Working at Main - Jonas Kruip

In this edition of Working at Main, Jonas reflects on his growth within the firm, the entrepreneurial leap of setting up Main France, and the opportunities that come with building a new office in one of Europe’s largest software markets.

When Jonas Kruip, Senior Investment Manager and co-head France at Main, joined Main in 2020 as an analyst, he wasn’t just looking for a job: he was searching for a place where strategy, finance, and entrepreneurship could truly come together. Five years later, that search has taken him from Amsterdam to Paris, where he now co-leads Main’s French office.

From Analyst to Senior Investment Manager

Already in high school, Jonas was drawn to the intersection of finance and entrepreneurship. After completing a Master’s in Finance & Investments at Erasmus University, he started his career in M&A banking. “I enjoyed working with founders and management teams, but the short-term nature of projects left me wanting more,” he recalls.

That search for long-term impact brought him to Main. “When I joined in early 2020, Main had just raised its sixth fund of over €500 million. I saw an entrepreneurial, fast-growing investor that combines M&A with the chance to actually partner with companies long-term. From the very beginning, I knew this was the right place to contribute, learn, and grow.”

At Main, responsibility can come quickly. As an analyst, he was immediately involved in live transactions and portfolio support. “The pace was at times intense, but it was exactly the exposure I was looking for. You learn deal structuring, financing, legal work, and portfolio management all at once, it shapes you into an all-round investment professional.”

Over the next five years, he rose through the ranks to associate, investment manager, and ultimately senior investment manager and co-head France. “With every step, you take on more ownership, leading transactions, participating in Supervisory Boards, and overall supporting management teams in achieving their goals.”

A Defining Opportunity: Setting Up Main France

One of the most defining moments in his career came in 2024, when he was presented with the opportunity to establish Main’s new Paris office, alongside colleague Sander Wens. For Jonas, it was the perfect embodiment of Main’s entrepreneurial culture.

“Entrepreneurship is what attracted me to Main in the first place. Being trusted to set up an entirely new office in France felt like a natural next step. France is one of Europe’s largest software markets, and we saw a big opportunity to bring Main’s proven model and buy-and-build strategy here. It was a chance to contribute directly to Main’s international growth.”

Since opening the office in February 2025, the Paris team has already completed six acquisitions, including standalone investments in Lyon-based PRIM’X and Paris-based Trace One. “That early success comes down to preparation, our borderless product-market approach, and having a great local team. It also shows that our value proposition resonates strongly in France: a specialized enterprise software investor with global reach and with local presence.”

Highlights Along the Way

Looking back, Jonas points to two milestones with particular pride. The first: the full-cycle investment and ultimate successful exit of Textkernel, completed in just a few months. “Being involved from start to finish was incredibly rewarding.”

The second: the rapid traction in France. “To already be seen as a credible partner by French entrepreneurs within months of opening the office makes me proud. Not just personally, but of what we’ve built as a team.”

Living the Culture

For Jonas, Main’s entrepreneurial spirit isn’t just a slogan, it’s lived every day. “From my first day as an analyst, I was given trust and exposure. That culture allows people to grow quickly if they show initiative.”

He also highlights the Main Social Institute, an initiative that he appreciates a lot. “It shows our long-term commitment to the software community by providing scholarships and mentoring to students from less privileged backgrounds. “It’s about being engaged with the software community that we like to work in every single day.”

Having mentored junior colleagues himself, Jonas has clear advice for new joiners: “Be curious, eager to learn, and don’t be afraid to contribute your own ideas. Show initiative from the very beginning: Main is the kind of place where an entrepreneurial mindset gets recognized.”

Looking Ahead: Main in France and Beyond

So where does he see the Paris office in five years? “[By then] I want Main France to be firmly established as the go-to partner for software entrepreneurs in France. That means a strong, diverse portfolio, our first French exits, and being active contributors to the local ecosystem through events and initiatives like the Main 50 France.”

And beyond France, he sees Main’s trajectory only accelerating. “We’ve grown from an €85 million fund in 2015 to €2.4 billion most recently, and I’m confident we’ll keep scaling. Cross-border build-ups, AI adoption, and continued consolidation will all play major roles in the coming years.”

For his own role, the vision is clear: “I want to keep building the local team, expanding our network, and strengthening cross-border collaboration across Main. Ultimately, I want entrepreneurs to see Main not just as an investor, but as a trusted partner that helps them build lasting impact.”