StartLAB.BRUSSELS

Closing 2024 Strong, Ready for 2025! 💡 This week, we wrapped up an incredible semester with our Phase 1, Phase 2, and researchers during the final Coaching Nights of 2024. Entrepreneurs had the opportunity to pitch their projects to a panel of judges, receive valuable feedback, and refine their ideas for growth. The dedication, progress, and innovation we've witnessed have been truly inspiring. We are so proud of everything they’ve achieved so far! 💪 As we close this chapter, we are already excited about what 2025 holds for these talented entrepreneurs. The future is bright, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to innovate and make an impact. 🚀 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧! 🚀 Ready to take the leap and join this thriving community of changemakers? We’re now accepting applications for our Test.Lab and Launch.Lab programs, starting in February/March 2025. 💡 Apply now: startlab.brussels/apply Whether you’re just starting or ready to take your business to the next level, we’re here to support you every step of the way. We can’t wait to welcome the next wave of entrepreneurs to StartLab! Eléonore van der Loos Victoria Lavenne Jesse Renard Caroline Cogels Maarten De Ruyck Agathe Piette Lea Buddingh Julie Janssens #startup #entrepreneurship #TestOrLaunch #Brussels #ApplyNow

✨ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭! ✨ Two weeks ago, our annual Pitch XXL event took place at the iconic Flagey Cultural Center. And honestly, it took us a while to come down from the high of such an amazing evening! 🎉 THANK YOU to all our attendees—500 of you! Your energy and enthusiasm filled us with hope and inspiration for the future! 🎤 A massive shout-out to our incredible pitchers who stole the show with their fearless storytelling. Your passion and authenticity demystified entrepreneurship and inspired everyone to take bold steps toward their dreams. Bravo! You really are the heart and soul of the Pitch XXL and of the StartLab.Brussels Community. 🙌 And a big round of applause to our partners! This event wouldn’t have been possible without your support. From our financial partners—Acerta, PULSE Foundation, Daoust, and BNP Paribas—to the venue, catering, photographers, videographers, and more, it truly takes a village to pull off an event of this scale. (See all partners tagged below—check them out!) 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧? 🔸𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨: The incredible turnout showed how powerful it is to create spaces where people can come together, share ideas, and build meaningful connections. 🔸𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦: Pitch XXL reminded us that showcasing stories of innovation inspires others to take the leap. 🔸𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵: Your insights will help us make Pitch XXL even better next year. Please share your thoughts in the comments. 🔥 Ready to bring your entrepreneurial idea to life? Applications for our Test Lab and Launch Lab programs are open until January 26, 2025. Whether you want to validate an idea or take your first concrete steps, we’re here to support you. 👉 Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/e82f2f9d Thank you all for making Pitch XXL a night to remember. Let’s keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive! 🚀 #PitchXXL #Entrepreneurship #StartLabFamily #Gratitude #StartupJourney #Innovation #Pitching Flagey, BRUT Food & Wine Bar, François-Xavier Rombouts, Quentin Ryckaert, Julie Rombaudt, Vincent Dussaiwoir, Linda Myncke, Caroline Haniszewski, Aurelien Marino, Diana Borcescu Antoine Kecskes, Méline Djender 🐝, Yaritza Laverde, Gauthier Bodart, Gregoire Heymans, Maxime Van Kerckhoven, Ferdaous L. & Hervé Maes, Quentin Caudron, Darya Shkarupina, Evelien Tempelaere Olivier Witmeur, Thomas Crispeels, Caroline Cogels, Eléonore van der Loos, Jesse Renard, Agathe Piette, Julie Janssens, Victoria Lavenne, Lea Buddingh Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Université libre de Bruxelles, UNIVERSITAIRE ASSOCIATIE BRUSSEL, Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, Solvay Business School (VUB),

“B2B sales isn’t just about closing: it’s about building trust and securing those all-important face-to-face interactions.” In collaboration with Start Lab ICHEC, VentureLab Belgium, and Yncubator, we gathered a dynamic group of entrepreneurs for an Interincubator Event last night, to explore key topics of the B2B sales funnel. Focusing on everything from prospecting to customer loyalty. We were lucky to have seasoned entrepreneurs share their insights during our conversation tables. A big thank you to Maxime Van der Meerschen from GiveActions, Anthony Koljaj from WeNap, Benjamin Hers from We Green Energy Solutions, Jasper Vandekerckhove from eBloom, Germain Deflandre from Elocos, Florian Etienne from Fika, Laura Dumont from Surveco, and Pierre Mason from Le Petit Namurois—your contributions truly made the event unforgettable! 🙏🏽 A few key takeaways that really stood out: 🔑 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. It’s about securing a face-to-face meeting. To secure this meeting, make sure to follow-up the real magic happens after the second or third message. Don’t hesitate to be bold—sometimes the best message is one that says, “I’d prefer a ‘no’ rather than no answer at all!” It saves time for everyone involved. 🔑 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠. Whether it’s on LinkedIn, email, or the phone, stand out by making your message unique. Send a voice note or even a video! Show your prospect that you’re not just another sales pitch, but a person who genuinely wants to connect. 🎥 🔑 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞-𝐭𝐨-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲. Your product might not always be clear to your client at first, so prioritize getting in front of them. And if they invite someone else to the meeting? That’s a clear sign you’re on the right track. 🏆 🔑 𝐂𝐑𝐌𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞-𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. Don’t wait—start using a CRM as early as possible to manage your leads. And remember, let your clients talk more than you do. Listen carefully, and tailor your approach based on their feedback. It’s one of the best ways to build trust and make sure to document all your interaction so you can personalize later interactions based on the infromation. 🔑 𝐁2𝐁 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞.  Don’t be discouraged if it takes time—sales funnels can stretch out over 600 days or more. But today’s connection could very well be tomorrow’s client. Patience and persistence are your best friends in the process. ⏳ To wrap up the evening, Nicolas Streel shared some great networking tips: tell stories, not pitches. People remember stories, not hard sales! A special thank you to Silversquare for hosting us. We can't wait for the next Interincubator Event! 🎉 #B2B #Sales #Networking #FunnelGagnant #Persistence #CustomerLoyalty #Startups #Entrepreneurship #CRM #LinkedIn #SalesTips #EventRecap

🚀 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩? 𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐮𝐭! 🚀 This week marks the launch of an exciting new program at StartLab Brussels, specifically designed for VUB researchers to help them explore the entrepreneurial potential of their academic work. 🎓💼 We are thrilled to welcome 18 talented participants into the program! Over the coming months, these researchers will blend their academic insights with business strategies to explore whether entrepreneurship is the right path for them. Their goal? To transform their research into innovative, market-ready solutions—and who knows, we might just see the birth of the next big 𝐕𝐔𝐁 𝐱 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐋𝐚𝐛 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐧-𝐨𝐟𝐟! A special thanks to Aushim Koumar from Konligo for sharing his journey and giving our cohort a glimpse into the challenges and rewards of moving from research to a value-driven startup. Stay tuned for updates as our participants progress, and watch as they turn their research into real-world impact! This exciting initiative wouldn't be possible without the collaboration of VUB TechTransfer and the Brussels Entrepreneurship and Innovation Lab. Interested in following their journey? Stay connected for updates! #StartLabBrussels #VUBResearch #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #TechTransfer #Startups Thomas Crispeels Marc Goldchstein Caroline Cogels

🌟 Reflecting on Our Coaching Masterclass! 🌟 On September 17th, we welcomed both new and existing coaches back into our community to kick off the semester with energy and excitement! We were thrilled to have Laurent Laurent Mikolajczak from Ovation.eco and BeeFounders lead the evening, introducing our coaches to the impactful Tgrow Model. This framework provided essential tools to effectively start, guide, and engage with our entrepreneurs. The session was a blast! Our coaches dove into interactive group exercises that brought their new skills to life. It was an inspiring evening filled with valuable connections and meaningful exchanges among our vibrant coaching community. We’re delighted to see these vital members in action, as they play a crucial role in supporting our entrepreneurs.  A big thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a dynamic atmosphere! If you missed out but are eager to join our entrepreneurial community, don’t hesitate to reach out to Eléonore van der Loos at [email protected] to learn more about our coaching system. Let’s keep the inspiration flowing! 💪✨ Caroline Cogels Jesse Renard Victoria Lavenne Lea Buddingh #Coaching #Entrepreneurship #Community #Inspiration #StartLabBrussels

💥 𝐖𝐨𝐰! 𝐖𝐞'𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐭 100 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦! 💥 A huge thank you to everyone who registered. 🙌 The FR program is now closed, but here’s the exciting news: there’s still time to secure your spot in our Dutch / English program! You’ve got 2 days left to join (until September 26th), and we’ve saved the best for you! Whether you’ve got an innovative idea and need help to kick-start your entrepreneurial journey, or you already have a validated problem and idea and want support to grow it – this is your moment! 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐋𝐚𝐛.𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬? ✅ Cutting-edge workshops ✅ Coaching sessions ✅ Coworking spaces ✅ A thriving community of entrepreneurs ⏳ Hurry! Spots are filling up fast! 👉 Register now and take the first step toward your future success! https://lnkd.in/eVTExSYr 💡 Know someone who might be interested? Feel free to share this with them! Quick, quick, quick! #Entrepreneurship #InnovativeIdeas #StartupCommunity #BusinessGrowth#Startlab.brussels Caroline Cogels Thomas Crispeels Olivier Witmeur Jesse Renard Eléonore van der Loos Victoria Lavenne Julie Janssens Lea Buddingh

🚨 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬! 🚨 Are you ready to make a real impact on the next generation of entrepreneurs? 🚀 Our coaching event is TOMORROW, and there’s still time to join! 🌟 Whether you're an experienced entrepreneur or intrapreneur, this is your chance to level up your coaching skills, connect with a vibrant community, and dive deep into the GROW Model 📈. Event Details: 📆 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍: Tomorrow, Tuesday, 17th September | 6:30 - 10 PM 📍 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄: Startlab.Brussels - Boulevard Saint-Michel 61, 1040 Etterbeek 🎯 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓: Interactive workshop, networking, drinks, and finger food 🍹 🎤 Workshop led by: Laurent Mikolajczak from BeeFounders Don’t miss out! Let’s shape the future of Brussels’ entrepreneurs together. 💡 👉 Register here before it’s too late: https://lnkd.in/easKVbmw Eléonore van der Loos Jesse Renard Victoria Lavenne Caroline Cogels Olivier Witmeur Thomas Crispeels Lea Buddingh #Entrepreneurship #CoachingCommunity #StartupSuccess #BrusselsEvents

🌟 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫? Do you want to guide young entrepreneurs on their journey to success? 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐛.𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 ! 🎯 Startlab.Brussels is a start-up incubator powered by ULB & VUB for young impactful entrepreneurs. On 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 17 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, we are hosting a special evening where we will delve into the nuances of constructive coaching, the essential distinctions between coaching, mentoring, and assisting, as well as the practical application of the GROW Model. This workshop offers you a unique opportunity to join the Startlab coaching community, enhance your coaching skills, connect with fellow coaches, and discover concrete tools to maximize the impact of your entrepreneurial coaching. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨 : 📆 WHEN : Tuesday 17 September from 6.30 to 10 PM 📍WHERE : Startlab.Brussels - Boulevard Saint-Michel 61 - 1040 Etterbeek 🕒 AGENDA: - 6:30 to 7:00 PM: Welcome & presentation of Startlab.Brussels - 7:00 to 9:00 PM: Interactive Workshop with Laurent Mikolajczak from BeeFounders - 9:00 to 10:00 PM: Networking - Finger food & Drinks Whether you're looking to refine your coaching approach or join an inspiring community that is supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, this event is designed to inspire and equip you to better support your coachees in reaching their goals. Join us for this enriching experience and help shape the next generation of Brussels' entrepreneurs. We would be delighted to welcome you on board! 👉 Register for our masterclass here: https://lnkd.in/easKVbmw For questions do not hesitate to reach out to Eléonore van der Loos ([email protected]) If you know someone who might be interested, please feel free to share this information! Caroline Cogels Victoria Lavenne Julie Janssens Lea Buddingh Olivier Witmeur Thomas Crispeels

 🌟𝐏𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬! 🌟 In his latest chronicle, shared in our newsletter, entrepreneur, writer, Giles Daoust (chairman of Daoust & CEO of Title media) explores the transformative power of the "𝐏𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝" concept. Inspired by the book "Pay It Forward" by Catherine Ryan Hyde, the idea is to not just repay favors but to spread kindness exponentially. If someone helps you, don't pay them back; instead, pay it forward by helping three other people. Imagine the ripple effect this could create!💫 Acts of kindness can be as simple as offering moral support or physical assistance. Start by looking around you—supporting family, friends, colleagues, or even strangers. Small acts can make a big impact. Businesses can also embrace this principle by supporting local communities and #young #entrepreneurs. The personal reward is immense, as creating positive change brings great fulfillment. Giles Daoust practices this philosophy and encourages us all to do the same. So, let's get started and pay it forward. Let's create a positive movement this summer! 🌍✨ Discover the full article below! To stay updated with our latest news, sign up for our newsletter. Link in the description. #PayItForward #Community #Inspiration #ChangeTheWorld #Entrepreneurship

What a night! Last week's StartLab Summer Reunion at the VUB was truly special. 🌟 We’re still reflecting on an evening filled with lively conversations, delicious food, and much-needed catchup-time with our incredible entrepreneurs, coaches, trainers, experts, and partners. It was the perfect way to celebrate and close out a successful semester. The night was full of highlights—from refreshing drinks and tasty hot dogs from Streat 🌭, to a heartfelt welcome speech from our director (Caroline Cogels) and an entertaining photo booth. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and to Studio Fiftyfifty for capturing the magic! 📸 For those who couldn’t make it, we hope to see you at our next event. Let’s keep inspiring and supporting each other. 🚀✨ Thank you for being part of StartLab.Brussels! 💗 SLB team: Jesse Renard Eléonore van der Loos Julie Janssens Caroline Cogels Manon Van Passel Lea Buddingh #SummerReunion #StartLabBrussels #Entrepreneurship #Networking #Community #SummerEvent #StartLabFamily