Toine Rodenburg is an international investor and entrepreneur who has been at the forefront of Internet innovation since the early days of the dot-com boom in late 1990s. Currently based in Portugal, Toine is known amongst his peers for his forward-thinking approach and collaborative style. He’s a co-founder of MyMalls, a company that simplifies cross-border shopping for customers in the Caribbean, Canada, and Latin America by partnering with global shipping giants.
Young Upstarts spoke with Toine Rodenburg about his unique insights into the world of online retail and investment, as well as his ability to spot trends and turn them into successful enterprises.
Q: You’ve been involved in the tech industry since the dot-com boom. What motivated you to pursue a career in e-commerce, and how did you adapt as the industry evolved?
Toine Rodenburg: In the late 1990s, the internet was uncharted territory — full of potential but also really unpredictable. Back then, nobody knew how to make money from it. It was all this giant game of trial and error, but I was excited by the possibilities. As the tech world evolved — and it evolved quickly and abruptly — I made sure to keep pace with it. I read all the trade magazines. I built up my network of software engineers and tech heads, and made sure I listened to what they had to say. I even consulted a few so-called gurus once or twice — although with mixed results. The point is, even way back then, you couldn’t afford to stay standing still for very long in this industry.
That much is still true today. The key is to stay flexible. It also pays to try to stay ahead of the curve by anticipating big shifts in the industry, but that isn’t always possible.
Q: MyMalls has been quite successful in simplifying cross-border shopping. What inspired the creation of MyMalls, and what sets it apart from other companies in the same space?
Toine Rodenburg: MyMalls was inspired by seeing how difficult it was for people in some parts of the world, like the Caribbean and Latin America, to purchase certain products and have them shipped easily. I realized there was a gap that needed to be filled. What makes our company different is our dedication to making the entire process as smooth and reliable as possible. We’ve partnered with top shipping companies like DHL and FedEx to make sure our customers get their orders without any hiccups. But more than that, we focus on making sure the whole shopping experience is stress-free, from start to finish.
As we say at the company, we deliver more than just products — we deliver a fun experience and peace of mind.
Q: You have a pretty diverse portfolio that includes assets in tech, international retail, and interests in other commercial ventures throughout the world. What sort of strategies do you use to manage all that, in addition to performing your role at MyMalls?
Toine Rodenburg: It can be a lot sometimes, I agree. To deal with it, I try to take things one task at a time. I find that I’m much more clear-minded that way. However, it’s not always possible, especially in this day and age. As a modern business executive, you’re pretty much expected to be an expert at multitasking. That’s something I had to learn how to do well over the years. I’m not too bad at it now. In fact, I can think of a few moments recently when I was trying to think through a problem, only to be interrupted by my phone going off with a business emergency or someone trying to reach me about something completely different. When that happens, I have no choice but to deal with it.
That’s just the world we live in. So, I guess time management is an important strategy for me. So is compartmentalization – which is a fancy word for keeping all the issues I’m dealing with separate inside my head. But I always try to keep the big picture in mind, especially with MyMalls and all the companies I have a direct interest in.
Q: What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs looking to break into the tech or investment industries today?
Toine Rodenburg: The best advice I can give is to take risks, but make sure they’re calculated ones, and make sure you’re well-prepared before you commit to them. But if you never take a risk, the odds are you probably won’t make a splash in the tech world. Another good piece of advice is to find experienced mentors and don’t hesitate to ask them the hard questions. I’ve mentored a few people over the course of my career, and believe me, we enjoy giving advice! Also, it’s important to keep in mind that failure is an important part of any venture, so don’t fear it. Instead, try to learn from your mistakes and then move on from them quickly.
Remember, it’s not about never failing — it’s about bouncing back stronger each time you fail.
Q: What’s next for you and your ventures?
Toine Rodenburg: I’m always on the lookout for the next big opportunity, whether it’s in technology, real estate, or even something entirely new. Right now, I’m interested in how AI and machine learning can be used to solve real-world problems. There’s a lot of untapped potential there, and I’m excited to explore it. For everything else, my focus is on growth and improvement.
But at the end of the day, it’s about staying curious and being ready to capture new opportunities as I encounter them. The world keeps moving, and I’m not planning on slowing down anytime soon.
