Invest in Ghent

We couldn't have asked for a better timing, to be honest. 📈With all the buzz in tech lately, we want to share the lowdown on why Ghent is the place to be. From 🤖 to  🔬, our city is a playground for tech innovation. Connect with brilliant minds, explore groundbreaking ideas, and be part of something extraordinary. Our city is a powerhouse of tech talent, visionary entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking investors. This general, comprehensive overview is the first in a series of 5 packed with insights and highlights. 📥Can't get enough? Reach out to our team for a print copy! 👉 invest@stad.gent PS: Are you missing something? This overview is an excellent start for a conversation. #TechCapital #GhentTechies #biotech #healthtech #cleantech #digitaltech

📣 We know #GhentTechies are always eager to share their thoughts and ideas. Care to cast a vote? 🏆Several great projects from Ghent have been nominated for the prestigious Henry van de Velde Awards. 🔹 Business Innovation: Open Access Breast Couch by Max Schoepen, Radion-D, and UZ Gent. This project is revolutionising healthcare with its innovative design and accessibility. 🔹 Design Research and Environment: Gent Waste Brick for DING by BC materials, Design Museum Ghent, and Sogent. Turning waste into sustainable building materials, this project is a testament to our commitment to environmental sustainability. 🔹 Spaces: Our very own City Office 'Stadskantoor Gent' by GELO and Stad Gent. This space is not only a great place to work, but it's also a perfect blend of functionality and design. Let's continue to support and promote the incredible talent and creativity that make our city such a vibrant hub! #TechCapital #TechInnovation #biotech #healthtech #cleantech #digitaltech

📣 Are you ready for the next step? Check out the Circular Growth Accelerator! Whether you're already running a circular start-up or nurturing an innovative idea, this program is your gateway to sustainable growth and positive impact. What can you expect? ✅ Guidance from seasoned mentors and circular business experts ✅ Tailor your business model to your goals and amplify your impact ✅ Access to an extensive network of circular entrepreneurs in #Flanders 📅 Applications are open until January 20th – don't miss this chance to take this next step today! 👉 https://bit.ly/40Hpet5 Mieke Pieters #TechCapital #GhentTechies #cleantech #circulareconomy #sustainability

📅 Mark your calendars for December 17th That's when we're hosting a #BusinessBites session (Dutch) on how to pitch to investors, hosted by the newly crowned #unicorn, Lighthouse! 🎤 Speakers of the evening: 🟪 Matthias Geeroms, CFO and co-founder of Lighthouse He knows the ins and outs of convincing investors like no other and just helped his company raise a staggering €350 million. He'll share how he learned to convey his story. 🟪 Sabine Vermassen, Managing Partner at Capricorn Partners Since 1991, she's been working as an advisor for various venture capitalist funds and their portfolio companies. 🟪 Glenn Gezels, VC Chapter Lead at BVA | Belgian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association Venture Capital & Private Equity Association He supports B2B SaaS start-ups- and scale-ups in securing funding and maximising their exit value. 🤔 Why join? Learn how to prepare and deliver a compelling pitch that captures investor interest. Whether you're a start-up founder or an aspiring entrepreneur, this session is packed with valuable tips from the best of the business. 🚀Elevate your game and register now! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eH4GQXv3 Ondernemen in Gent #TechCapital #GhentTechies #biotech #healthtech #cleantech #digitaltech #PitchPerfect #StartupSuccess

🙌 On this 'day of the entrepreneur,' we celebrate those who drive innovation. Those who relentlessly pursue groundbreaking ideas and show an unwavering dedication to tech. Those who are an inspiration to us all. The tech-savvy visionaries with resilient, bright minds, eager to collaborate with others, scale their product or business and take over the world. The researchers who've just had an epiphany about their subjects. The students who know they can make a difference in the world, but are still discovering how exactly. 🎢 We know the journey can be challenging. Whether you're looking for the right funding or if the molecules aren't falling into place. Whether you're assembling a solid team or navigating these waters alone, remember: you're not alone. And the incredible #GhentTechie community is here to offer support. You got this! #startup #scaleup #spinoff #sme #TechCapital #GhentTechies #biotech #healthtech #cleantech #digitaltech 📸 AI

🏨Room service just delivered $369M funding to the #unicorn suite! We are beyond thrilled, excited, awe-struck and amazed to learn that Ghent-based Lighthouse has secured a whopping €350 million in funding from private equity giant KKR, catapulting their valuation to over $1 billion! Congratulations Matthias Geeroms, Adriaan Coppens and Gino Engels! 🦄This achievement marks Lighthouse as the fifth (!) Belgian unicorn, joining the ranks of team.blue and Deliverect, both also proudly rooted in Ghent. 💡These success stories aren't just milestones; they're the building blocks of our thriving tech ecosystem. Each breakthrough reinforces Ghent's status as the beating heart of Belgium's tech innovation. To all of these incredible tech pioneers – thank you for choosing Ghent as your home. Your achievements are our pride, and together, we are shaping the future of technology. #TechCapital #GhentTechies #digitaltech #futureoftech

Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant is a state-of-the-art pilot facility ready to scale your biobased innovation. And now, they've just unlocked a game-changer: successfully commissioning the 𝟳𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗟 𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 demonstrating Vivici Vivitein™ BLG precision fermentation technology. This engineering marvel of bioreactor has done its first proper run, a massive success for the entire team. "While helping companies to bridge the Valley of Death in innovation by offering them scale-up support up to 15,000 L scale, we often observed they got stuck a second time, i.e. when going to industrial manufacturing scale. There are not only the physical effects of scale, there is also often the requirement to invest significantly in the downstream unit operations at larger scale CMO plants, something we avoid at BBEPP because we have all the downstream units matching the 75,000 L fermentation scale." Hendrik Waegeman The fully equipped 75,000 L fermentation line was realised with the support of Bio Base DEMO, a 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗘𝗨 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 (𝗥𝗥𝗙) 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 with contract Nr. VV021/02 and Invest in Ghent. PS: Award-winning acting skills and signature communication style. A masterpiece! #TechCapital #GhentTechies #biotech

📣 This afternoon, some of Ghent's brightest minds are headed to Brussels to discuss the future of health data. 🌐 Departement Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie (EWI) is hosting an event to discuss the European Health Data Space (EHDS) implementation. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eUKgnfWK 🔹 Professor Elfride De Baere from Ghent University will explore the societal potential of genetic centres. 🔹 Professor Marthe De Boevre will share insights on the 'Gezondheidsmonitor' and its integration into the EHDS. 🔹 Filip Pattyn from FAQIR Institute will discuss use cases in diabetes management. Will you be joining and connecting with some of Ghent's #healthtech pioneers? Wishing you all an inspiring day! #TechCapital #GhentTechies

🛬 Slush - we have arrived! No snow (just yet?), but bright, blue skies. 💡 This premier global startup event is set to draw an impressive crowd of 13,000 attendees from over 100 countries over the course of two days. Expect more #startups and #investors to converge in Helsinki than ever before. 👋 Our team members Dieter De Smedt and Eva Van der Gucht will be eager to connect and answer any questions you might have. But seriously, please address them by their nicknames 'DigitalDiva' Eva and 'SoGoodToBeTheBoss' Dieter. If you're the first one, you're in for a treat 🐶 Speak soon! #TechCapital #GhentTechies #digitaltech #innovation 📸 (C) Petri Anttila and Eva Van der Gucht

📢 Important news for SMEs: as of November 1, SMEs can benefit from 4-5% reduction in labour costs for jobs created through investments in designated support zones. This initiative by the Flemish and federal governments has recently been expanded, allowing businesses in Ghent to qualify for this advantage. 💡 What's the deal? ✅ 25% exemption on payroll tax for 2 years per new job created ✅ Jobs must be maintained for at least 3 years to qualify This will allow our SMEs to grow and thrive while contributing to job creation in areas that need it most. Learn more about this measure, the conditions, eligible investments, and the application procedure via VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship 👉https://lnkd.in/ePb72SMM #TechCapital #GhentTechies #biotech #healthtech #cleantech #digitaltech #businessgrowth #sme