Nels Friets is co-founder and Executive Chairman of tryb and also chairs its Investment Committee.

Since 1985, he has been based in Singapore as a strategy consultant, managing various capital markets entities and more recently as an early stage investor – effectively spanning the various key elements of tryb.

During his time at CLSA, Citigroup, Chi-X, and Singapore Exchange, Nels was involved in fintech before it was known as fintech – leveraging technology to automate internal processes, maximising the value of data and introducing new businesses. Nels currently chairs the Investment Committee for Bulldog Innovation Group (an alumni fund which focuses on early stage investments, primarily in the US), sits on the Finance Committee for Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and serves on the boards of various companies (including Fullerton Fund Management and some fintech startups). He previously served on the Investment Committee of Singapore Tote Board.

Nels graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1983, where he majored (with distinction) in Applied Mathematics specialising in Operations Research. He loves puzzles of all sorts, is an avid card player and writes poetry. He keeps in shape with a combination of indoor rowing, outdoor cycling and the occasional Crossfit class.