Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 programme

Raising the roof for tech innovation

Discover our 2022 Fast 50 ranking

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About

Every year we recognise the very best of Belgium’s fast-growing technology companies and Rising Stars, celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship. Is it time for you to join them?

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What you need to know

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How to apply

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Application criteria

Technology Fast 50

The Fast 50 is the main category of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50. It recognises and ranks the 50 fastest growing companies in Belgium based on revenue growth over the last four years.

There are several awards in the Fast 50 category: Fast 50 winner, Most Sustainable Growth, and one for each industry category winner.

Rising Star

In this category, the key is revenue potential rather than revenue growth. All eligible applicants are invited to submit an investor pitch and present it to a jury. A panel of independent experts from the technology sector analyses each entry and makes a selection according to scalability, experience, management team expertise, and highly promising growth.

Known as post-incubators, Rising Stars have the potential to develop into successful companies that stand out from their competitors.

There are two awards in the Rising Star category: Rising Star, and Most Disruptive Innovator.

The eligibility criteria

To enter the Fast 50 or Rising Star category companies must meet the following criteria:

Considered a technology company that generates a significant portion (> 50%) of its operating revenue from the sale of products, services and/or licenses that are based on its own proprietary technology or technology related products.

Founded in Belgium and with the headquarters in Belgium

Public or private and active in one of these nine industries:

Communications & Networking
Digital Commerce
Electronic Devices, Hardware and Semiconductor
Enterprise Software
FinTech
Life Sciences & Health Care
Media & Entertainment
Mobility
Sustainability

Technology Fast 50

Been in business a minimum of 4 years
Have base-year operating revenues of at least €50,000 in year 1 and €1,000,000 in year 4

Rising Star

Been in business for less than 4 years
Have base-year operating revenues of at least €50,000 over the last 12 months, or in the current year if the company was established less than twelve months ago

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Why apply

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Discover our 2022 winners

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Meet the Rising Star jury

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A select group of independent members

The Rising Stars are assessed by an external jury, whose members will be present for the Fast 50 Rising Star candidate pitches.

Duco Sickinghe

Managing Partner of Fortino Capital

Fortino Capital is a company that provides expertise and long-term investment capital to small and large businesses with growth potential. Duco Sickinghe was elected Manager of the Year for the growth and innovation achieved during his 10 years at the helm of the telecom company Telenet.

Veroniek Collewaert

Professor in Entrepreneurship at Vlerick Business School

Veroniek Collewaert is a professor, researcher and author who has published articles in journals such as Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice and Small Business Economics.

Heidi Rakels

Founder of Guardsquare

Heidi was the winner of the Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 Award in 2018 and the Deloitte Rising Star Award in 2016. Heidi was also ICT woman of the year in 2019. As a former judoka she won a bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992.

Tom Maes

Managing Partner at o2o

As a great cycling enthusiast, Tom Maes was part of the management team of o2o, the 2021 Fast 50 winner, from the early beginning, turning as many companies and employees as possible into cycling ambassadors. More broadly, Tom has an insatiable appetite for and interest in sustainable entrepreneurial ventures.

Benoît van den Hove

Head of Listing Belgium/Luxembourg at Euronext

Over the course of his career, Benoit van den Hove has developed wide expertise in financial markets, both from a legal and a financial point of view. Today he helps entrepreneurs and companies to raise funds in capital markets through the listing of shares or bonds on Euronext Brussels.

Ann Van Mele

Venture Acceleration Manager at Imec.istart

Ann Van Mele is passionate about innovation, embracing the unknown, and co-creation. She has helped many companies in different sectors to innovate and to grow. She currently coaches health start-ups on four levels: product, growth, market and investor readiness.

Rising Star process

Preselections: All Rising Star applicants are invited for a pre-pitch on Wednesday 21 September 2022. The jury, made up of Deloitte industry leaders, presided by Duco Sickinghe of Fortino Capital, will select 10 Rising Star finalists based on company data and the pre-pitch. The selected companies will be announced in the beginning of October.
Final pitch: The 10 Rising Star finalists will present a two-minute pitch in front of the external Rising Star jury on Thursday 27 October 2022. The Rising Star jury will deliberate and announce the Rising Star and Most Disruptive Innovator during the Awards Ceremony.

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The Fast 50 community

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Experience the excitement of the Fast 50 event

The 2022 Fast 50 ranking was revealed during the Awards Ceremony, as well as this year’s Rising Star. We also celebrated the fastest-growing companies in eight different tech sectors.

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