Interesting post by Erik L. van Dijk , our CEO. As you see, we are not big fans of hidden job offers that are mixed with investment requests into a hybrid package. We simply don't believe in them. All they do, is to make things more complicated. Especially, because they seem to be created to make things less transparent. Of course, activist shareholder positions can work. And our partners often like them. But when that is your intention, then please say so! #funding #jobmarket #transparency #communication #workandshares
Investor and Trader | Your MENA Partner | Finance & Economics Lecturer | Empowering Startups & SMEs | Advocate for Female Entrepreneurship, Ethical & Islamic Finance | Global Citizen | Corr Chess Master
"Cigars from Our Own Box": A Reflection on Hybrid Job Offers for Investors ================================================ As someone with a visible track record in Finance and Investments, I often receive a steady stream of requests from executive search firms, recruiters, and similar players. That’s part of the game, and I understand it. But lately, I’ve noticed a peculiar trend that feels… off. I’m referring to job offers that, upon closer inspection, are actually disguised funding requests. These offers are packaged to look primarily like employment opportunities—often listed on LinkedIn Jobs or similar platforms. The job title and description focus heavily on the “great role” being offered. Only by reading carefully (and sometimes scrolling all the way to the fine print) does the real purpose—securing investment—become apparent. Here’s how it typically works: 1️⃣ Component 1: The company needs capital (let’s call this “X”). This is the underlying ask, but it’s often downplayed or buried in the details. 2️⃣ Component 2: They offer you a job (remuneration = “Y” per month), presented as the main attraction. At first glance, it looks like a legitimate job opportunity. But if you’ve been around the block a few times, you quickly realize that “Y” is essentially a cigar from your own box (or as we say in Dutch, "sigaar uit eigen doos"). The company is effectively paying you back with your own investment, while framing it as if they’re doing you a favor by offering you a role. This is a far cry from the straightforward requests for activist investors you’d find on platforms like OpenVC and others. What strikes me is the growing prevalence of these offers on professional platforms like LinkedIn. Why not use dedicated marketplaces for funding requests where these arrangements can be discussed openly and transparently? This trend seems particularly noticeable here in the UAE. Perhaps it’s the allure of the residency benefits, the tax-friendly environment, or the high quality of life that makes this region a magnet for such hybrid offers. But I wonder: Is this phenomenon new, or has it been around all along, simply adapting to different markets and platforms? To be clear, I’m not against hybrid arrangements that combine investment with active involvement. In fact, I’ve seen many successful cases where investor expertise and time significantly enhanced the value of the investment. But the way some of these offers are structured—where the job is the primary focus, and the investment is almost an afterthought—feels like a strange role reversal. #InvestmentInsights #HybridJobOffers #HiddenJobMarket #InvestorAwareness #StartupFunding #ProfessionalNetworking #EntrepreneurshipJourney #UAEBusiness #PartnershipOpportunities #TransparencyMatters
