In 2010, Steve Jobs announced the first iPad, but it was only in 2011 that the camera was added to the iPad.  

This camera triggered my entrepreneurial journey. 

Before that, communication on construction projects would happen via phone, email, and face-to-face meetings.

The iPad created a significant opportunity to disrupt the construction sector. Through an app, a foreman could quickly drop a pin on a drawing, take a picture showing the issue, and send a pdf report that needed no explanation. 

In 2012, I founded co-founded Aproplan. We built an app to help contractors, sub-contractors, and architects communicate better in the field.

We got early traction, quickly reaching €1m in ARR, raising funds from angel investors and reputable VC firms. We grew the business from a handful of people to 80 before merging with a Danish player to form LetsBuild, a 150 people-strong company in 5 different countries. 

I could stop the story here and say that everything was fantastic.

But that would only be one side of the story…

Like every entrepreneurial journey, it was a bumpy ride.

It was very stressful and frustrating at times. 

Early on, we had to do a management buy-out to solve a significant founders’ issue that almost killed the company.

We raised money from a reputable VC firm to grow the business.

This brought significant stress to grow faster, especially when you discover that international expansion is super challenging and so dependent on hiring the right people.

We merged with a company in the Nordics and almost doubled in size over night. And while the merger made a lot of sense on paper, merging two very different cultures made me realise it was all about people. 

Along the way, we raised and burned way too much money, hoping that money would solve all our growth problems.

Then COVID hit, and I burned out.

I had spent 8 years building a company. I was traveling 4 days a week, working weekends, and ignoring my family.

In 2021, I met Reggy and Pascal, founders of Q7Leader and discovered the People Model Canvas to me. I saw how powerful it was and all the challenges it would have helped me solve during my journey at Aproplan and LetsBuild.  

Today, I’m the CEO of Q7Leader and help B2B SaaS executives grow their business from 1m€ to 10m€ in a cash-efficient way so they don’t get diluted and keep control of their company. 

I write daily posts on LinkedIn where I share my learnings and the playbooks we use to grow Q7Leader in a cash-efficient way.

Thomas Goubau

This will be my new business OS for 2026.

It’s my biggest breakthrough of last year, and it will definitely change how we do business for the next few years.

I’m very curious…

Have you heard about using Claude Code for business (AKA not for coding software)?

I’m thinking about sharing my learnings here on LinkedIn.
But I’ll only do it if there is interest 👀

Would you like to learn more about this?

P.S. I'm totally obsessed 😬

Growing a B2B SaaS in a cash-efficient way by setting the operational foundations and make sure you have the right people in the right seat • CEO at Q7Leader • Operating Partner at welovefounders •

A 450-person company cut review time by 61%.

Now managers ask me to do MORE reviews, not less.

Two years ago, their annual cycle felt like torture.

HR chased forms.
Managers copied old comments.
Employees left reviews angry, not engaged.

They called us for a new tool.
They received a new ritual.

We killed long forms.
And we introduced:

• One shared General Expectation Profile for every role
• One simple D.O.T. structure for every 1‑1
• One 7‑minute prep ritual for every manager

Before a 1‑1, a manager now spends only 7 minutes of preparation per team member.

No more page-long notes, no more vague feedback.

During the 1‑1, both manager and employee see the same picture:

• Clear role expectations
• Concrete definitions, not gut feelings

Result after one cycle:

• 61% less time for reviews across the company
• Perceived fairness score up by 27 points
• Quote from one manager: “I love annual reviews.”

Performance management stopped being “evaluation”.
Performance management became “enabling performance”.

When managers ask for MORE reviews, I guess we created a system that works.

You told yourself you'd deal with pay transparency "in 2026" ... Well, it's 2026!

The EU Pay Transparency Directive is no longer a future problem. Deadlines are approaching, and most companies still don't have a plan.

550+ HR leaders have already joined our live sessions to get clarity on what's actually required.

Here's what we cover in 45 minutes:

→ What the directive actually requires (beyond the headlines)
→ A simple 5-step method to reach compliance
→ Where to start this quarter without getting overwhelmed

This Friday, you could finally have a clear roadmap instead of a vague sense of dread.

👉 Save your spot here: https://lnkd.in/er2CFqnz

P.S. We keep sessions small so you can ask questions - don't wait to book your spot 😉

Most founders have it backwards.

Last month, a former founder told me about a CEO in his portfolio who was perpetually overwhelmed. The diagnosis was simple: he was a 20/80 leader when he needed to be 80/20.

This CEO was dedicating only 20% of his time to high-leverage strategic decisions that only he could make, while burning 80% on tactical work others could handle.

Successful founders flip this ratio.

There's a classic example about a world-class surgeon who's also an excellent typist. Should she spend afternoons typing medical records? Obviously not. Her unique value is performing life-saving surgeries.

The same applies to startup founders.

The best founders focus on their "Zone of Genius" - where three things intersect:

1. Work that only you can do.
2. Work with the most organizational impact.
3. Work that genuinely energizes you.

That third element is critical. You might excel at financial modeling, but if it drains you, it's not your Zone of Genius.

Maybe yours is product vision, team building, or storytelling.

That's where your 80% should go.

I help companies' leaders to grow by challenging the issues, finding solutions, deciding a way to proceed and by supporting the teams on the path to success. 

Experienced Coach, successful entrepreneur, Business Angel and Board Director with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry, with blue chip companies and fast growing startups. 

Strong community and social services professional skilled in Strategy, Growth, Organization, Digital, Fundraising and Gouvernance.

Nicolas Debray

New partnership alert 🚨
Know where the Belgian tech scene is meeting 🇧🇪
In 2026, you’ll know exactly what, when & where to be!


Stop wondering where the magic is happening. Stop missing the rooms where ideas and knowledge are shared. We are officially dropping a BIG partnership to boost our community: Etoile x Belgium Startup Ecosystem is LIVE! ⚡️

🌟 What is Etoile?
The "North Star" for the Belgian startup scene 😜
It’s the platform that finally answers: “What’s happening, where, and when?” No more FOMO. No more searching through 10 different newsletters, websites, apps. Just every essential tech and startup event in Belgium, in one place.

🤝 The Mission
With the Belgium Startup Ecosystem, we’re sharing the same mission of building bridges between the different stakeholders of the Belgium Startup Ecosystem. 

By embedding Etoile’s engine directly into the Belgium Startup Ecosystem website, we’re giving the community’s best events the spotlight they deserve. 

We’re here to foster innovation, crush silos and create tremendous value for every stakeholder 🚀

Now is Your turn 🫵

✅ EXPLORE: Visit the Belgium Startup Ecosystem website NOW to see the new integrated platform. 
✅ POST: Got an event? Add it to Etoile and get seen by the entire ecosystem. 
✅ SAVE THE DATE: June 2, 2026. Startup Day. Be there or hear about it later. 
✅ WIN BIG: Startups, this is your moment. Apply for the Belgium Startup Awards and take your spot on stage! 🏆


The Belgian tech scene is leveling up. Are you coming with us? 💥

Board Director | Advisor | Business Angel Investor | Entrepreneur | ex-Google

A la Odoo? Are you ready?
To take your Startup 
From "hidden gem" to "household name"

€100,000 👀 

For the new Belgium Startup Awards 2026 season, we are thrilled to highlight an absolute game-changer for our winners: a €100,000 media budget powered by our tremendous partner, JCDecaux.

Why is this a total Game Changer??

Unmatched Visibility: A €100k budget puts your brand on the map … literally. This level of reach is usually out of reach for any early-stage companies.

Instant Credibility: Being featured on JCDecaux’s premium network doesn't just provide eyeballs, it builds the trust and authority needed to scale.

Creative Simplicity: With a massive network of Digital Out-Of-Home (DOOH) screens across Belgium 🇧🇪 , the platform is simple to use and incredibly flexible for modern and dynamic campaigns.

Marketing Leverage: Use this massive boost as the cornerstone of your broader marketing strategy to attract investors, talent, and customers.

With the Belgium Startup Ecosystem, and here the Belgium Startup Awards, we don’t want to just hand out trophies. We want to create value by building bridges. 

The most successful ‘startup’ in Belgium, Odoo, has been leveraging Out-Of-Home advertising like no other. So you too, make it a rocket ship for your brand awareness 🚀

📅 Apply for the 2026 Season!
If you are a Belgian startup with ambition, this is your moment. 
Don't let the chance to claim this unique prize pass you by

👉 Apply now and claim your prize

🚀 Calling Belgium’s Boldest Founders 📣 
The Belgium Startup Awards 2026 are OPEN! 🇧🇪

Are you building the next Belgian unicorn? 🦄
Do you have the traction, the tech, the product, the ambition to define the future of our ecosystem? This is your moment to step into the spotlight 🔦

The Belgium Startup Awards Season 2026 is more than just a ceremony, it’s a 6-month journey designed to connect the most promising startups with top-tier investors, corporate partners, best service providers, national media, …
Powered by the Belgium Startup Ecosystem

Why you should apply?
🏆 Incredible Prizes to Win
💰 €100k: Pitch for a chance to win a €100k convertible note
📸 Massive Visibility
🥼 Expert Mentorship: Exclusive access to Masterclasses.
🤝 Networking

Key Details for Founders:
Deadline to Apply: Friday, February 13, 2026
Eligibility: Must be registered in Belgium, < 10 years old, and < 100 employees
The Grand Finale: June 2, 2026, at The EGG Brussels

Belgium has the talent. Now, let’s give it the stage it deserves

Legal or finance?
Which one is slowing your startup down? 
We got something excellent for you 🫵

I’ve always believed that the strength of our ecosystem lies in the quality of the connections we forge. It’s not just about raising money, it’s about creating sustainable value for every stakeholder involved: 
=> founders, investors, talent and the right partners driving the vision forward.

That is why I am super happy to announce our renewed successful partnership between the Belgium Startup Ecosystem and dups! 🤝

I am thrilled to keep collaborating with Pierre-Alexis Léonard and Louis Vanheurck de Tornaco. They don’t just "do law" and “corporate finance”, they speak the language of the entrepreneur!

In the startup world, speed is nothing without a solid foundation. Whether you are just planting the seeds or preparing for a massive exit, the "boring" stuff is actually a competitive advantage:
⚖️ Crafting Shareholders’ Agreements that protect the vision from day one
📈 Developing financial plans and documentation that make VCs say "yes" during a fundraise
🔍 Conducting clinical due diligence when you’re ready to scale through acquisitions
🚀 Working with a partner who understands "burn rate" and "equity" as well as they do the legal code

Dups is the perfect match for this ecosystem because they bridge the gap between complex legal and corporate finance and the agile reality of a startup.

To celebrate this partnership and give back to the community, we want to help you scale. I am officially inviting all founders to apply for the Belgium Startup Awards 🏆

Winners will receive precious hours of expert consultancy in legal and corporate finance from the dups team to boost their growth trajectory.

The future of Belgium is being written by you.
We’re just here to make sure the ink is permanent 😜

Which part of the "legal and finance" journey has been the biggest hurdle for your startup so far? Don hesitate to share your experience in the comments or tag a founder who needs to see this!

The Belgian startup scene is shifting gears. We aren't just growing. We are building bridges that last to create value 🇧🇪

taplio

The Battle

Thomas Goubau

Nicolas Debray

Followers

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Performance ScoreThomas Goubau's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreNicolas Debray's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Thomas Goubau

Nicolas Debray

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Thomas Goubau's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreNicolas Debray's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreThomas Goubau's LinkedIn Performance