SEASONED FOUNDERS SCALING THE NEXT GENERATION_
We have completed the full cycle: founding, scaling, and exiting. Now we share that experience with ambitious founders.
We've Been Through It All
We are a group of entrepreneurs who have completed the full cycle: founding, scaling, and selling a company. We have guided our companies through the chaotic early phase, the rapid growth phase, and the complex process of a successful exit. We've had our feet in all kinds of mud and enjoyed it despite everything.
And now we're not sitting on the beach. At least not always. We want to share our experience with new entrepreneurs and have a great time doing it together. We know the highs and lows, the psychological rollercoaster of building something that impacts yourself, your environment, and society.
Rooted in Leuven
Leuven has an exceptional concentration of talent, driven by the university and our world-class research institutions. A true goldmine of intellect and ambition.
We all have a close connection to Leuven, but ironically we only met each other here after our exits. We each built our companies without a local support network during the crucial early and growth phases. That's exactly why we created Fons & Founders.
OUR FOUNDER COMMUNITY
Werner Camps
Co-Founder Boekarest
Co-Founder Boondoggle
Co-Founder De Hoorn
Andreas Creten
Co-Founder madewithlove
Co-Founder Pizzabol
Wouter Foulon
Co-Founder & CTO Medenvision
Founder & CEO Comate
Pieter Goiris
Co-Founder De Hoorn
Co-Founder Boondoggle
Co-Founder Het Depot
Bart Smeets
Co-Founder Dataroots
Jonas Tundo
Co-Founder Dataroots
Noel Wuyts
Chief Executive Officer
Equihub · Fulltime
Steven Waelbers
Co-Founder The Kobi Company
Co-Founder Bluestreak Systems
Manon Vandebergh
COO @Phished
Bert Willaert
Co-Founder, CTO
Haroen Vermylen
Founder & CTO @ Luzmo
Veronique Van de Kerckhove
Co-founder & CEO at VeroTech
Jan Verlinden
Chief Lemonade Maker at Ritchie
Sylvia Gillis
Co-Founder / CSO
Hans Vanderstraeten
CTO at Wieni & Partner at Craftzing
Jo Vandebergh
CEO at Phished - Bringme - Ertzberg
Stijn Vande Casteele
Cybersecurity Advisor
Sander Van den dries
Co-Owner @ Comate
Jelle Van den Bergh
Founder at Wieni & Partner at Craftzing
Heidi Rakels
Self-employed @ Sculptor
Gert Trekels
Co-Founder & COO @ Sentigrate
Steven Tielemans
Founder & CEO
THEO Technologies
Jeroen Roosen
Managing Partner at Intellus
Pieter Palmers
Senior Venture Development Manager @ imec
Dieter Nieuwdorp
Chief Commercial Officer - Residential & SOHO
Kristof Mertens
Entrepreneur | Executive & Mentor - AgriFoodTech
Wim Maes
Entrepreneur / Crossing Minds
Danny Lein
Founder and CEO at Twipe
Nico Huybrechts
CEO at Datashift // Entrepreneur // Belgium’s 40u40
Sam Heymans
CEO & co-founder bij LIZY
Geert Geuten
Managing Partner at MoJuice
Ludovic Depoortere
Strategy Lead & Board Member
Co-Founder @ TryandTell.io
Co-fons @ Fons and Founders
Bram De Muer
Co-Founder and CEO, ICsense
Thomas Demoor
Tom De Ridder
Owner and Product Architect at Rodec
Cedric De Dycker
Entrepreneurial investor / Grynta Capital Partners / private investments
Maarten De Cuyper
Co-Founder Elegant
Co-Founder Mutant
Co-Founder WonderWeekend
Dries Berckmans
Founder of SoundTalks
Boris Bogaert
Founder & investor at Pitchdrive
Wim Claes
Chief Business Development Officer, Co-Founder at ICsense
Jo Deferm
Founder Webhero, BoardX, JAYJAYS.
Sander Claes
Founder, Operations Director bij Webhero
Kristoff Corten
Orthopedic Surgeon at Heuppraktijk, European Hip Center and ZOL Genk; Editor in Chief Esy-Solution
Shoulder to Shoulder
Honest Stories
We share our experiences openly, the successes and the failures. No sugar-coating.
Listen First
We listen before we give advice. Your context determines the guidance.
Open Doors
We open doors without pressure. Our network is your network.
Transparent Investing
Without hidden agendas. We respect your pace and autonomy.
IS THIS FOR YOU?
For Startups
• Early-stage (pre-seed to seed)
• Innovative with scalable model
• Seeking mentorship, network, and capital
For Seasoned Founders
• Post-exit, post-scale, or M&A experience
• Active interest in investing in the next generation
• Connection to Leuven region
