Aproveita Company
Robert J.C. Brouwer
Board chair and board advisor to PE-backed and founder-led scale-ups
At critical growth and transition points
Selected current and past roles. Logos link to company sites.
Board roles and track recordExperience
I work with founders, boards, and investors of digital marketplaces, SaaS platforms, and data-driven businesses at scale-up and transition points.
Most of my work has been in HR and Talent Tech, spanning recruitment advertising agencies, AI-led platforms such as VONQ, and global marketplaces including Jobrapido. I also work with data and SaaS companies such as Cohelion, delivering applied AI solutions in regulated environments.
My experience with applied AI spans commercial platforms, marketplaces, and data products. The focus is practical. Using data and AI to improve monetisation, go to market effectiveness, decision quality, and operational leverage.
I have worked extensively with private equity backed companies, including large global funds such as STG and mid-market investors such as Capital D. This includes working with different ownership models, governance styles, and expectations across both the US and Europe.
Through Aproveita Company, I support companies as they scale, reposition, strengthen go to market execution, assess and build leadership teams, and prepare for institutional ownership or exit.
This is not consulting.
It is senior board support grounded in operating experience.
When I Am Most Relevant
I typically get involved at inflection points in the life of a company, including:
- Scaling from early traction to a repeatable, monetisable growth engine, including reassessment of product-market fit
- Repositioning the value proposition to support the next phase of growth
- Rethinking go to market strategy across channels, markets, or customer segments
- Aligning investment strategy to gated go to market plans and execution milestones
- Assessing leadership, commercial, and product teams for the current and next phase
- Supporting scale-ups as governance, complexity, and expectations increase
- Preparing the business for private equity involvement or exit
Sometimes this follows a setback.
Often it starts while the business is performing well but entering a new phase.
What Changes When I Am Involved
The work is pragmatic, data-informed, and focused on decision quality. Typical shifts include:
The objective is not to add process, but to improve decisions at the right altitude.
How I Work
I work as chair and board advisor to founder-led and private equity-backed companies, primarily in HR and Talent Tech, digital marketplaces, SaaS, and data platforms.
Engagements are selective and typically include:
- Chair or board advisory roles
- Strategic sparring with founders and CEOs
- Product market fit, positioning, and go to market reassessment at phase transitions
- Leadership and team assessment, including senior hiring decisions
- Support through scale-up, repositioning, and pre-exit phases
I work alongside management and the board.
Why This Background Matters
I combine three perspectives that are rarely present in one role:
- Operator experience scaling digital platforms, SaaS, and data businesses
- CEO and chair experience in private equity-backed environments
- Deep expertise in HR and Talent Tech, monetisation mechanics, go-to-market models, and applied AI
Over the past twenty years, I have helped several companies exit successfully, working closely with founders, boards, and investors through preparation, positioning, and execution.
This combination enables faster diagnosis, clearer prioritisation, and more robust decisions as complexity increases.
Board & Advisory Roles
Strategic leadership positions across recruitment technology, data management, and talent acquisition industries.
Current Board Roles
Selected Past Board Roles
Chief Executive Officer
Global job search engine aggregating opportunities across 58+ countries. Part of Symphony Technology Group portfolio.
Non-Executive Chairman
Recruitment technology company empowering recruiters with efficient job and recruitment marketing technologies.
Board of Advisors
Global trade association for talent acquisition solutions, driving innovation in HR technology.
Board Advisor & Investor
Data management company enabling organizations to harness the power of their data assets.
Past Investments & Advisory Roles
Successfully exited positions
Board of Directors & Investor
Award-winning creative agency for employers. Repositioned for growth and acquired by Symphony Talent.
Board Advisor & Investor
UK-based recruitment analytics and job market intelligence platform. Scaled and prepared for acquisition by eRecruit/Bullhorn.
Board Advisor & Investor
Brazilian employer review and salary comparison platform. Supported expansion and readiness for acquisition by Glassdoor (an Indeed company).
About Aproveita Company
Aproveita Company is my advisory platform for board and chair work.
The name Aproveita is Portuguese for seizing opportunity. It reflects a mindset shaped by experience across markets and cultures: recognising inflection points early, understanding what is changing around the business, and acting decisively to turn those moments into durable outcomes.
It reflects how I operate professionally: focused, senior, and outcome-driven. The platform allows flexibility today while leaving room to expand in the future if and when that makes sense.
Introductory Conversation
If you are considering board-level support, want to stress-test product market fit, positioning, or go to market strategy, or need an external view on leadership readiness, investment pacing, or the use of data and AI in your business, you can book an introductory conversation.
Confidential. No obligation. Senior, independent perspective.