Brussels, Belgium - October 24, 2017

Deloitte Belgium today released its Technology Fast 50, the list of the fifty fastest-growing technology companies in Belgium. In addition, Deloitte named the ten finalists for its Rising Star competition, recognising promising companies that have been active in the technology sector for less than four years. The Technology Fast 50 award will be given to the country’s fastest-growing technology company based on its percentage of growth in turnover during the last four years. The winner will be announced at the Fast 50 Awards Ceremony which will be held on 14 November 2017 at the Egg in Brussels.

Public or private companies headquartered in Belgium that develop a technology-related product or service and that have experienced substantial revenue growth over the last four years were invited to register for the Fast 50 competition for their chance to be nominated as one of the country’s 50 fastest-growing technology companies. To view the list of this year’s nominees, click here.

“The Belgian start-up scene is booming and some of the country’s most innovative and disruptive companies are ranked in the Technology Fast 50. With dedicated leaders and teams, and strong products or services, they are leading the way now and will certainly make even more of an impact in the future,” said Nikolaas Tahon, Managing Partner Deloitte Private.

Supplementary award categories 

In addition to the award for fastest growth, one of the 2017 Fast 50 contestants that made it into the ranking in previous years will receive an award for Most Sustainable Growth, which will be presented by ING. An award will also be given to one winner from each of the following categories:

1.            Hardware

2.            Software

3.            Communications

4.            Media

5.            Life Sciences

6.            Clean Technology

Rising Star and Most Disruptive Innovator nominees

Companies that have been active in the technology sector for less than four years are put in the spotlight in the Rising Star category. On 18 October the Rising Star applicants made a first pitch in front of a jury of Deloitte industry experts. These ten most convincing companies are invited to pitch again on 14 November:

1.    Jonas De Cooman & Michel De Wachter – Appiness (Spott)

2.    Karel Rabaut – Beeple

3.    Steven De Laet – InOpSys

4.    Georges De Feu – LynxCare

5.    Loïc Bar – Opinum

6.    Peter Soetens – Pick-it

7.    Lars Grieten – Qompium (FibriCheck)

8.    Frederik Carlier – Quamotion

9.    Maarten Raemdonck – Spencer

10.  Yves Van Ingelgem – Zensor

For more details, please go to www.fast50.be.

For the fourth year in a row Duco Sickinghe, CEO of Fortino Capital, will preside over the jury that selects the Rising Star. The jury includes distinguished members from the business community:

Omar Mohout - ‎Professor in Entrepreneurship at Antwerp Management School

Heidi Rakels - Co-founder & CEO at GuardSquare

Veroniek Collewaert - Professor in Entrepreneurship at Vlerick Business School

Christian Reinaudo - President and CEO at Agfa-Gevaert

Ben Piquard - CEO & Coach Principal at LeanSquare

Filip Rombouts - ‎ General Manager Digital Channels at ING

Nikolaas Tahon - Managing Partner Deloitte Private

Duco Sickinghe, CEO Fortino Capital: “Successful start-ups can count on a strong team, they have the right people in the right place. But most of all, they have clearly defined their unique selling proposition. This is the key for unlocking their full potential. The company that manages to demonstrate its maturity on these two points will be this year’s Rising Star.”

The Most Disruptive Innovator award is presented to the Rising Star nominee that has developed the most revolutionary concept or product within a specific technology segment.

Nikolaas Tahon: “On 18 October, we welcomed the enthusiastic leaders of 50 start-ups who presented their business case and their plans to further grow and scale their business. We continue to be amazed by the vision and determination of these young Belgian start-ups. This year’s Rising Stars have unwavering belief in their product or service, and that is what is needed. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and look forward to following their growth journeys.”

The 2017 Belgian Deloitte Technology Fast 50 competition is organised in association with ING, NetSuite/Oracle and Fortino Capital.