Belgium, 12 December 2024 - Syndicate One, the leading international network-driven investment firm backing Belgium’s most ambitious startup founders, has closed its debut fund at €6.5 million.
The capital raise, which follows a €4.5 million first close in late 2023, will enable the expanding investor network to identify, finance and support more Belgian stand-out founders, wherever they are and whichever sector they focus on, and help them on their journey to become tomorrow’s tech leaders.
Since its launch in early 2022, Syndicate One has invested in high-potential Belgian early-stage startups such as Techwolf, Aikido Security, Sirona Technologies, Donna, Cosmic Aerospace, Vendorvue, SAPI, Powernaut, Kennek and others, shared expertise with and connected their founders with a range of Belgian entrepreneurs and operators who have helped scale businesses such as Collibra, Deliverect, Datacamp, Showpad, Qover, Cowboy and Go Vocal.
Syndicate One is proud to become the first investment firm with backing from four governmental funds: PMV (Flanders), SFPIM (federal), Finance&invest.brussels and Wallonie Entreprendre.
Founders and ecosystem builders who’ve invested in Syndicate One’s debut fund include Matthias Geeroms (Lighthouse), Stijn Christiaens (Collibra), Marie Bouillez (Belgian Growth Fund), Pieterjan Bouten (Showpad), Dewi Van De Vyver (Effex), Jeroen de Wit (Teamleader), Nathalie Kornhoff-Brüls (GP, Noteus), Benoit Deper (CEO, Aerospacelab), computer science professor Karl Tuyls (ex-Google DeepMind), Elise Pepermans (CEO, ImmuneSpec), David Du Pré (ex-Showpad, Alan, Henchman and itsme), Tom Vroemans (Gorilla, Spencer, November Five), Victor Mortreu (Just Russel), Benjamin Schrauwen (Oqton, Oqcam), former BeCentral CEO Laurent Hublet and many more.
In another testament of the ever-faster spinning Belgian tech flywheel, Syndicate One is proud to welcome as investors also more than half of the founders and operators of the companies it has backed in the past, including TechWolf co-founder Andreas De Neve, Aikido Security co-founders Felix Garriau, Roeland Delrue and Willem Delbare, Botanix Labs founder and CEO Willem Schroe, Holly co-founder Boris Gordts, and Vendorvue co-founder Michiel Bearelle.
In total, more than 100 entrepreneurs have answered the call to back Syndicate One in its mission to level up the growing Belgian tech ecosystem, alongside many of Belgium’s most entrepreneurial families, including Balcaen, Vlerick, De Clerck, Leysen and Van Thillo.
Laurens De Poorter, founder of Syndicate One, said:
“Our journey at Syndicate One reflects the incredible potential of Belgium’s tech ecosystem. By uniting investors, operators, and founders, we’ve created a platform that not only finances ambitious startups but also provides the guidance and network they need to thrive. This €6.5 million close is more than just a milestone, it’s a testament to our collective belief in the future of Belgian innovation. Together, we’re empowering the next generation of global tech leaders.
Roeland Delrue, co-founder and CRO/COO of Aikido, commented:
“Syndicate One has been instrumental in Aikido’s rapid growth, providing not just capital but invaluable expertise and connections. Their support has helped scaling our business quickly and effectively. Investing in the fund myself was a no-brainer, it’s a way to contribute to the ecosystem driving our success.”
Andreas De Neve, co-founder and CEO of TechWolf, added:
“With approximately a third of its members as well as its investments being Belgians abroad, I have been very impressed by Syndicate One’s international reach. I’m proud to join as an investor and pay it forward by helping them support Belgian startups in scaling globally.”
Together with anchor fund investor Sofina and Bain & Co, Syndicate One recently released the first ‘State of Belgian Tech Report’, marking the maturation of the ecosystem, and will continue to develop initiatives to expedite this evolution.
The ongoing progression of the Belgian tech ecosystem was highlighted recently with Odoo receiving a €5 billion valuation in a €500 million secondary sale transaction, Lighthouse closing a €351 million Series C funding round, and many other promising businesses and initiatives.
Syndicate One and its investors are fully committed to continue driving the advancement of the early-stage startup ecosystem in Belgium to enable the creation and growth of more scale-ups and unicorns in the future.
Matthias Geeroms, co-founder and CFO of Lighthouse, said:
“Achieving unicorn status with Lighthouse is a testament to the strength of the ecosystem around us. Belgium’s vibrant tech community and the collaborative networks within it have been instrumental in our journey. In this space, no company succeeds in isolation—it’s the support from others, from investors to fellow founders, that drives real growth. As an early supporter and investor in Syndicate One, I’ve seen how their efforts are building a thriving ecosystem that enables startups to dream big, scale fast, and compete on the global stage.”
About Syndicate One
Syndicate One is an international network-driven fund making early-stage investments into high-potential Belgium-based and Belgian-founded tech startups. Syndicate One pools valuable expertise, an international network, and seed capital from a group of experienced founders, operators and professional investors to help early Belgian startups reach the next level.
In addition, Syndicate One frequently launches targeted initiatives to strengthen the Belgian tech ecosystem, such as the first standardised convertible note agreement fit for the Belgian market, and the ‘State of Belgian Tech Report 2024’.
In their first three years, Syndicate One has invested in Techwolf, Aikido Security, Sirona Technologies, Donna, Cosmic Aerospace, Powernaut, SAPI, Vendorvue, Kennek and other promising startup companies.
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