO Informatica. Thinking back, that was a long time ago, and I’m not really sure what to say about it. I never really knew I was good at programming before I started. I hadn’t done anything like it before. I chose the study mostly because people said, “Oh, you’re into computers.” And I thought, “Yeah, maybe.” I liked games and messing around with hardware, but I never considered myself a real nerd. So I was kind of surprised that I enjoyed programming, and during my studies, I realized, “I’m actually really good at this. I like this a lot.”
I studied HBO Informatica. Thinking back, that was a long time ago, and I’m not really sure what to say about it. I never really knew I was good at programming before I started. I hadn’t done anything like it before. I chose the study mostly because people said, “Oh, you’re into computers.” And I thought, “Yeah, maybe.” I liked games and messing around with hardware, but I never considered myself a real nerd. So I was kind of surprised that I enjoyed programming, and during my studies, I realized, “I’m actually really good at this. I like this a lot.”
As a kid, my hobbies were mostly gaming.
One fun thing I did was bring Age of Empires 2 to university. It was just on CD back then. I installed it on all the computers, and when the teachers weren’t looking, we’d play during class. Sometimes we’d even skip classes to play more. At one point, I suggested to some friends that we should do this for an entire weekend: just play games together. Since my second year, we’ve been doing that every six months at Landal Green Parks. Daniel joined later, and now he and I go there every half year with my university friends. We’ve been doing it for 16 years, almost 30 times. Over time, our hobbies evolved. We still play video games, but we also cook, chat, play board games, and do Dungeons & Dragons. I love cooperative games, especially playing with my kids. They enjoy the games I introduce them to, mostly platformers, and it’s really fun to play together. At home, I live together with my parents-in-law, we live upstairs, while they live downstairs. We eat together about four times a week, and once a week Egbert joins us with his family for dinner. It’s a nice routine.
One fun thing I did was bring Age of Empires 2 to university. It was just on CD back then. I installed it on all the computers, and when the teachers weren’t looking, we’d play during class. Sometimes we’d even skip classes to play more. At one point, I suggested to some friends that we should do this for an entire weekend: just play games together. Since my second year, we’ve been doing that every six months at Landal Green Parks. Daniel joined later, and now he and I go there every half year with my university friends. We’ve been doing it for 16 years, almost 30 times. Over time, our hobbies evolved. We still play video games, but we also cook, chat, play board games, and do Dungeons & Dragons. I love cooperative games, especially playing with my kids. They enjoy the games I introduce them to, mostly platformers, and it’s really fun to play together. At home, I live together with my parents-in-law, we live upstairs, while they live downstairs. We eat together about four times a week, and once a week Egbert joins us with his family for dinner. It’s a nice routine.
One fun thing I did was bring Age of Empires 2 to university. It was just on CD back then. I installed it on all the computers, and when the teachers weren’t looking, we’d play during class. Sometimes we’d even skip classes to play more. At one point, I suggested to some friends that we should do this for an entire weekend: just play games together. Since my second year, we’ve been doing that every six months at Landal Green Parks. Daniel joined later, and now he and I go there every half year with my university friends. We’ve been doing it for 16 years, almost 30 times. Over time, our hobbies evolved. We still play video games, but we also cook, chat, play board games, and do Dungeons & Dragons. I love cooperative games, especially playing with my kids. They enjoy the games I introduce them to, mostly platformers, and it’s really fun to play together. At home, I live together with my parents-in-law, we live upstairs, while they live downstairs. We eat together about four times a week, and once a week Egbert joins us with his family for dinner. It’s a nice routine.
My journey with Pionect started in 2010.
I had been married for about a year when Egbert, my brother in law, and I decided to start a company together. At the time, I already had a job, but I constantly had ideas for apps and solutions and wanted to see if I could actually bring them to life. Egbert was already developing applications and had an investor, so we talked and thought: “Shall we make cool things together?” The pioneering aspect really appealed to me, especially working on backend solutions and connecting systems. That’s how Pionect began.
I had been married for about a year when Egbert, my brother in law, and I decided to start a company together. At the time, I already had a job, but I constantly had ideas for apps and solutions and wanted to see if I could actually bring them to life. Egbert was already developing applications and had an investor, so we talked and thought: “Shall we make cool things together?” The pioneering aspect really appealed to me, especially working on backend solutions and connecting systems. That’s how Pionect began.
I had been married for about a year when Egbert, my brother in law, and I decided to start a company together. At the time, I already had a job, but I constantly had ideas for apps and solutions and wanted to see if I could actually bring them to life. Egbert was already developing applications and had an investor, so we talked and thought: “Shall we make cool things together?” The pioneering aspect really appealed to me, especially working on backend solutions and connecting systems. That’s how Pionect began.
In the early days, we moved around quite a bit.
We started in Sliedrecht, then worked for a while from Egbert’s house, and eventually ended up in a small space in the Creative Factory. We took on any clients we could find. One of those was Hogeschool InHolland, where I started teaching programming, math, databases, and mobile applications. I really enjoyed mentoring interns, and it’s something I’m proud of. Several of them later joined Pionect full-time. Some projects were intense, like working with NuBuiten and their partners. The work was demanding (long hours, weekends, and late nights) but it taught me the importance of transparency and managing expectations. Eventually, I left temporarily, worked at Intermax, where I helped modernize systems and gained new experience. Eventually, I came back to Pionect because I missed the technical challenges and the freedom to build and improve things.
We started in Sliedrecht, then worked for a while from Egbert’s house, and eventually ended up in a small space in the Creative Factory. We took on any clients we could find. One of those was Hogeschool InHolland, where I started teaching programming, math, databases, and mobile applications. I really enjoyed mentoring interns, and it’s something I’m proud of. Several of them later joined Pionect full-time. Some projects were intense, like working with NuBuiten and their partners. The work was demanding (long hours, weekends, and late nights) but it taught me the importance of transparency and managing expectations. Eventually, I left temporarily, worked at Intermax, where I helped modernize systems and gained new experience. Eventually, I came back to Pionect because I missed the technical challenges and the freedom to build and improve things.
We started in Sliedrecht, then worked for a while from Egbert’s house, and eventually ended up in a small space in the Creative Factory. We took on any clients we could find. One of those was Hogeschool InHolland, where I started teaching programming, math, databases, and mobile applications. I really enjoyed mentoring interns, and it’s something I’m proud of. Several of them later joined Pionect full-time. Some projects were intense, like working with NuBuiten and their partners. The work was demanding (long hours, weekends, and late nights) but it taught me the importance of transparency and managing expectations. Eventually, I left temporarily, worked at Intermax, where I helped modernize systems and gained new experience. Eventually, I came back to Pionect because I missed the technical challenges and the freedom to build and improve things.
What I love most about Pionect is the entrepreneurial mindset.
Even though I’m not officially an owner anymore, I still approach work like I can make improvements. If I see something that could be better (whether it’s cable management, code, or project organization), I try to fix it. Being able to take initiative and solve problems is really satisfying. At the same time, earning people’s trust as co-CTO is a challenge. I want to be a serving leader, balancing my opinions with listening to others and making decisions together when possible. In my work, I think the most important qualities aren’t hard skills. It’s the ability to think abstractly and oversee a project holistically. Being able to spot patterns, anticipate solutions, and guide processes especially now with AI is key. I take pride in combining roles: developing, hosting, product ownership, problem-solving, it keeps my work dynamic and engaging.
Even though I’m not officially an owner anymore, I still approach work like I can make improvements. If I see something that could be better (whether it’s cable management, code, or project organization), I try to fix it. Being able to take initiative and solve problems is really satisfying. At the same time, earning people’s trust as co-CTO is a challenge. I want to be a serving leader, balancing my opinions with listening to others and making decisions together when possible. In my work, I think the most important qualities aren’t hard skills. It’s the ability to think abstractly and oversee a project holistically. Being able to spot patterns, anticipate solutions, and guide processes especially now with AI is key. I take pride in combining roles: developing, hosting, product ownership, problem-solving, it keeps my work dynamic and engaging.
Even though I’m not officially an owner anymore, I still approach work like I can make improvements. If I see something that could be better (whether it’s cable management, code, or project organization), I try to fix it. Being able to take initiative and solve problems is really satisfying. At the same time, earning people’s trust as co-CTO is a challenge. I want to be a serving leader, balancing my opinions with listening to others and making decisions together when possible. In my work, I think the most important qualities aren’t hard skills. It’s the ability to think abstractly and oversee a project holistically. Being able to spot patterns, anticipate solutions, and guide processes especially now with AI is key. I take pride in combining roles: developing, hosting, product ownership, problem-solving, it keeps my work dynamic and engaging.
Outside work…
I enjoy Dungeons & Dragons, roleplaying characters, and coming up with creative, out-of-the-box solutions. I love playing video games with my kids, going to playgrounds, walking in nature, and studying the Bible at home with my wife and children. These activities bring joy and relaxation to my life. Something I never would have expected in my life right now would be living with my parents-in-law, as well as being the father of three wonderful daughters. A personal value I try to live by is what Jesus teaches: treat others as you want to be treated, and help those in need. Finally, my small pleasures: I love lasagna with lots of vegetables, I want to travel to southern Italy, I stick to a comfortable daily routine with the train commute, and I enjoy reading aloud to my children, bringing stories to life with voices and moods. Life is about creating joy, solving problems, and helping others wherever you can.
I enjoy Dungeons & Dragons, roleplaying characters, and coming up with creative, out-of-the-box solutions. I love playing video games with my kids, going to playgrounds, walking in nature, and studying the Bible at home with my wife and children. These activities bring joy and relaxation to my life. Something I never would have expected in my life right now would be living with my parents-in-law, as well as being the father of three wonderful daughters. A personal value I try to live by is what Jesus teaches: treat others as you want to be treated, and help those in need. Finally, my small pleasures: I love lasagna with lots of vegetables, I want to travel to southern Italy, I stick to a comfortable daily routine with the train commute, and I enjoy reading aloud to my children, bringing stories to life with voices and moods. Life is about creating joy, solving problems, and helping others wherever you can.
I enjoy Dungeons & Dragons, roleplaying characters, and coming up with creative, out-of-the-box solutions. I love playing video games with my kids, going to playgrounds, walking in nature, and studying the Bible at home with my wife and children. These activities bring joy and relaxation to my life. Something I never would have expected in my life right now would be living with my parents-in-law, as well as being the father of three wonderful daughters. A personal value I try to live by is what Jesus teaches: treat others as you want to be treated, and help those in need. Finally, my small pleasures: I love lasagna with lots of vegetables, I want to travel to southern Italy, I stick to a comfortable daily routine with the train commute, and I enjoy reading aloud to my children, bringing stories to life with voices and moods. Life is about creating joy, solving problems, and helping others wherever you can.
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Laten we het hebben over hoe maatwerksoftware uw grootste uitdagingen kan oplossen en groei kan stimuleren.
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© 2026 Pionect. Alle rechten voorbehouden.
Begin het gesprek
Laten we het hebben over hoe maatwerksoftware uw grootste uitdagingen kan oplossen en groei kan stimuleren.
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Laten we het hebben over hoe maatwerksoftware uw grootste uitdagingen kan oplossen en groei kan stimuleren.
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© 2026 Pionect. Alle rechten voorbehouden.
Begin het gesprek
Laten we het hebben over hoe maatwerksoftware uw grootste uitdagingen kan oplossen en groei kan stimuleren.
Begin het gesprek
Laten we het hebben over hoe maatwerksoftware uw grootste uitdagingen kan oplossen en groei kan stimuleren.
aanmelden voor de inzichten
Amsterdam
Rotterdam
Portland
© 2026 Pionect. Alle rechten voorbehouden.