Scaleup Flanders

Just IN before the Xmas 🎄! Announcing our: 2nd Ecosystem Partner 🎁 YES, Scaleup Flanders is onboard! Another very positive and strong signal sent that Belgium Startup Awards will bring our 🇧🇪 startup ecosystem together like never before ❤️🔥 If you don’t know it yet: Scaleup Flanders’ mission is to boost the success rate and international impact of promising tech scaleups. Their expert support includes value-packed workshops and growth trajectories, personalized 1:1 coaching, networking, and thematic events that delve into entrepreneurs’ daily challenges and ambitions. Perfectly on target 🎯 But there’s even more! Behind Scaleup Flanders you will find back key stakeholders of our ecosystem. It’s important to mention them because they are providing precious support to make our startups and scaleups better, more conscious of their talent and so way more ambitious! We find back: 🟡 Agoria which is a Belgian trade association that represents the interests of the technology industry in Belgium. 🟡 Sirris | Innovation forward which is a Belgian nonprofit organization that focuses on supporting technology-driven companies, especially in the manufacturing sector. 🟡 VITO which is a sustainability research institute in Flanders that aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world 🟡 VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship which is the Vlaams Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen. 🟡 Vlerick Business School which is a leading business school in Belgium, known for its focus on entrepreneurship, leadership, and management education. Let's scale it up! 👏 #startups #scaleups #buildingbridges

🚀 Belgian tech breaks records in 2024! With over €1.42 billion raised, our ecosystem is proving stronger and more mature than ever. This record amount surpasses 2022’s impressive milestone and highlights how Belgian tech companies are poised to thrive on the global stage! Here are some key insights from the Agoria report that is published today: 🔹 Flanders leads the way with over €1 billion raised, driven by strong networks and experienced entrepreneurs reinvesting. 🔹 AI attracts - nearly half of all funding went to companies with a strong AI component. 🔹 Wallonia and Brussels are growing too, albeit at a slower pace compared to Flanders. 🔹 Despite challenges, Belgium has rebounded faster than some of its neighbors, thanks to strong fundamentals and a more cautious investor mindset. Here’s an overview of the analysis in Trends Kanaal Z (https://lnkd.in/ehQFzspJ) and La Libre (https://lnkd.in/eNQv8FPi)! Agoria Vlerick Business School Sirris | Innovation forward VITO VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship Startup.Flanders Syndicate One Benny Debruyne Pierre-François Lovens #strongentrepreneurship #betech #Belgiantech #scaleups #VC #raisedcapital

🚨 Are you ready to stay ahead of the curve in an era where AI is reshaping the digital landscape? 👩💻 Join us for an exclusive, hands-on half-day deep dive designed to equip entrepreneurs, product leaders and development teams with actionable strategies to thrive in a market driven by Generative AI. 🖥️ What to expect? ➡️ Discover the new SaaS and cloud paradigm: explore how today’s AI-first reality is influencing the digital product ecosystem. ➡️ Sharpen your development toolkit: understand how AI transforms the software lifecycle and gain insights from four real-world case studies. ➡️ Empower your product with AI: learn practical approaches to seamlessly integrate AI features into your offerings. ➡️ Future-proof your business: get expert perspectives on what’s next for the software industry, and how you can position your venture for growth. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain strategic insights and tangible takeaways from seasoned experts at Sirris | Innovation forward. Let’s shape the future of SaaS - together!🤝 Interested? Explore the full program - taking place in stad Leuven - via the link in the comments! Agoria Vlerick Business School Sirris | Innovation forward VITO VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship PMV Eximium Talent Osborne Clarke - Belgium Leuven MindGate Wim Codenie Nick Boucart Maarten Laruelle Ide Claessen Catherine Van Eeckhaute Isabel Michiels Frederik Tibau Marc Tiri Lien De Leenheer Gunthram Cornelis Mieke Mallants Sylien Kesteleyn Miguel Meuleman Veroniek Collewaert (she/her) Nils Wuytens Peter Verhasselt Charlotte Struye Xavier Walthoff Borm, Ph.D. Jelle Hoedemaekers Ferdinand Casier

Simon Tavernier, CLMP™, founder and CEO of Stampix, shares why joining our Scaleup Masterclass has been a pivotal move for his company’s growth. From building strategic partnerships 🤝 to scaling their customer base, discover how Stampix took the leap and leveraged our program’s network, expertise and support. 🚀 Simon reveals three key transformations that helped his company scale: 1️⃣ From hesitation to bold decision-making 2️⃣ From product-focused to truly customer-centric 3️⃣ From isolated to thriving in collaborative ecosystems Interested? 👩💻 Check out the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eRbFEPDK Agoria Vlerick Business School Sirris | Innovation forward VITO VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship Eximium Talent PMV Osborne Clarke - Belgium Sylien Kesteleyn Miguel Meuleman Veroniek Collewaert (she/her) Catherine Van Eeckhaute Frederik Tibau Maarten Laruelle Ide Claessen Nils Wuytens Charlotte Struye Lien De Leenheer Isabel Michiels Mieke Mallants Xavier Walthoff Borm, Ph.D.

🚀 Another inspiring One Million Club breakfast in Antwerp! This time, we were hosted by Gorilla - Energy data applications 🦍, where CEO Ruben Van den Bossche shared insights into the remarkable growth journey of his software company. Nearly 40 entrepreneurs joined us to network over coffee and breakfast, creating an atmosphere buzzing with ideas and collaboration. 🌟 Some takeaways from the session: 1️⃣ Culture is everything. At Gorilla, there’s no room for big egos or individuals who struggle to collaborate. A strong, cohesive team is the backbone of their success. 2️⃣ Impact-driven innovation. The motivation to launch new services or tap into new customer segments is rooted in creating impact. 3️⃣ Agility trumps rigidity. While having a vision is crucial, long-term plans shouldn’t be dogma. Gorilla revisits and refines its plans every six months to stay agile and relevant. 4️⃣ Pass the baton. As a CEO of a scaling company, once you’ve mastered a task, it’s time to delegate and take on new challenges. Flexibility and adaptability are key to thriving in this ever-changing role. 5️⃣ Patience pays off. In an early-stage startup, you see the impact of your efforts quickly. In a scale-up, actions take longer to materialize but have far greater potential for impact. Staying patient isn’t always easy, but it’s essential. A big thank you to Ruben and the Gorilla team for hosting such an inspiring session. It’s incredible to see how Belgian scale-ups are making a global impact. Wishing Gorilla continued success in their growth journey. 🚀 The sky is the limit! #scaleups #entrepreneurship #OneMillionClub #networking #betech #strongentrepreneurship Agoria Vlerick Business School Sirris | Innovation forward VITO VLAIO PMV Osborne Clarke - Belgium Eximium Talent Sylien Kesteleyn Catherine Van Eeckhaute Frederik Tibau Gunthram Cornelis Isabel Michiels Ron Schuermans Mieke Mallants Robin Mees Steven Everaert Nicolas Giraud Alex Reis Jan Limet Jean-Philippe M.L. Schepens Jonas Selders Sven De Donder Andries Paesen Maarten Laruelle Erik Laurijssen Joke Dehond Vincent Willems

🚨 November was truly a historical month for the Belgian tech ecosystem! 🚀 Lighthouse secured an impressive €350 million, setting a new record for a Belgian software company. At the same time, CapitalG and Sequoia Capital invested €500 million in Odoo through an impresive secondary round. As this was a share swap, Odoo isn’t featured in our top ten ranking this month. 🔥 Belgian tech is on fire - oh yes, oh yes! 🔥 Did we miss any funding rounds? Let us know, and we’ll make sure to add your company to the list! 💶 Agoria Vlerick Business School Sirris | Innovation forward VITO VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship PMV Osborne Clarke - Belgium Eximium Talent Catherine Van Eeckhaute Frederik Tibau Maarten Laruelle Ide Claessen Gunthram Cornelis Sylien Kesteleyn Miguel Meuleman Veroniek Collewaert (she/her) Nils Wuytens Charlotte Struye Mieke Mallants Xavier Walthoff Borm, Ph.D. #strongentrepreneurship #betech #growth #venturecapital

At Scaleup Flanders, we are proud to celebrate the success of Flemish scale-ups making a global impact. One such trailblazer is Gorilla - Energy data applications 🦍, the leading data solutions platform for energy retailers recently crowned 'Startup of the Year' at the prestigious Flanders International Business Awards 2024. This prize recognizes Gorilla’s remarkable global reach, commitment to sustainability and its role as an ambassador for the Flemish economy. Since its inception in 2019 Gorilla has achieved phenomenal growth, including a €23M Series B funding round earlier this year to drive their international expansion. Their SaaS solutions empower utility companies worldwide to optimise operations, navigate price volatility and reduce environmental impact. 🚀 Want to hear the story behind Gorilla’s success? On Wednesday, December 4th, the One Million Club will host its annual winter breakfast at Gorilla’s Antwerp headquarters. This exclusive event features co-founder and CEO Ruben Van den Bossche, who will share insights into the company’s remarkable journey, highlighting their biggest milestones, challenges and strategies for the future. Attendees will also enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet and the opportunity to network with like-minded founders and startup operators. 🥯🥓🍳 ⏳ Seats are limited, and with just one week to go, spots are filling up fast! 👉 Register now to secure your place and join us on December 4th for this inspiring event: https://lnkd.in/e_GDtaYG Agoria Vlerick Business School Sirris | Innovation forward VITO VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship Startup.Flanders Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) Eximium Talent PMV Osborne Clarke - Belgium #strongentrepreneurship #scaleup #energytech #sustainability

Exciting news! 🚀 Scaleup Flanders is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with PMV (Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen). Together, we're combining our extensive network within the Flemish tech ecosystem with PMV's financial expertise to provide Flemish scale-ups with robust support in financing and growth. 🤝 This collaboration ensures that scale-ups have access to tailor-made financial solutions necessary for sustainable growth, positioning them for success both locally and internationally. "The collaboration between Scaleup Flanders and PMV forms a unique synergy that accelerates the growth trajectory of Flemish scale-ups. By combining the tailored coaching and expertise of Scaleup Flanders with the financial strength and long-term vision of PMV, this partnership lays the foundation for a strong ecosystem that transforms scale-up potential into sustainable growth and stimulates innovation within the Flemish economy", says Roald Borré, Executive Committee Member - Equity Investments at PMV. Read all about it here: https://lnkd.in/eTJUvjNf Let's accelerate growth and innovation in Flanders together! 🌟 #ScaleupFlanders #PMV #FlemishTech #ScaleUps #Innovation #strongentrepreneurship Agoria Vlerick Business School Sirris | Innovation forward VITO VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship Eximium Talent PMV Osborne Clarke - Belgium

💥 BOOM! We are incredibly proud that the Ghent-based hotel management software specialist Lighthouse has secured a remarkable €350 million investment from leading U.S. investor KKR to accelerate its growth! 🚀 This record-breaking funding round instantly adds a fifth unicorn to Belgium's ranks. Congratulations to Matthias Geeroms, Adriaan Coppens, Gino Engels and the entire Lighthouse team - the sky really is the limit! What a phenomenal week for our Belgian ecosystem, following Odoo's impressive €500 million capital operation earlier this week! #strongentrepreneurship #betech #scaleups

💶 Curious about how to optimize your pricing strategy? Join us on November 28th for our 'Journey to a Better Pricing' session, where we’ll guide you through a proven roadmap developed by our expert Maarten Laruelle. Here are some highlights of what you’ll learn: 📍 Customer Portfolio Analysis: Understand who your customers are and the value they derive from your product or service. 📍 Segmentation and Customer Needs: Learn how to segment your customers to better align your offering and pricing. 📍 Value-Driven Pricing: Discover how to identify the right metrics to set prices based on the value you deliver. These practical insights will help you create a sustainable pricing model that benefits both your business and your customers. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your pricing strategy and claim your spot via the link in comments! 🚀 #pricingroadmap #valuecreation #scaleupgrowth #strongentrepreneurship Agoria Sirris | Innovation forward Vlerick Business School VITO VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship PMV Osborne Clarke - Belgium Eximium Talent Catherine Van Eeckhaute Frederik Tibau Ide Claessen Peter Verhasselt Nick Boucart Isabel Michiels Miguel Meuleman Sylien Kesteleyn Nils Wuytens Xavier Walthoff Borm, Ph.D. Mieke Mallants Marc Tiri Anke Albregts