Meet Rutger Wetzels: Leading the Next Chapter of Our Amsterdam Studio
After running his own AI company for 16 years, Rutger Wetzels wasn't looking for a change—until a LinkedIn post caught his eye. Now as the new lead of In The Pocket's Amsterdam studio, he's combining his hospitality background and tech expertise to expand the company's Dutch presence, focusing on human-centered AI solutions.
When Rutger Wetzels stumbled across In The Pocket's LinkedIn post, he wasn't actively job hunting. After 16 years of building his own company, finding the next challenge wasn't a predefined path. But sometimes, the perfect fit happens by chance.
"The first thing Kris, the Talent Acquisition Manager, said to me was, 'This feels like a match made in heaven,'" Wetzels recalls with a smile. "And he was right - it just clicked."
From Hotel Management School to Tech Entrepreneurship
Wetzels' journey didn't start in tech at all. He studied at The Hague's prestigious hotel management school, where he met his future wife. But even then, his entrepreneurial spirit pulled him in a different direction.
"During my studies, I had to call my parents to tell them we'd found investors for an AI project and I had to go to Kiev for a while to meet our Tech Team. They weren't too happy about that," he shares. That early venture sparked a 20-year journey through technology and Artificial Intelligence.
Interestingly, Wetzels' path has often intersected with In The Pocket's trajectory. "It's funny because when In The Pocket was founded in 2010, my former company was already there, and we had to choose what kind of path we would pick," he reflects. "We opted for Big Data, while In The Pocket chose mobile app development.”
Building on Strong Foundations
Two years into In The Pocket's presence in the Dutch market, Wetzels sees enormous growth potential. "We've laid important groundwork here," he explains. "Working alongside the Business Developer in Holland, Wouter Holten, and the team in Ghent, we're building momentum in Amsterdam, and soon we will expand our team with customer-facing roles to strengthen our impact in the Dutch market."
His previous experience running a data and AI consultancy with around 100 people gives him unique insight into the services model. "I know the business model from the services point of view In The Pocket is doing quite well," he notes. "Having been in it for almost as long as In The Pocket has existed gives you a certain perspective."
An Ambitious Vision for Growth
Despite his deep tech background, Wetzels hasn't forgotten his hospitality roots. "In hotel management, you can instantly see how your work and effort affects people," he says. "That's something I try to bring to technology, always focusing on the human impact and thinking about the user experience."
Collaborating with Maarten Kerkhofs, Chief Commercial Officer, and the leadership team at In The Pocket, Wetzels appreciates the balance of support and autonomy. "The market is moving incredibly fast, with an explosion of tooling and companies actively building AI applications," he observes. "Companies are asking how to start with AI, and this is exactly where our expertise comes in." With In The Pocket's full, end-to-end service capabilities in strategy, product, and platform development, Wetzels is confident in their position as a partner. "Our deep expertise, experience, and wide knowledge are key factors when it comes to delivering complex projects successfully."
"What excited me was the chance to build something meaningful," he explains. "It's not just about finding new customers; it's about creating something valuable that can grow and evolve." His approach blends enthusiasm with experience and ambition with responsibility. "That's what drives me," he concludes, "creating something meaningful while being responsible about how we use these powerful tools. We have a real opportunity here to make a positive impact."
