Groupe One
Groupe One is a Belgian non-profit founded in 1998 that supports sustainable entrepreneurship through coaching, specialized incubators (WomenLab, BoostLab), subsidized coworking, and territorial innovation projects, serving aspiring entrepreneurs, SMEs, and public institutions in Brussels and Wallonia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Groupe One does
Groupe One is a Brussels-headquartered Belgian non-profit founded in 1998 that supports the transition to a sustainable economy by coaching, incubating, and financing sustainable entrepreneurs. It operates a three-pillar service model — INSPIRER (awareness, training, events), ACCOMPAGNER (coaching, incubation, financing, workspace), and CHANGER (territorial innovation projects) — and serves aspiring entrepreneurs, active SMEs, women entrepreneurs (WomenLab), young graduates (BoostLab), public institutions, and sustainable-food ecosystem actors primarily in Brussels and Wallonia, with select European partnerships extending reach to France, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, the UK, Romania, Slovenia, and Hungary.
Its core product suite comprises START (business creation coaching), GROW (coaching for active entrepreneurs), HOST (workspace rental), WomenLab and BoostLab (specialized incubators), Village Finance (€5,000 grants for exemplary sustainable Brussels businesses), and proprietary tools including the Ecotoolkit (ecological diagnostic), Boost Your Shop (retail sustainability toolkit), and the CAGE European e-learning platform. Territorial innovation projects — Bike Delivery (mutualized cargo-bike logistics), V.R.A.C. (collective food purchasing), Agricœur (community food hub), Recyclerie de Sport (sports equipment circularity), and GROOF (rooftop-greenhouse business-model research) — extend the model beyond coaching into on-the-ground economic-transition infrastructure. Underlying technology is essentially non-proprietary: the organization is a services-and-community operator, not a software product company, relying on standard web platforms, content libraries, and structured program curricula.
Revenue mechanics blend fee-for-service coaching (partially subsidized via Walloon chèques-entreprises at 75% coverage), paid incubation (WomenLab, co-financed by the ING Fund via Fondation Roi Baudouin), free subsidized programs (BoostLab, funded by Région de Bruxelles-Capitale), subsidized coworking rentals, and a substantial share of institutional grant and European-project funding (INTERREG NWE for GROOF, Erasmus+ for CAGE/Building Bridges, Bruxelles Économie et Emploi and Bruxelles Mobilité for Bike Delivery). Customer acquisition is community-led and event-driven, supplemented by direct coaching intake and partnerships with regional governments, research institutions, and European consortia.
Groupe One firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Groupe One
- Legal name
- Groupe One
- Website
- https://groupeone.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Groupe One is a Belgian non-profit founded in 1998 that supports sustainable entrepreneurship through coaching, specialized incubators (WomenLab, BoostLab), subsidized coworking, and territorial innovation projects, serving aspiring entrepreneurs, SMEs, and public institutions in Brussels and Wallonia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Groupe One industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entrepreneurship Support Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)
Keywords
Where Groupe One is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Groupe One business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Coaching and consulting services: Groupe One generates revenue through coaching services for business creation (START), business development (GROW), and organizational coaching. These are fee-for-service offerings, partially subsidized by public programs (chèques-entreprises in Wallonia, regional subsidies in Brussels).
- Incubation program fees: WomenLab is described as a paid/co-financed program (cofinancé par le Fonds ING géré par la Fondation Roi Baudouin). BoostLab is free, funded by the Région de Bruxelles-Capitale.
- Workspace rental (Village Partenaire): Groupe One operates Village Partenaire, a coworking/enterprise center offering subsidized office spaces to young entrepreneurs, generating rental income.
- Public grants and project subsidies: Groupe One receives funding through European projects (INTERREG NWE for GROOF, Erasmus+ for CAGE, Building Bridges), regional government subsidies (Région Bruxelles-Capitale, Région wallonne), and institutional partnerships for territorial innovation projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | WomenLab — paid incubation program for women entrepreneurs |
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | BoostLab — free incubation for young entrepreneurs |
| Subscription | Monthly | Village Partenaire workspace rental |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Chèques-entreprises subsidized coaching (Wallonia) |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Village Finance grants |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Groupe One product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Groupe One is a non-profit organization that supports sustainable entrepreneurship in Belgium through coaching, incubation programs, subsidized coworking spaces, grants, and territorial innovation projects. Its services span three axes — inspiring individuals to act for change (awareness, training, events), accompanying entrepreneurs (business creation coaching, active entrepreneur coaching, group programs, financing, workspace), and driving territorial change (studies, consulting, project management for sustainable economic transition).
Product overview
Groupe One offers a comprehensive suite of entrepreneurship support services organized around three core pillars: INSPIRER (awareness, training, and events), ACCOMPAGNER (coaching and incubation), and CHANGER (territorial innovation projects). The primary offerings include START for new business creation, GROW for existing business coaching, and HOST for workspace provision. Specialized incubation programs include WomenLab for female entrepreneurs and BoostLab for young entrepreneurs. Supporting tools include Village Finance grants, Ecotoolkit for environmental diagnostics, and Boost Your Shop for retail sustainability. The organization also manages territorial innovation projects including Bike Delivery for cyclo-logistics, V.R.A.C. for collective food purchasing, and Agricœur as a collaborative food hub.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WomenLab: Incubator program for women entrepreneurs with a 100% female and tailored program to help women overcome barriers and start their own businesses.
- BoostLab
- Village Partenaire
- Village Finance
- Bike Delivery
- CAGE (Circular Academy for Green Entrepreneurs)
- Bruxsel Demain
Products and services
- START Business creation coaching program for aspiring entrepreneurs in Belgium, covering business model development, financial planning, legal structure, and administrative guidance for launching a sustainable business.
- GROW Coaching services for active entrepreneurs seeking to stabilize, develop, or transform their businesses toward greater resilience and sustainability.
- WomenLab 100% female-focused incubation program helping women entrepreneurs overcome barriers and progress through each stage of business creation, co-financed by the ING Fund managed by the Fondation Roi Baudouin.
- BoostLab Free incubator program for young students and recent graduates to develop and launch their entrepreneurial ventures during or after their studies, funded by Région de Bruxelles-Capitale.
- Village Partenaire Subsidized coworking space center in Saint-Gilles, Brussels offering affordable office solutions and a community environment for early-stage entrepreneurs.
- Village Finance Grant program providing €5,000 bursaries for exemplary sustainable businesses in the Brussels region, administered in partnership with Bruxelles Économie et Emploi.
- EXPLORE Program helping existing businesses transform their activities toward greater sustainability through coaching and support.
- Ecotoolkit Online diagnostic tool helping businesses assess their ecological footprint and receive sustainability improvement recommendations.
- Boost Your Shop Toolkit designed to enhance the sustainability of urban commerce businesses, providing practical guides for retail sustainability.
- CAGE (Circular Academy for Green Entrepreneurs) European e-learning platform offering free online modules on circular economy entrepreneurship and sustainable entrepreneurship for European youth, developed in partnership with 4 European organizations.
- Bike Delivery Shared cargo bike delivery service for Brussels small businesses and merchants, enabling eco-friendly last-mile deliveries and now operated by Velo Cargo.
- V.R.A.C. (Vers un Réseau d'Achat en Commun) Association promoting collective purchasing of quality food at affordable prices, addressing both food precarity and fair producer compensation. Groupe One developed the Brussels branch in 2022 and is expanding to Charleroi in Wallonia.
- Agricœur Collective food hub providing production, processing, storage, sales spaces, and business support services for sustainable food entrepreneurs in Frasnes-Lez-Gosselies, co-founded by Groupe One.
- Territorial Innovation Consulting Consultancy and project management services for municipalities, regional governments, and public bodies on sustainable economic transition, local commerce revitalization, food system transformation, and sustainable development projects.
Quantifiable outcome
- 75% of coaching costs subsidized through Walloon chèques-entreprises program for eligible entrepreneurs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Groupe One
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Groupe One technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Groupe One partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FarmforgoodcoreFarmforgood is a cooperative of local producers supplying Maison Dandoy with flour from regenerative agriculture at a 30% premium over market price, but free from speculative markets. Groupe One features this partnership as a model of robust supply chain management and relocalization.
- CNPCD (Romania)coreCNPCD is a Romanian partner in the Circular Academy for Green Entrepreneurs (CAGE) project, a European e-learning initiative on circular economy and sustainable entrepreneurship co-created with Groupe One, Miitr (Slovenia), and Fitt (Romania). The project includes roadtrips in Belgium and Romania.
- Miitr (Slovenia)coreMiitr is a Slovenian partner in the CAGE European e-learning project coordinated by Groupe One, alongside CNPCD and Fitt (Romania). The platform offers free online modules on circular economy entrepreneurship for European youth.
- Fitt (Romania)coreFitt is a Romanian partner in the CAGE circular economy e-learning project, collaborating with Groupe One, CNPCD, and Miitr to deliver online entrepreneurship training and inspirational roadtrips across Europe.
- Probono LabminorProbono Lab partnered with Groupe One, Pour la Solidarité, and Önkéntes Központ on the APTE (A Pathway to Employment) project launched in Paris in April 2022, focused on social and sustainable economy employment.
- Pour la SolidaritéminorPour la Solidarité is a Belgian think-and-do tank partnering with Groupe One on the APTE project alongside Probono Lab and Önkéntes Központ to promote employment in social and sustainable economy.
- Önkéntes Központ (Hungary)minorÖnkéntes Központ is a Hungarian organization partnering with Groupe One on the APTE project for employment in the social and sustainable economy sector.
- IED (Greece)minorIED (Greece) was a partner in the Building Bridges project alongside Groupe One, CNPCD (Romania), MIITR (Slovenia), and FITT (Romania), which launched a European e-learning platform to promote sustainable entrepreneurship and circular economy among young people.
- MIITR (Slovenia)minorMIITR (Slovenia) partnered with Groupe One and others on Building Bridges, a European e-learning platform promoting circular economy entrepreneurship among youth, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme.
- Groupement d'Action Locale du Pays des 4 BrascoreThis local action group initiated the Agricœur tiers-lieu project, bringing together partners in sustainable food to build a community food hub. Groupe One is co-founder and board member of Agricœur.
- Commune des Bons VillersminorThe Commune des Bons Villers hosts the Agricœur food hub project (tiers-lieu nourricier) initiated by the Pays des 4 Bras action group, with Groupe One as co-founder.
- Commune de NivellesminorThe Commune de Nivelles commissioned Groupe One for a 6-month mission to revitalize its city center by supporting existing businesses, helping new entrepreneurs, increasing visibility, and improving parking accessibility.
- Various Brussels municipalitiesminorMultiple Brussels communes support Groupe One's Recyclerie de Sport initiative, collaborating on the circular economy and social reintegration project alongside SportCircular and Recyclerie Sociale de Saint-Gilles.
- Solvay Start LabminorSolvay Start Lab is an incubator that several Groupe One-supported entrepreneurs (e.g., Ozer Concept, Canopée) used as their primary incubation structure, with Groupe One providing supplementary coaching at Village Partenaire.
- UrbikecoreUrbike is a Brussels-based cargo bike logistics operator partnered with Groupe One on the Bike Delivery project (evolved from MaZone), providing affordable, eco-friendly cargo bike delivery services for small Brussels merchants, with support from Bruxelles Économie et Emploi and Bruxelles Mobilité.
- Velo CargominorVelo Cargo is a Brussels-based cargo bike logistics operator that took over operations of the Bike Delivery prototype originally developed by Groupe One, BEE, Bruxelles Mobilité, and Urbike, continuing the shared delivery service for small Brussels merchants.
- SportCircularminorSportCircular partners with Groupe One to advise municipalities, sports clubs and centers on optimizing sustainability and resources for circular economy in sports, part of the Recyclerie de Sport initiative.
- Recyclerie Sociale de Saint-GillesminorRecyclerie Sociale de Saint-Gilles collaborates with Groupe One's Recyclerie de Sport project, combining experiences in reuse and social reintegration through collection, sorting, and repair of sports equipment.
- Collectif Développement Cantine Durable (CDCD)coreCDCD is a collective of 9 field actors working to transform food offerings in schools toward sustainable, local, organic, and equitable models. Groupe One is a member, contributing expertise on food systems, supply chains, and sustainable entrepreneurship.
- Office Nationale de l'Enfance (ONE)minorONE provides pediatric consultations at the Agricœur tiers-lieu, integrating social and health services within the community food hub ecosystem managed by Groupe One.
- Kaya des Eco-preneur·es (coalition)minorGroupe One participates in and influences policy through the Kaya coalition of eco-entrepreneurs, a collective advocacy initiative aimed at shaping public policy for sustainable entrepreneurship.
- Hub.brusselsminorHub.brussels helped organize Ozer Concept's first pop-up event and is a partner in providing entrepreneurship support services that complement Groupe One's coaching offerings.
- GEL DansaertminorGEL Dansaert (Groupement des Entreprises du Logement) provided additional support to Groupe One-assisted entrepreneurs such as Ozer Concept in the Brussels area.
- Centre de Recherche en Agriculture Urbaine de Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (ULiège)coreGembloux Agro-Bio Tech's urban agriculture research center inaugurated the SERR'URE low-energy rooftop greenhouse (one of 4 GROOF pilot greenhouses) in December 2022. Groupe One contributes business model research for urban agriculture within this European project.
- GROOF (11 European partners, INTERREG NWE)coreGROOF is a European INTERREG NWE project studying and experimenting with rooftop greenhouses, involving 11 European partners including Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech. Groupe One contributes business model research for urban agriculture and supports development of greenhouse projects across Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, England, and Ireland.
- V.R.A.C. (Vers un Réseau d'Achat en Commun)coreV.R.A.C. is an association born in France in 2013, focused on group purchasing of quality food to make sustainable nutrition accessible to precarious populations while ensuring fair income for producers. Groupe One developed the Brussels branch in 2022 and is expanding to Charleroi (Wallonia) by creating a new non-profit.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Groupe One competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Réseau Entreprendre: France- and Belgium-active non-profit network of entrepreneurs providing coaching, mentoring, and financing to business creators; structurally similar mission to Groupe One's coaching and incubation programs.
- Solvay Start Lab: Brussels-based incubator serving early-stage entrepreneurs; Groupe One has explicitly referred entrepreneurs to Solvay Start Lab as primary incubator while providing complementary coaching, indicating close overlap in offering.
- Hub.brussels: Brussels agency supporting entrepreneurship and business growth, including for sustainable and impact ventures; explicit partner in the data and a direct competitor for the same Brussels entrepreneur pool.
- Impact Hub Brussels: Coworking and incubation space focused on social entrepreneurship and sustainability in Brussels; directly comparable to Village Partenaire and Groupe One's incubation/community model.
- Ashoka Belgium: Global social-entrepreneurship support organization active in Belgium; comparable as a non-profit network identifying, coaching, and funding system-changing entrepreneurs with similar program structures.
Others
- GreenBiz: Media and community platform focused on sustainable business practice; thematically aligned with Groupe One's circular-economy and sustainability content (Ecotoolkit, Boost Your Shop) but operates as an information/community provider rather than direct coaching.
- European Enterprise Network (EEN): EU-wide network supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs with cross-border services; adjacent ecosystem participant that overlaps with the international components of Groupe One's European project portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- Enactus: Global non-profit operating student- and youth-focused entrepreneurship programs with a sustainability mission; comparable to BoostLab and CAGE youth entrepreneurship offerings, though operating at much larger scale.
- Bpifrance: France's public investment bank running nationwide entrepreneurship support, training, and coaching programs; a broader incumbent in the same SME/entrepreneurship support category with similar subsidized-coaching mechanics.
Regional players
- Bruxelles Formation: Brussels public body delivering professional training and entrepreneurship programs; competes for the same regional public funding pot and the same Brussels-based aspiring entrepreneurs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Groupe One social profiles
Digital presenceGroupe One financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Groupe One leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Groupe One funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Groupe One 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 Groupe One
What does Groupe One do?
Groupe One is a non-profit organization that supports sustainable entrepreneurship in Belgium through coaching, incubation programs, subsidized coworking spaces, grants, and territorial innovation projects. Its services span three axes — inspiring individuals to act for change (awareness, training, events), accompanying entrepreneurs (business creation coaching, active entrepreneur coaching, group programs, financing, workspace), and driving territorial change (studies, consulting, project management for sustainable economic transition).
Is Groupe One a public or private company?
Groupe One is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Groupe One founded?
Groupe One was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Groupe One based?
Groupe One is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Groupe One make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Coaching and consulting services are the primary driver. The others are incubation program fees, workspace rental (Village Partenaire) and public grants and project subsidies.
Who are Groupe One's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Réseau Entreprendre, Solvay Start Lab, Hub.brussels, Impact Hub Brussels and Ashoka Belgium. Others are GreenBiz and European Enterprise Network (EEN). Broad incumbents are Enactus and Bpifrance. Bruxelles Formation is listed as a regional player.
Does Groupe One have an API?
No public API is recorded for Groupe One.
What industry is Groupe One in?
Groupe One's product category is Entrepreneurship Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAF, Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling), with a secondary code of BPADAMAE, SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked). Its NAICS code is 813410 and its SIC code is 8600.