A Decade of Growth
Looking Into Belgium’s Fastest-Growing Tech Scale-ups
Executive Summary
Deloitte looks back at the past 10 years of outstanding accomplishments by the top tech companies in Belgium. We believe that this research offers valuable insights not only to founders and their investors, but also to policymakers responsible for fostering an environment conducive to the success of emerging growth companies.
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Key insight 1: Belgium’s top tech companies are becoming increasingly competitive
Key insight 1: Belgium’s top tech companies are becoming increasingly competitive
The Fast 50 ranking is showing a growing trend in both average and median growth percentages, reflecting the tech industry's increasingly competitive landscape. The threshold for entry has steadily risen, requiring a minimum growth percentage exceeding 200%. In the past four editions, all Fast 50 winners achieved an exceptional minimum growth rate of 7000%, which also highlights the remarkable progress, increasing maturity, and performance of Belgium’s tech sector.
Minimum growth percentage
Minimum growth percentage
The intensifying competition within the Fast 50 is further emphasised by the upward trend of both average and median growth percentages. This trend is especially noticeable in the record-breaking 2022 edition, where the median growth among the top 50 tech companies soared to an impressive 608%, accompanied by an average growth of 1482%.
Medium and average growth percentage per Fast 50 edition
Key insight 2: Scale-ups are embracing a growth-oriented mindset, where the focus is on investments rather than profitability
Key insight 2: Scale-ups are embracing a growth-oriented mindset, where the focus is on investments rather than profitability
Fast 50 companies are experiencing a decline in the percentage of positive EBITDA and EBIT numbers over the years, with EBITDA and EBIT margins consistently decreasing. However, this declining trend is less evident in gross margins, which suggests that companies are making more investments. Hence, scale-ups are increasingly prioritising investment-fuelled growth over immediate profit maximisation.
Median EBIT and EBIT margin per edition
Median EBITDA margin and gross margin per edition
Growth percentage throughout the years - Segment split
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Key insight 3: Belgium is characterised by both consistently growing and booming segments
Media & Entertainment, Life Sciences & Healthcare, and FinTech are consistently Belgium’s top growing segments. Despite being rather new segments in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50, Mobility and Digital Commerce have showcased impressive average growth percentages of 2432% and 629%, respectively, in the past three editions.
Certain industry sectors, which have been in the programme for at least six years, are outperforming others in terms of average growth percentages. The Media & Entertainment segment has emerged as a frontrunner, achieving an exceptional average growth of nearly 600%, driven by pioneers such as Venly (Rising Star winner 2022), Maxflow, and THEO Technologies. The sectors Life Sciences & Health Care and Fintech also displayed impressive growth trajectories, averaging 525% and 481% respectively.
Key insight 4: The Belgian ecosystem serves as an accelerator for start-ups
The Belgian ecosystem serves as an ideal testing ground and accelerator for start-ups, where the quality threshold ensures companies can mature into attractive scale-ups. Consequently, many scale-ups opt for an exit strategy after domestic scaling, resulting in new capital becoming available within the ecosystem, and thus stimulating a cycle of reinvestment and further maturing of the ecosystem.
The cash flow of a fast-growing company can pose problems, while market penetration takes time. So the first thing to do is to look for external funding for research and development, and immediately think international.
François Moonen, CEO & Founder Elysia
I perceive this as a good thing. It signifies that Belgian companies dare to invest more in order to grow in the long run. While this approach is already prevalent in the USA, it is encouraging to witness Belgian companies departing from our traditionally risk-averse attitude.
Chris Van de Voorde, Founder of JUUNOO
In my previous experience as a competitive swimmer, my coach prioritised the importance of consistently reaching the finals year after year rather than focusing on achieving a single peak year. At EyeSee, we tend to follow the same approach. We set ambitious goals and allow space for innovation, all while keeping sustainable growth as a key priority and ensuring that the organisation is well-prepared for it.
Joris De Bruyne, CEO EyeSee
In the technology world, there is often no room for a number two. Speed and global growth are indispensable. Still, growth at any cost is not acceptable.
Jan Hollez, Co-founder Deliverect
In Belgium, funding rounds are much smaller, government policies are complex and our culture is rather risk averse. As a result, startups must distinguish themselves more to survive, leading to a higher quality threshold. Belgium is therefore an attractive environment for foreign investors to identify promising companies. Our ecosystem is ideal for startups to scale and reach a certain level of maturity.
Sam Sluismans, Technology Fast 50 Programme Leader