Spin Off Squared
Spin Off Squared (SO²) is a Belgian non-profit founded in 2005 that provides free individual coaching from seven experienced high-tech entrepreneurs to pre-starters, researchers, and academic spin-offs, having supported over 800 startup teams and 200+ spin-off companies across Belgium and Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersHaasrode, Belgium
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Spin Off Squared does
Spin Off Squared (SO² or SO Kwadraat vzw) is a Belgian non-profit organization founded in 2005 in Leuven that delivers free individual coaching to pre-starters, researchers, and early-stage founders in the high-tech industry. Its service is staffed by seven successful high-tech entrepreneurs — including Johan Van den Bossche (ex-CEO of Krypton El. Eng NV, Leuven Air Bearings NV, and Vesalius MT), Geert Everaert, Ivo Vandeweerd, Mark van Aken, and Paul Janssens — who provide one-on-one guidance on business concept development, business plan drafting, financial planning, capital attraction, and notary document preparation. The organization does not deploy proprietary technology; its deliverable is mentor time and operating experience, not a software product. To date, SO² has coached over 800 startup teams and contributed to the creation of more than 200 high-tech spin-off companies.
The organization operates as a non-profit with no fees charged for coaching. Revenue is generated indirectly through structural corporate sponsorships — current sponsors include Ace Law, Next Invest, Pulse Foundation, Datacamp, Elmedix, Mercier Van Lanschot, and Mobius — and modest annual contributions from participants of its Business Club events (held up to three times per year for alumni startups). Past support has come from Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, Laga, NNOF, DLA Piper, VLAIO, and EFRO. SO² explicitly does not invest capital in coached startups; individual managers may invest privately or take board seats at the startup's request.
SO² is headquartered in Leuven with a second base in Ghent opened in 2013, and reports supported initiatives in Spain, Greece, France, and Italy. Its go-to-market relies on institutional partnerships with Belgian university technology transfer offices (KU Leuven Research and Development, UGent Interface Service, VUB) and student associations (VTK Leuven, VTK Gent), supplemented by referrals from a 200+ company alumni network. Notable alumni include Collibra, Datacamp, IcoMetrix, Feops, EconCore, and IC Sense. Distribution is direct: services are delivered by the seven coaches themselves with no intermediaries, no app, and no public pricing.
Spin Off Squared firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spin Off Squared
- Legal name
- Spin Off Squared
- Website
- https://sokwadraat.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Spin Off Squared (SO²) is a Belgian non-profit founded in 2005 that provides free individual coaching from seven experienced high-tech entrepreneurs to pre-starters, researchers, and academic spin-offs, having supported over 800 startup teams and 200+ spin-off companies across Belgium and Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Spin Off Squared industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Coaching and Entrepreneurship Advisory
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)
Keywords
Where Spin Off Squared is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Haasrode
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Spin Off Squared business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Free Coaching Services: SO² offers free coaching services to high-tech start-ups. The organization is a non-profit that does not charge fees for its advisory services. Revenue appears to come from sponsorship support and optional business club contributions.
- Business Club Membership Contributions: SO² organizes up to 3 Business Club events per year, exclusive to SO² start-ups. A yearly contribution is asked to cover logistical costs.
- Sponsorship and Support: The organization receives support from structural sponsors including Ace Law, Next Invest, Pulse Foundation, Datacamp, Elmedix, Mercier Van Lanschot, and Mobius. Additional past support from Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, Laga, NNOF, DLA Piper, VLAIO, and EFRO.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free Coaching - All advisory services at no cost |
| Subscription | Annual | Business Club - Annual contribution for event access |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Spin Off Squared product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spin Off Squared (SO²) is a Belgian non-profit organization that provides free individual coaching to (pre)-starters in the high-tech industry. Operated by seven experienced high-tech entrepreneurs, the organization helps teams determine viable business concepts, write business plans, draft financial plans, attract capital, and prepare notary documents. Since 2005, SO² has coached over 800 startup teams and contributed to the creation of over 200 high-tech companies with international ambitions.
Product overview
Spin Off Squared (SO²) is a non-profit organization offering a single unified service: free individual coaching for high-tech startups. Founded in 2005 and operated by 7 successful high-tech entrepreneurs, the organization provides mentorship across business concept development, business planning, financial planning, capital attraction, and notary document preparation. The coaching service is provided at no cost to the entrepreneur, with the goal of helping realize successful high-tech startups with international ambitions. SO² has coached over 800 startup teams, contributing to the creation of over 200 high-tech spin-off companies across Belgium and beyond.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Free Individual Coaching Free one-on-one coaching service provided by 7 experienced high-tech entrepreneurs to (pre)-starters in the high-tech industry. Helps determine business concepts, write business plans, draft financial plans, attract capital, and prepare notary documents. Since 2005, over 800 startup teams have been coached.
- SO² Business Club
Quantifiable outcome
- 800+ start-up teams coached since 2005
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Spin Off Squared
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Spin Off Squared technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Spin Off Squared partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Ace LawminorStructural sponsor of SO²'s mission to boost spin-offs in Belgium. Provides legal expertise and support to the organization.
- DatacampminorStructural sponsor and also a success story - a software startup that was coached by SO² and has become a sponsor in return. Represents the alumni-to-sponsor journey.
- ElmedixminorStructural sponsor of SO²'s mission to boost spin-offs in Belgium.
- MobiusminorStructural sponsor supporting SO²'s mission. Operates in the European market.
- McKinsey & CompanyminorPast sponsor providing strategic consulting expertise and support to SO²'s mission.
- LagaminorPast sponsor, likely a professional services firm that supported SO²'s activities.
- DLA PiperminorPast sponsor - global law firm providing legal expertise support.
- VTK GentminorStudent association at Ghent University that SO² has provided services to, supporting student entrepreneurship.
- VTK LeuvenminorStudent association at KU Leuven that SO² has engaged with for entrepreneurship support.
- UGent Interface ServicecoreTechnology transfer office of Ghent University that SO² has partnered with to support spin-offs from the university.
- VUBcoreVrije Universiteit Brussel - SO² has provided services through their interface service to support research commercialization.
- Leuven Research and Development (LRD)coreTechnology transfer office of KU Leuven that SO² partners with to coach high-tech spin-offs.
- KVIV Group LOMAminorProfessional group that SO² has engaged with for entrepreneurship support initiatives.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Spin Off Squared competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- PMV (ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen): Flemish investment company supporting innovative companies from seed to growth. Comparable to SO² in targeting the same Flemish high-tech founder community, though providing capital rather than free coaching.
- BetaGent / Gent Startup Community: Ghent-based startup ecosystem organization supporting founders in the Flanders region. Operates in the same Belgian geography as SO²' Gent office and serves a partially overlapping high-tech founder audience with events and programming.
- LRM (Limburgse Reconversie Maatschappij): Flemish regional investment company providing capital and support to startups and growth companies. Comparable to SO² in supporting Flemish high-tech entrepreneurs from idea through scale, but with a capital-led rather than coaching-led model.
Broad incumbents
- Techstars: Global accelerator operating structured cohort programs with mentor networks and seed capital. Comparable to SO² in delivering mentor-led early-stage support, but at vastly larger scale and with a for-profit equity model.
- imec.istart: Imec's startup accelerator for deep-tech and semiconductor ventures, based in Leuven. Operates in the same Belgian high-tech ecosystem as SO² and competes for the same university spin-off founders, but with a capital-backed, cohort-based model.
- Y Combinator: Premier global startup accelerator offering mentorship, demo days, and seed funding. Comparable to SO² in providing early-stage mentorship rooted in founder experience, but operates globally with a paid-in equity model.
Others
- European Business Innovation Centre Network (EBN): Pan-European network of business innovation centres and incubators supporting high-tech entrepreneurs. Comparable to SO² in operating across Belgium/Spain/Greece/France/Italy with a focus on early-stage high-tech venture creation, though via a federated network model rather than direct coaching.
- VLAIO (Flemish Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship): Flemish government agency funding and advising innovative entrepreneurs in Flanders. Comparable as a Belgian institutional support mechanism for high-tech founders; notably also a past sponsor of SO², evidencing ecosystem overlap.
- Deloitte Launch / Deloitte Technology Fast 50: Deloitte's startup and high-growth tech ecosystem programs including Fast 50 and innovation advisory services. Comparable to SO² in targeting Belgian high-tech founders; also listed as a past sponsor of SO², indicating ecosystem overlap.
Direct peers
- Start it @KBC: Belgian startup accelerator affiliated with KBC Bank that supports early-stage founders with coaching, network, and workspace. Highly comparable to SO² as a Belgium-rooted founder-support organization, though operating with capital-backed cohort programs rather than free individual coaching.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Spin Off Squared social profiles
Digital presenceSpin Off Squared financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spin Off Squared leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Spin Off Squared funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spin Off Squared 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 Spin Off Squared
What does Spin Off Squared do?
Spin Off Squared (SO²) is a Belgian non-profit organization that provides free individual coaching to (pre)-starters in the high-tech industry. Operated by seven experienced high-tech entrepreneurs, the organization helps teams determine viable business concepts, write business plans, draft financial plans, attract capital, and prepare notary documents. Since 2005, SO² has coached over 800 startup teams and contributed to the creation of over 200 high-tech companies with international ambitions.
Is Spin Off Squared a public or private company?
Spin Off Squared is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Spin Off Squared founded?
Spin Off Squared was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Spin Off Squared based?
Spin Off Squared is headquartered in Haasrode, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Spin Off Squared make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Free Coaching Services are the primary driver. The others are business Club Membership Contributions and sponsorship and Support.
Who are Spin Off Squared's main competitors?
Regional players on record are PMV (ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen), BetaGent / Gent Startup Community and LRM (Limburgse Reconversie Maatschappij). Broad incumbents are Techstars, imec.istart and Y Combinator. Others are European Business Innovation Centre Network (EBN), VLAIO (Flemish Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship) and Deloitte Launch / Deloitte Technology Fast 50. Start it @KBC is listed as a direct peer.
Does Spin Off Squared have an API?
No public API is recorded for Spin Off Squared.
What industry is Spin Off Squared in?
Spin Off Squared's product category is Startup Coaching and Entrepreneurship Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAHAB, Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days). Its SIC code is 8742.