StartUps Be
StartUps Be (scale-ups.eu) is a Belgian non-profit growth platform that connects high-tech startups and scale-ups with global investors, corporate buyers, and partners through curated business networking events and matchmaking.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What StartUps Be does
StartUps Be, operating as scale-ups.eu, is a Belgian non-profit growth platform formed in 2018 through the merger of Startups.be and Scale-ups.eu. The organization positions itself as a one-stop shop for the Belgian tech entrepreneurship ecosystem, serving high-tech startups and scale-ups by connecting them with a global network of investors, corporate buyers, and partners. Its core service is facilitating deal flow, inspiration, and matchmaking through a portfolio of business networking events that range from intimate meetups to large-scale conferences, including SuperNova, CyberNova, the FTI Festival, and exclusive evening events featuring marquee speakers such as Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The platform is not a technology product company — there is no proprietary software, AI/ML capability, or integrated SaaS offering. Its underlying "technology" is in the curated nature of its network and the programming of its events, with a website (scale-ups.eu) and email newsletter serving as the primary digital channels for top-of-funnel engagement. The platform also facilitates open innovation between startups/scale-ups and large corporates, effectively acting as a relational broker for the Belgian ecosystem.
Commercially, the company operates an event-based professional services model with no publicly disclosed pricing. Revenue is implicitly generated through event ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and likely public or private grants consistent with its non-profit status. Operations are concentrated in Belgium with a 1-10 person team headquartered at The Beacon in Antwerp, and the company has signaled recent expansion into AI-themed educational programming (AI Academy) and partnership events beyond Antwerp (Love Tomorrow at Tomorrowland's Holy Grounds).
StartUps Be firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- StartUps Be
- Legal name
- scale-ups.eu | startups.be
- Website
- https://startups.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- StartUps Be (scale-ups.eu) is a Belgian non-profit growth platform that connects high-tech startups and scale-ups with global investors, corporate buyers, and partners through curated business networking events and matchmaking.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
StartUps Be industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Ecosystem Services
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Product & Innovation Summits (Roadmap, Launch Readiness, Innovation Days) (THAHAMAG), Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH)
Keywords
Where StartUps Be is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
StartUps Be business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Event-based services: The company generates revenue through organizing and hosting high-quality business networking events for inspiration and matchmaking. Events include conferences, meetups, and exclusive evening gatherings featuring notable speakers.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
StartUps Be product offering
Product offeringCore offering
scale-ups.eu | startups.be runs a growth platform that enables promising Belgian high-tech startups and scale-ups to grow faster by connecting them with a global network of investors, corporate buyers, and partners. It delivers this through high-quality business networking events ranging from intimate meetups to large-scale conferences (e.g., SuperNova, CyberNova, The Future, FTI Festival, Love Tomorrow), with a focus on deal-flow facilitation, matchmaking, and open innovation between startups/scale-ups and large corporates.
Product overview
StartUps Be (operating as scale-ups.eu) is a unified growth platform for Belgian startups and scale-ups, operating under a single consolidated offering since the 2018 merger of startups.be and Scale-Ups.eu. The platform provides access to a global network of investors, corporate buyers, and partners, combined with high-quality business networking events designed for inspiration and matchmaking. From intimate meetups to large-scale conferences, the platform facilitates open innovation between startups/scale-ups and large corporates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Growth Platform Services A holistic growth acceleration platform that connects Belgian high-tech startups and scale-ups with a global network of investors, corporate buyers, and strategic partners through structured networking events and matchmaking services, facilitating open innovation between entrepreneurs and large corporates.
Companies that use StartUps Be
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
StartUps Be technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
StartUps Be partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
StartUps Be competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Station F: Paris-based world's largest startup campus that hosts founders, corporate innovation programs (e.g., Meta, Microsoft), and investor matchmaking. Comparable as a European ecosystem hub combining community, events, and corporate open innovation.
- EU-Startups: Belgium-based online media and community platform covering the European startup scene and connecting founders with investors and corporates. Comparable as a Belgium-rooted ecosystem builder focused on surfacing startups and facilitating investor/founder connections.
- Web Summit: Operator of major global tech conferences (Web Summit, Collision, Web Summit Rio) that connect startups, investors, and corporates through large-scale events. Directly comparable as a flagship conference-driven ecosystem platform with strong sponsor and corporate relationships.
- Slush: Helsinki-based non-profit that organizes one of the world's largest startup and investor events (Slush Conference) and runs year-round community programming for founders and investors. Highly comparable as an event- and community-driven ecosystem builder connecting startups with global capital and corporates.
Broad incumbents
- Antler: Global early-stage VC and founder generator running residency programs and community events across multiple continents. Comparable as a broader incumbent building startup communities and matching founders with investors.
- Founder Institute: Global pre-seed accelerator and startup launch program operating chapters worldwide with extensive mentor and investor networks. Comparable as a broader incumbent providing structured startup acceleration and ecosystem support.
- Techstars: Global accelerator and venture fund operating programs and events worldwide, connecting early-stage startups with mentors, investors, and corporate partners. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering accelerator programming and ecosystem events at greater scale.
- Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Operator of large innovation campuses that provide workspace, community programming, and corporate-startup engagement. Comparable as a broader incumbent combining physical community with startup-corporate innovation programs.
Emerging players
- Betaworks: NYC-based startup studio and community that builds and invests in early-stage companies and runs curated founder events. Comparable as a niche ecosystem builder combining community programming with startup support.
Regional players
- imec.istart: Belgium-based deep-tech accelerator linked to imec, supporting early-stage tech startups with funding, mentorship, and corporate access. Comparable as a Belgian ecosystem builder targeting high-tech startups with investor and corporate matchmaking.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
StartUps Be social profiles
Digital presenceStartUps Be financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
StartUps Be leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
StartUps Be funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
StartUps Be M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about StartUps Be
What does StartUps Be do?
scale-ups.eu | startups.be runs a growth platform that enables promising Belgian high-tech startups and scale-ups to grow faster by connecting them with a global network of investors, corporate buyers, and partners. It delivers this through high-quality business networking events ranging from intimate meetups to large-scale conferences (e.g., SuperNova, CyberNova, The Future, FTI Festival, Love Tomorrow), with a focus on deal-flow facilitation, matchmaking, and open innovation between startups/scale-ups and large corporates.
Is StartUps Be a public or private company?
StartUps Be is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was StartUps Be founded?
StartUps Be was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is StartUps Be based?
StartUps Be is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does StartUps Be make money?
One revenue line is on record: event-based services.
Who are StartUps Be's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Station F, EU-Startups, Web Summit and Slush. Broad incumbents are Antler, Founder Institute, Techstars and Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC). Betaworks is listed as an emerging player. imec.istart is listed as a regional player.
Does StartUps Be have an API?
No public API is recorded for StartUps Be.
What industry is StartUps Be in?
StartUps Be's product category is Startup Ecosystem Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs, with a secondary code of THAHAMAG, Product & Innovation Summits (Roadmap, Launch Readiness, Innovation Days). Its SIC code is 8742.