What ML2Grow does

ML2Grow is a Belgian AI consultancy founded in 2017 as a spin-off from Ghent University and imec, providing custom machine learning solutions across computer vision, natural language processing, MLOps, recommender systems, predictive analytics, and AI engineering. The firm develops proprietary AI platforms bootstrapped from more than 100 custom developments, leverages open-source frameworks including TensorFlow, PyTorch, and spaCy, and operates its own compute cluster at DC Ghent to offer private cloud and hosting solutions. Named deployments span healthcare (UZ Gent, Televic Healthcare, PROTEGO), maritime and ports (Port of Antwerp, Brabo, Euronav), manufacturing (Annabel Textiles, Oqton, Dossche Mills), media and publishing (Roularta, VRT, Mediahuis), and public-sector clients (Belgian FPS 112 emergency services via Hazira Digital, the Belgian Data Protection Authority chatbot, and Vlaanderen agencies).

The company's go-to-market is consultative, expert-led, and project-based, targeting both SMEs (through the structured Start AI discovery program) and enterprise organizations seeking complex, customized AI implementations. Distribution relies on direct outreach, referrals within the Belgian and European innovation ecosystem, and co-funded engagements through VLAIO and Digital4Wallonia government programs. Notable measurable outcomes include a pilot-service planning window improvement from 20 minutes to 8 hours at Brabo and 84% precision in identifying involuntary emergency calls for the 112 system with only 300 training samples.

ML2Grow is led by PhD co-founders Joeri Ruyssinck (CEO) and Joachim van der Herten (CTO), supported by data engineers, AI/ML engineers, and a French Region Lead. In January 2026, ML2Grow was acquired by delaware, a global IT consulting firm with more than 5,000 employees across 20 countries, integrating ML2Grow's approximately 12 specialists into delaware's expanded AI practice of approximately 85 specialists.

Name

ML2Grow

Legal name

ML2Grow

Website

https://ml2grow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ML2Grow is a Belgian AI consultancy founded in 2017 as a Ghent University and imec spin-off, delivering custom machine learning, computer vision, NLP, and MLOps solutions to SMEs, enterprises, and public-sector clients across more than 100 organizations; it was acquired by delaware in January 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

AI Consultancy Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

AI/ML Engineering & Model Development Services (BPAEAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

AI/ML Solution Integration & MLOps Enablement (BPAEAAAJ), MLOps/LLMOps & Model Lifecycle Management Services (BPAEAHAH), End-to-End Enterprise AI Platforms (MLOps & Model Lifecycle Management) (HDAEANAA)

Keywords

• AI consulting services
• Machine learning solutions
• Computer vision development
• Natural language processing
• MLOps and data engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Gent

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. AI Consultancy and Professional Services: ML2Grow generates revenue through bespoke AI consulting and professional services engagements, including AI strategy roadmaps, custom model development, data engineering, software integration, and project management. Revenue is project-based and engagement-driven, typically scoped through VLAIO or Digital4Wallonia funded innovation projects or direct commercial contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ML2Grow is a Belgian AI consultancy that delivers custom machine learning and AI engineering services spanning computer vision, natural language processing, MLOps, and data engineering, supported by proprietary AI platforms bootstrapped from more than 100 custom developments. The company combines end-to-end AI consulting, the Start AI adoption program, AI innovation/funded project execution (VLAIO, Digital4Wallonia), and private cloud hosting from its own compute cluster at DC Ghent to help SMEs and enterprises move from AI discovery to production deployment.

Product overview

ML2Grow is a Belgian AI consultancy founded in 2017 as a spin-off from Ghent University and imec, offering a portfolio of AI services and proprietary platforms. Its core offerings include AI Platforms & Development (intelligent edge devices and AI platforms bootstrapping computer vision and NLP deployments), the Start AI Program (workshops and roadmap guidance for AI adoption), AI Innovation and Entrepreneurship services (funding support, R&D project execution), Hosting and Private Cloud Solutions (compute cluster at DC Ghent), and custom AI/Data Engineering/Software Consultancy. Notable named products include Hazira Digital (emergency call classification system), the GAEPyPI open-source tool (private Python package index), and the now-concluded Home of AI startup co-working initiative. As of January 2026, ML2Grow was acquired by delaware Belux, bringing its team of ~12 specialists into delaware's expanded AI practice of 85+ specialists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AI Platforms & Development Proprietary AI platforms and intelligent edge devices enabling rapid adoption of computer vision and NLP technology, combined with expert AI consulting. Targets organizations that want to bootstrap AI development, reduce costs, and shorten time-to-market while retaining control of their data.
• Start AI Program Structured discovery and adoption program that helps companies understand how AI will impact their business through workshops, discovery sessions, and a guided AI roadmap. Designed to lower adoption barriers for first-time AI buyers, especially SMEs.
• AI Innovation and Entrepreneurship Services Expert services for embedding AI into innovation projects, including support for national and international innovation funding (VLAIO, Digital4Wallonia), prototype development, feasibility studies, and funded R&D programs. Aimed at start-ups and SMEs seeking to bring AI-powered products to market.
• Hosting and Private Cloud Solutions Scalable computational resources and private cloud hosting managed by ML2Grow from its own compute cluster at DC Ghent, giving clients control over where their data is stored and the flexibility to customize computational resources. Handles setup, maintenance, and support.
• AI, Data Engineering and Software Consultancy Services Full-lifecycle AI consulting, data engineering, and software development services spanning advice, conception, modelling, data engineering, software development, and project management. Specialists in computer vision, NLP, MLOps, and AI engineering, offered on a project-by-project basis to enterprises and SMEs.
• Hazira Digital On-premises call classification system for emergency call centers (112) that detects and prioritizes emergency calls using audio classification and spectrogram analysis, distinguishing between urgent, non-urgent, and involuntary calls. Achieves 84% precision in identifying involuntary pocket calls. Delivered in partnership with Nido Innovation Lab (FPS BOSA).
• GAEPyPI Open-source private Python package index tool for Google App Engine enabling private Python package hosting on Google Cloud Storage with HTTP authentication. Developed and open-sourced by ML2Grow to support the Python and data science community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pilot service planning window improved from 20 minutes to 8 hours for Brabo at the Port of Antwerp, enabling significantly better capacity planning
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability14 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• DelawareflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Delaware, a global IT consulting firm with more than 5,000 employees across 20 countries, acquired ML2Grow in January 2026. The bolt-on transaction significantly expands Delaware's AI capabilities by adding around a dozen specialists with expertise in computer vision, NLP, MLOps, and AI engineering, bringing the combined AI team to approximately 85 specialists.
• Ghent UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerML2Grow was founded in 2017 as a technology spin-off from Ghent University. The founding team (Joeri Ruyssinck and Joachim van der Herten) brought decades of machine learning research from their academic careers at the university.
• imeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerML2Grow originated as a spin-off from imec, Belgium's leading research institute in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. The company maintains close ties with imec's research portfolio, including participation in the PROTEGO project for healthcare recommenders.
• VLAIO (Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVLAIO supports organizations developing new technologies, prototypes, or improving company processes through funding programs including 'Onderzoeksproject', 'Ontwikkelingsproject', 'Start-AI', and 'Haalbaarheidsstudie'. ML2Grow regularly supports its clients in VLAIO-funded AI projects and participates in VLAIO-backed innovation initiatives.
• Digital4WalloniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital4Wallonia supports AI adoption in Wallonia through programs such as 'Start-IA' and 'Tremplin-IA'. ML2Grow provides services to clients operating within the Walloon innovation ecosystem through these programs.
• Invibes AdvertisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerML2Grow entered a strategic partnership with Invibes Advertising (March 2019) focused on in-feed advertising technology, combining ML2Grow's AI capabilities with Invibes' digital advertising platform.
• SpaceBakery ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerML2Grow provides AI services to the SpaceBakery project, a prestigious collaborative research initiative coordinated by Flanders Food exploring AI applications in space-based food production.
• Nido Innovation Lab (FPS BOSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNido, the government innovation lab at FPS BOSA, partnered with ML2Grow on the Hazira Digital project for the Belgian 112 emergency centres and on a Conversational AI experiment with the Belgian Data Protection Authority (GBA).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ml2grow
• GitHubgithub.com/ml2grow
• Xx.com/ml2grow
• Facebookfacebook.com/ML2Grow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about ML2Grow