Finance.Brussels

What Finance.Brussels does

Finance&invest.brussels is a public investment company (société anonyme d'intérêt public) headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, majority-owned by the Brussels-Capital Region (69.63%) with minority shareholders including P&V Assurances, Ethias, BNP Paribas Fortis, Belfius, ING Belgique, and AG Insurance. Founded in 1996 (formerly SRIB, rebranded in 2019), the institution provides a comprehensive suite of financing solutions to Brussels-based enterprises, organized across debt products (Open Up micro-credits €5K-€30K, Rise Up loans up to €100K, Brufin+ co-financing up to €200K, Energy&Reno loans up to €150K, COOP US up to €250K, CITIZ US up to €150K), equity participations (€100K-€5M), guarantee products (Garantie Plus, standard guarantees), mezzanine instruments (convertible notes, subordinated debt), an Economic Transition Fund, and a peer-to-peer crowdfunding platform (Prêt Proxi). Its wholly-owned subsidiary Brusoc specializes in micro-financing for very small enterprises, social enterprises, and cooperatives.

The company operates as a complementary public financier rather than a competitor to commercial banks, acting as a co-investor and catalyst that completes funding rounds and facilitates bank credit access through guarantees. Distribution occurs via a direct website application portal, a dense network of regional partner organizations (Actiris, citydev.brussels, Innoviris, hub.brussels, Beci, 1819 service, GEL), and direct advisory consultations. Capital sourcing combines a regional budget envelope (€250 million), European programs (EIB, EIF, InvestEU enabling over €600 million in SME loans), and institutional shareholder support.

The customer base spans more than 50 named enterprises across hospitality, food and beverage, fintech, mobility, real estate, construction, sustainability, creative industries, and pharmaceuticals. Notable portfolio companies include AI-powered hospitality platform Otamiser (co-invested $2M, generating $2.9M ARR), textile recycling startup Resortecs (€1M), events tech AnyKrowd (€1M), fintech Recovr (€1.1M), legacy brands Delvaux and Sterop, and micro-entrepreneurs funded via Brusoc. Leadership comprises CEO Pierre Hermant, Deputy CEOs Béatrice de Mahieu and Franc Bogovic, CFO Guillaume Lamy, CIO Barbara Roose, and COO Mathilde Levy.

Name

Finance.Brussels

Legal name

finance&invest.brussels s.a.

Website

https://finance.brussels

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Finance&invest.brussels is a public investment company majority-owned by the Brussels-Capital Region, providing loans (€5K-€5M), equity participations, guarantees, and crowdfunding to Brussels-based enterprises from micro-entrepreneurs to scale-ups, via its subsidiary Brusoc and regional partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Development Finance / SME Investment Banking

NAICS

Other Financial Investment Activities (5239), Miscellaneous Intermediation (52391)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Middle-Market Lending (FSANADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB), Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG)

Keywords

• SME business financing
• Regional investment loans
• Startup equity participation
• Bank guarantee products
• Micro-credit lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Debt financing (loans): Provides various loan products including micro-credits (Open Up), growth loans (Rise Up, Brufin+), energy renovation loans (Energy&Reno), cooperative financing (COOP US), social enterprise loans (CITIZ US), convertible notes, subordinated debt, and the Economic Transition Fund. Loans range from €5,000 to €5 million, targeting TPE, startups, scale-ups, and mature SMEs in the Brussels-Capital Region.
2. Equity participations: Takes minority equity stakes in startups, scale-ups, and innovative SMEs alongside other shareholders (family, industrial, or financial investors). Investment range of €100,000 to €5 million for the startup/scale-up/PME segment and up to €150,000 for TPE/social enterprises/cooperatives.
3. Guarantee products: Provides bank guarantee products (Garantie Plus, standard guarantees) that strengthen collateral required by banks for loan approvals, facilitating access to bank credit for Brussels enterprises. In 2023, guarantees supported €44 million in bank credits.
4. Prêt Proxi (crowdfunding): A participatory financing platform enabling individuals to lend savings to finance Brussels-based business activities, with tax advantages for Brussels lenders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Finance.Brussels (finance&invest.brussels) is a public regional investment company providing a suite of financing solutions to Brussels-based enterprises. Its offering spans micro-credits and small business loans, co-financing loans, guarantee products facilitating bank credit, minority equity participations in startups and scale-ups, mezzanine instruments (convertible notes, subordinated debt), crowdfunding, and specialized financing for cooperatives and social enterprises. Investment sizes range from €5,000 to €5 million, delivered directly or via its Brusoc subsidiary.

Product overview

Finance&Invest Brussels operates as a public interest company providing a comprehensive suite of financing solutions for Brussels-based businesses. The offering is organized as a multi-product portfolio spanning: (1) Micro-loan products for independents (Open Up: 5,000-30,000€), (2) Small business loans (Rise Up: up to 100,000€; Brufin+: up to 200,000€; Energy&Reno: up to 150,000€), (3) Social economy financing (CITIZ US: up to 150,000€; COOP US: up to 250,000€), (4) Guarantee products (Garantie Plus, Garanties), (5) Equity participation for startups/scale-ups, (6) Alternative lending instruments (convertible notes, subordinated debt, Economic Transition Fund), and (7) The Brusoc subsidiary serving micro-enterprises and cooperatives. All products are delivered directly by Finance&Invest Brussels or through banking partners, with investment ranges from 5,000€ to 5 million€.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Up Micro-credit product offering loans of €5,000 to €30,000 for individuals launching as independent professionals in Brussels.
• Rise Up Loan product with a maximum of €100,000 for creating and developing businesses (SC, SRL, SCRL, etc.) in Brussels.
• Brufin+ Co-financing product with a maximum of €200,000 to support business growth in Brussels.
• Energy&Reno Loan product with a maximum of €150,000 to optimize the energy performance of small businesses in Brussels.
• COOP US Capital/loan financing with a maximum of €250,000 for the creation or development of cooperatives in Brussels.
• CITIZ US Loan product with a maximum of €150,000 for social enterprises in Brussels.
• Garantie Plus Guaranteed loan formula with guarantees and loans up to €50,000 introduced through banks, often enabling access to financing that would otherwise be unavailable.
• Garanties (Guarantees) Reinforcement of securities required by banks for obtaining bank credit, requested directly by the bank.
• Prêt Proxi Peer-to-peer lending platform that mobilizes savings from individuals to finance Brussels-based business activities, with tax advantages for Brussels lenders.
• Prises de participation (Equity Participation) Capital investments in startups and scale-ups with investment projects, acting as a minority shareholder alongside other shareholders. Investment range of €100,000 to €5 million for startups, scale-ups and SMEs.
• Prêt convertible (Convertible Loan) Mezzanine-type loan with conversion provisions allowing the outstanding balance to be converted into shares during a determined period.
• Prêt subordonné (Subordinated Loan) The riskiest debt instrument where repayment is subordinated to senior debt typically offered by banks.
• Fonds de Transition Economique (Economic Transition Fund) Loan supporting businesses actively engaged in economic transition, adopting more environmentally friendly business models.
• Brusoc Subsidiary of finance&invest.brussels providing financing solutions for very small enterprises, social enterprises, and cooperatives (investment range: €5,000 to €150,000).

Quantifiable outcome

• €44 million in bank credits facilitated for Brussels enterprises in 2023 through guarantee products
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers51 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BrusoccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrusoc is the specialized subsidiary of finance&invest.brussels dedicated to financing independent workers, small enterprises, social enterprises, and cooperatives. It offers Open Up micro-credits, Rise Up loans, Brufin+ co-financing, COOP US cooperative financing, CITIZ US social enterprise loans, Garantie Plus, and Prêt Proxi crowdfunding.
• Start it @KBCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinance&invest.brussels became a partner of Start it @KBC, the large accelerator program, to support startups in the Brussels ecosystem.
• ActirisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional employment agency of the Brussels-Capital Region, acting as a referral partner that orients job seekers with entrepreneurial ambitions toward finance&invest.brussels financing solutions.
• Citydev.brusselsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional development agency for Brussels that supports economic development projects and refers entrepreneurs to finance&invest.brussels for complementary financing.
• InnovirisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrussels Institute for Research and Innovation refers innovative startups and R&D projects to finance&invest.brussels for equity and loan financing.
• Hub.brusselsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe regional agency for business support and internationalization refers entrepreneurs seeking financing to finance&invest.brussels and collaborates on supporting Brussels startups and scale-ups.
• Guichets d'Economie Locale (GEL)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal economic contact points across Brussels neighborhoods that provide first-line information and refer entrepreneurs to finance&invest.brussels financing solutions.
• Beci (Brussels Enterprises, Contact & Interaction)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Brussels business association and chamber of commerce serves as a referral partner connecting businesses to finance&invest.brussels financing products.
• 1819 ServiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe primary information service for all entrepreneurs in the Brussels-Capital Region, providing first-line guidance on the Brussels institutional network and directing entrepreneurs to finance&invest.brussels.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gimv: Belgian-listed private equity and venture capital firm investing in SMEs and scale-ups across Belgium and Europe. Closely comparable equity participation activity in the Belgian mid-market and startup ecosystem.
• PMV (ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen): Flemish regional investment company financing Flemish SMEs and startups via loans, equity, and guarantees. Direct counterpart serving Flanders with a near-identical mandate and product structure to Finance&invest.brussels.
• Wallonie Entreprendre: Walloon regional investment company providing loans, equity, and guarantees to Wallonia-based SMEs. Direct counterpart to Finance&invest.brussels for the French-speaking southern region of Belgium, with the same public-mission mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Sofina: Belgian-listed investment company with diversified equity stakes in growth-stage European companies. Comparable minority equity participation model, though operating at larger ticket sizes and pan-European scale.
• Bpifrance: France's national public investment bank providing financing, guarantees, equity, and innovation support to French SMEs and startups. Operates at vastly larger national scale but shares the same public-mission development finance model as Finance&invest.brussels.
• KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau): German state development bank providing loans, equity, and guarantees to German SMEs. Shares the public-mission mandate and EIB-style capitalization approach with Finance&invest.brussels, though at national scale.

Others

• European Investment Fund (EIF): EU-level fund-of-funds providing counter-guarantees and equity to Belgian regional investment companies including Finance&invest.brussels via InvestEU. Direct upstream capital partner in the same ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Start it @KBC: Belgian startup accelerator affiliated with KBC bank, with which Finance&invest.brussels is a confirmed partner. Provides accelerator services and seed financing to Belgian startups, partially overlapping the startup/scale-up customer segment.
• Sharkbuild / BeAngels: Belgian business angel network investing equity tickets in Belgian startups and scale-ups. Comparable equity participation activity in Brussels-based early-stage companies but with private investor rather than public mandate.

Regional players

• LRM (Limburgse Reconversie Maatschappij): Regional investment company for the Belgian province of Limburg providing equity, loans, and real estate development financing. Comparable sub-regional development finance model serving a defined Belgian territory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SRIB_BXL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@financeinvest.brussels2115
• Facebookfacebook.com/finance.brussels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/srib
• Instagraminstagram.com/financeandinvest.brussels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments25 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Finance.Brussels