Syndicate One, an international startup investment network, has announced the final close of its debut fund, raising €6.5 million.
The oversubscribed fund marks a significant milestone for Belgium’s tech ecosystem, uniting government, entrepreneurial families, and industry leaders under one vision: empowering the next generation of global tech leaders.
A Groundbreaking Initiative
Syndicate One is the first Belgian investment firm to secure backing from governmental investors across all three regions—Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels—as well as on a federal level. This innovative collaboration also attracted over 100 experienced startup founders, operators, and institutional backers, creating a robust network to nurture ambitious startups.
“By uniting investors, operators, and founders, we’ve created a platform that not only finances ambitious startups but also provides the guidance and network they need to thrive,” said Laurens De Poorter, founder of Syndicate One. “This €6.5 million close is a testament to our collective belief in the future of Belgian innovation.”
Driving Startup Success
Since its inception in 2022, Syndicate One has invested in several high-potential startups, including Techwolf, Aikido Security, Sirona Technologies, and Cosmic Aerospace. The fund has enabled these companies to scale rapidly, leveraging the expertise and connections of Belgium’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Roeland Delrue, co-founder of Aikido Security, highlighted the value of Syndicate One’s holistic support: “Their support has helped scale our business quickly and effectively. Investing in the fund myself was a no-brainer—it’s a way to contribute to the ecosystem driving our success.”
Backed by Ecosystem Builders
The fund’s investor base includes notable figures like Matthias Geeroms (Lighthouse), Stijn Christiaens (Collibra), and Pieterjan Bouten (Showpad), alongside entrepreneurial families and institutional backers. Impressively, more than half of the founders of Syndicate One’s portfolio companies participated in the fundraise, underscoring its network-driven impact.
“With approximately a third of its members as well as its investments being Belgians abroad, I’m proud to join as an investor and help support Belgian startups in scaling globally,” said Andreas De Neve, CEO of TechWolf.
Catalyzing Belgium’s Tech Ecosystem
Syndicate One’s initiatives extend beyond funding. In partnership with Sofina and Bain & Co, the firm released the inaugural State of Belgian Tech Report, a comprehensive analysis of the ecosystem’s maturity. The report celebrates recent milestones like Odoo’s €5 billion valuation and Lighthouse’s €351 million Series C funding round, signaling Belgium’s emergence as a global tech hub.
Moving forward, Syndicate One aims to further elevate Belgium’s startup ecosystem, driving the creation of scale-ups and unicorns.
Matthias Geeroms, CFO of Lighthouse, encapsulated this ambition: “Belgium’s vibrant tech community and collaborative networks have been instrumental in our journey. Syndicate One’s efforts are building an ecosystem that enables startups to dream big, scale fast, and compete globally.”
About Syndicate One
Syndicate One is a network-driven fund dedicated to early-stage investments in high-potential Belgium-based and Belgian-founded tech startups. By pooling expertise, international networks, and seed capital, Syndicate One empowers founders to scale and succeed on the global stage.
Through investments and ecosystem-building initiatives, Syndicate One is forging a path for Belgium’s tech ecosystem to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.
