Experienced in business development, intrapreneurship, open innovation management, corporate venturing, investment banking, M&A, innovation banking, business planning, strategic analysis & implementation and coaching startups.

Passionate about entrepreneurship, tech, people-planet-profit, start-ups, crowdfunding, SME & startup financing & open innovation through collaboration.

Innovation Enabler Start it X (https://startitx.com/)
Matchmaker, Mentor & Community Manager Start it @KBC (http://www.startit.be/)
Co-founder Bolero Crowdfunding (https://bolero-crowdfunding.be/nl) 
Advisor KBC Focus Fund (https://www.focusfund.be/)
Strategic Advisor / Advisory Board Member (Self-Employed)

Public Speaker. Business Angel.

"I'll be back" 😎...
... coaching hardware startups this year! 🛠️

Working with hardware founders is super rewarding. While the "difficulty level" is high, the societal value is undeniable - especially in these times where geopolitics opens our eyes to get more local production back. 

Hardware startups are often the ones driving real change in sustainability and long-term value creation. We know that the costs are higher and the technical hurdles are steeper than in software. But the last couple of years we see more and more successful hardware startups scaling, doing a big funding round like the fantastic founders of @dripl - Colin Deblonde & Lucas Moreau announced this year, or doing a nice exit.

Softening the path for hardware startups became a mission for Start it Accelerate | @KBC and our Hardware program partner Leuven MindGate.
With this start it hardware program we give hardware entrepreneurs the specific attention and founder-first support they deserve. And by the way... with this newly announced Start it Fund we even might be able to financially support some of these hardware startups... 

If you’re building a committed, scalable hardware startup, I’d love to help you!
Want to see if we’re a fit? We’ll be hosting an online info session to explain how the program works and answer any questions you have.

📍 Online Info Session: 09/02 at 19:00 (link in comment)
📅 Deadline for application: 16.02.2026

Let’s build some real tangible companies together! 

#Hardware #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #StartItHardware #FounderSupport

Dirk Lievens

Business Coach | Chief Matchmaker | Independent Strategic Advisor & Board Member | Guest Lecturer

🚀 Applications are open for Start it Accelerate | @KBC – Spring 2026.

Are you building a committed, scalable start up and looking for founder-first support in the region of Leuven, now’s the time to apply.
I will be coaching founders again this year, and will

I’ll be hosting the info session in Leuven, a great moment to learn how the program works, ask your questions, and see if it’s a fit. 
📍 Leuven | Tue 3 Feb 2026 | 19:00 - 20:30
 👉 Register → https://lnkd.in/djn-VDHn
 📅 Apply before 16.02.2026

#Leuven #accelerator #startups

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