This article provides an in-depth look at the top ten Brussels startups which highlights companies at the forefront of biotechnology, aerospace, clean technology, finance, and food tech. Through advanced solutions like exosome therapeutics, carbon capture, and AI-driven board management, these startups demonstrate the innovative scope within Brussels’ startup ecosystem.
This ecosystem, supported by key investors such as Start it @KBC, Imec.istart, and PMV for startups offer strong financial backing at critical stages of growth. This environment fosters sustainable growth and innovation, presenting valuable opportunities for both new and established players. Explore the potential benefits of engaging with these startups to discover the latest technologies and innovative solutions to elevate your business.
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1. convEyXO
- Founding Year: 2019
- Industry: Biotechnology
- Technology: Exosome Therapeutics Platform
convEyXO develops a platform for exosome-based therapeutics that utilizes 3D custom-perfused fixed-bed bioreactors. The company utilizes the power of exosomes to create innovative treatments for fibrosis and chronic inflammatory disorders. Its technology enables the isolation and purification of exosomes from various cell types and ensures high yield and purity. The platform allows for 3D scaffold use during optimization which facilitates performance comparison of different geometries and more predictable scale-up. Further, an AI tool selects the best geometry using process data and microfluidic simulations and a digital tool extrapolates the cost per dose to large-scale GMP processes. The platform features a high-throughput mini-bioreactor that tests multiple conditions in parallel on a small volume which reduces the development time and batch costs.
2. Agilica
- Founding Year: 2019
- Industry: Aerospace
- Technology: GPS-free Drone Positioning
Agilica offers a GPS-free positioning system for drones using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. The unified positioning system supports both asset tracking and navigation applications which allows multiple drones, robotics, or personnel to operate within the same AGL-covered space. It combines hardware and software components to enable precise drone navigation in GPS-compromised environments, including offshore, indoor settings, and moving platforms. The UWB-based positioning offers centimeter-level accuracy and low latency that is crucial for applications requiring precise automatic take-off and landing.
3. Sirona Technologies
- Founding Year: 2023
- Industry: Climate Tech
- Technology: Direct Air Capture Technology
Sirona Technologies utilizes direct air capture (DAC) technology to reduce atmospheric CO2 by filtering air through specialized chemical sorbents. These filters capture CO2 molecules while allowing other air components to pass through. Further, the sorbent is heated with steam to release the captured CO2 in gaseous form and the released CO2 is compressed and transferred to partners for permanent storage in geological formations. This process operates with high energy efficiency, minimizing the overall carbon footprint of the capture operation. The company deploys this technology in locations with abundant renewable energy sources by leveraging geothermal steam or combining solar power with heat pumps and thermal storage.
4. IHSI
- Founding Year: 2019
- Industry: Pharmaceutical
- Technology: Joint Horizon Scanning Database
IHSI provides a joint horizon scanning database that identifies and tracks new pharmaceuticals expected to enter the international market until market entry is achieved. The company employs an Automated Data Collection and Curation Process (ADCCP) that utilizes RSS feeds, web scraping, and API calls to gather data, which is then persisted to a data lake. The system applies normalization, categorization, tagging, and taxonomies to records streamed to the staging warehouse. This staging warehouse serves as the primary relational database for reporting and analysis, supporting horizon-scanning analysts with robust search capabilities facilitated by Natural Language Processing (NLP).
5. D-Carbonize
- Founding Year: 2021
- Industry: CleanTech
- Technology: Carbon Accounting Software
D-Carbonize offers carbon accounting software that enables organizations to assess, strategize, and reduce their carbon emissions. The platform features predefined carbon reduction actions tailored to specific industries that allow users to build customized carbon reduction strategies. Through automated and manual data collection, the platform consolidates emissions data from multiple business units and locations which enables deep insights and predictive analysis. Some of the features of the platform include multilingual reporting, emissions certification, and industry benchmarking which offers a clear path to carbon neutrality.
6. GOVRN
- Founding Year: 2020
- Industry: Business Intelligence
- Technology: AI-powered Board Management Software
GOVRN provides AI-powered board management software designed to enhance boardroom efficiency through advanced data-driven insights. This solution integrates natural language processing (NLP) capabilities to comprehend board logic and enhance functionality which aids in decision-making and operational improvements. The platform includes features such as AI-assisted document analysis, automated meeting summaries, and intelligent task tracking. The platform ensures secure access to critical documents, facilitates seamless collaboration, and streamlines board operations across devices. GOVRN helps corporate boards, directors, and executive teams to make informed decisions, streamline governance processes, and enhance overall board performance through data-driven insights and automated workflows.
7. AxonJay.ai
- Founding Year: 2021
- Industry: Sales & Marketing
- Technology: AI-powered Sales Optimization
AxonJay.ai develops an AI-powered sales optimization platform designed to enhance B2B sales engagement by identifying the optimal timing and messaging for prospective customers. The platform analyzes real-time customer signals to deliver personalized, timely interactions, reducing preparation time and increasing engagement efficiency. Further, the platform offers customizable dashboards and reports, allowing businesses to tailor the output to their specific needs and objectives. Through behavior-based insights, sales teams convert cold outreach into valuable leads, facilitating deeper connections and boosting conversion rates. AxonJay.ai empowers sales teams with data-driven decision-making capabilities, thereby leading to increased conversion rates, improved customer retention, and enhanced overall sales performance.
8. Lipefi
- Founding Year: 2023
- Industry: FinTech
- Technology: Smart Spending Platform
Lipefi develops a smart spending platform that enables startups to achieve financial efficiency. It offers startups high-limit corporate credit cards that enable instant issuance and spending control through real-time transaction tracking and budget policies. The platform allows startups to track expenses, analyze spending patterns, and optimize their cash flow. Its features include real-time transaction monitoring, customizable spending controls, and automated expense categorization, which streamline financial operations and reduce administrative burdens. Additionally, Lipefi offers credit cards with limits tailored to each startup’s needs, providing the necessary liquidity to support growth initiatives. The company enables startups to make data-driven financial decisions, maintain better control over their expenses, and improve their overall financial health.
9. Wequity
- Founding Year: 2021
- Industry: Cross-Industry
- Technology: AI-powered KYC assistant
Wequity develops an AI-powered KYC assistant that streamlines questionnaire completion processes. It leverages AI to analyze internal data and automatically populate responses to complex questionnaires. Further, it integrates with internal systems to automatically fill out KYC forms, ensuring accuracy and efficiency while maintaining GDPR-compliant data handling. The auto-fill capabilities enable it to fill complex questionnaire structures across multiple formats, thus enhancing productivity. Moreover, the system backs responses with internal sources, providing transparency and reliability in the KYC process. The AI-powered KYC assistant enables businesses to complete the KYC process and other regulatory requirements with greater speed and precision, while significantly reducing the time. Wequity helps businesses improve operational efficiency, enhance collaboration, and manage regulatory requirements more effectively.
10. Bolder Foods
- Founding Year: 2020
- Industry: Food
- Technology: Mycelium Biomass Fermentation
Bolder Foods produces cheese alternatives using submerged biomass fermentation. It integrates non-GMO microbial cultures with vegetable substrates to produce a mycelium-fermented compound. The fermentation process leverages controlled submerged bioreactors to cultivate specific fungal biomass which optimizes both microbial metabolic activity and nutrient assimilation to yield a texture and functional profile akin to dairy-based cheese. This method enables precise manipulation of protein and lipid structures that offers a scalable, sustainable solution for plant-based dairy applications. The fermentation technique improves the sensory attributes of cheese alternatives without compromising on taste or functionality and addresses sustainability concerns in the food industry.
Explore the Brussels Startup Ecosystem
Brussels startup ecosystem encompasses 1220+ companies with an average of 14 employees, indicating a landscape dominated by small and agile teams. Core industries include information technology, healthcare, manufacturing, biotechnology, and e-commerce, each representing substantial opportunities for specialized technological integration and high-potential vertical scaling.
Key financial stakeholders include Start it @KBC, Imec.istart, PMV, Qbic fund, and Vlaio.be indicating a synergistic blend of corporate venture capital, and government-backed funding initiatives. They actively support these startups by providing crucial funding at various stages, such as Accelerator/Incubator, Seed Round, Early Stage VC, SEED, and Pre Seed Round. This financial backing highlights a strong support structure that fosters early-stage development and growth. Businesses cooperating with these startups leverage this dynamic ecosystem to explore new business models, enhance their technological capabilities, and stay competitive in rapidly evolving markets.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. For personalized insights into the local or global startup ecosystem, depending on your needs, get in touch with us. We can provide tailored information and analysis to help you navigate the vibrant startup landscape.
