Kik Pierie: From Professional Athlete to Bridge-Builder Between Sport and Finance
Last season, Kik Pierie hung up his football boots and traded them for his entrepreneurial outfit. For many, such a transition would feel like a jump into the unknown, but for Kik, it came surprisingly naturally.
A Natural Footballer Entrepeneur
“In fact, I’ve already been an entrepreneur in recent years,” he says with a smile. “As a footballer, you assemble your own team, develop strategies, and learn to deal with setbacks. Through injuries, I increasingly had to create my own solutions, and that already felt like running a business.”
The former player of Excelsior, FC Twente, Ajax, and SC Heerenveen founded Kikstart Capital: a platform that helps professional athletes invest consciously and strategically for the future. In May, he celebrated the official launch of his company, formally building a bridge between the world of elite sports and entrepreneurship.
“What makes Kikstart unique,” Kik explains, “is that I understand both worlds. Everything I try to teach players now, I’ve experienced myself the highs and lows, the mistakes, and the lessons.”
From a young age, Kik was thrust into the spotlight, experiencing more than most for his age, along with the inevitable setbacks. “Until I was twenty, everything went smoothly. I played around ninety matches with Jong Ajax and Heerenveen without even a bruised toe. Then, when I left Ajax, the injuries started. Looking back, I think maybe it was a sign that my path lay elsewhere.”
New Game, Same Mentality
Although he said goodbye to professional football, Kik retained the streetwise mentality he had developed on the field. “I don’t see my mentality as a high-performance mindset, that sounds cliché,” he explains. “But in a short time, I’ve experienced so many different things and had to act on them, and I’m reaping the benefits now.”
His discipline and perseverance remain unchanged; only the playing field has shifted. “I now work longer days than I did during my football career. My alarm goes off at seven, I start at eight, and often I’m still at my laptop in the evening. You’re not physically tired, but you need to stay mentally sharp. During the day I have meetings, in the late afternoon I train three or four times a week, and in the evenings I meet with clients or players. My social life is currently smaller, but that comes with this phase.”
Looking back, Kik knows exactly what advice he would give his younger self. “Surround yourself with people who are ahead of you. Broadening your horizon outside the football bubble gives you so much extra development.”
“What I’ve learned the most from is spending time with people from the financial world. I speak daily with specialists about my situation, players’ situations, or what’s happening in the market. That way, you get the theory and apply it immediately in practice.”
His source of inspiration? “Robert Kiyosaki. He dared to go against the flow early on and do what worked best for him. I find that powerful. Some of the things I talk about now might not be popular in football, but in the long run, they’re wise. You have to be willing to stand by that.”
New Rules, Smart Investments
If Kik were to create a playbook for young professional athletes on making smart financial choices and investing strategically, the rules would be clear and practical. “Investing isn’t sexy. If you want excitement, go to a casino. Patience always beats impatience. And if it’s on the front page of the newspaper, you’re probably already too late,” he says. These are down-to-earth lessons, laced with humor and realism, all about thinking ahead.
“Invest wisely, so that later you can still enjoy life, even when your career is over.” He also emphasizes that financial awareness isn’t solely the responsibility of the players. “Clubs and federations should prepare players better for life after their career. These guys are so young, and they have to manage sums and responsibilities that don’t really fit their age. That’s exactly why I started Kikstart, because that guidance is often missing.”
His greatest achievement so far? “Choosing Kikstart over extending my football career,” he says without hesitation. “Many people were surprised, but for me, it felt logical. It was atypical, but it was truly mine.” Just like on the pitch, Kik Pierie navigates his path with strategy, patience, and the courage to rewrite his own rules of the game.
Ready for more?
Read the full interview with Kik Pierie in our latest issue — Life After Football Magazine, Issue 87.
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