Belgium's Top 10 Startups That Tech Professionals Should Watch Out For in 2025

Belgium is transforming into a major tech hub, with its startup ecosystem prioritizing digital strategy through new technologies and open data management.

Currently ranked #24 globally, Belgium's startup scene is set to climb to #16 by 2024, powered by strengths in AI, IoT, and cybersecurity. The tech industry's growth is incredible - the IT services market alone is projected to reach $12.14 billion by 2029, with a solid 4.68% annual growth rate.

Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent are leading this revolution, with success stories like Collibra reaching a $3.2 billion valuation. The impact is massive - startups created 12,000 new jobs in 2021, contributing €1.6 billion to the national GDP.

The diversity of innovation happening here - from Aikido Security raising €7 million for software security to Protealis securing €22 million for plant-based protein tech.

The government's backing and the presence of major tech communities like Co.Station and StartupVillage make Belgium an awesome place for tech professionals looking to make their mark in Europe's fastest-growing tech scene.

When selecting Belgium's standout startups for 2025, our process focused on four key areas: funding success, innovative tech, real-world impact, and growth potential.

We looked at each startup's scalability and business model, ensuring they had secured significant investment and demonstrated market viability.

The baseline requirement was investment rounds of €10 million or more, matching European startup standards. For innovation assessment, we evaluated how each company used emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, or sustainable tech solutions to solve real problems.

To measure impact, we tracked metrics like employee count, market presence, and industry influence.

Team composition and leadership quality were crucial factors, as startups with diverse, experienced teams showing strong cohesion typically performed better.

Companies operating across multiple countries with 50+ employees showed the most promising trajectory. The growth potential analysis went deep into market trends, considering Belgium's competitive startup environment and the challenging 35% five-year survival rate.

Our research combined data from multiple sources, including industry reports on transformative startups and expert insights.

This thorough approach helps tech professionals spot opportunities early, whether for career moves or technological integration. The selected startups aren't just business success stories - they're shaping how technology evolves and creating new opportunities for skills development.

Each company on our list represents a potential game-changer in Belgium's tech ecosystem, making them essential knowledge for anyone serious about staying ahead in tech.

Collibra started up in Belgium back in 2008, when Felix Van de Maele and his co-founders were still at university. They almost named it "Loqus," but changed their minds - pretty glad they did! Fast forward to today, and Collibra has pulled in over $546 million in funding, growing way faster than anyone expected.

Their latest Series G funding round brought in a massive $250 million, pushing their value to $5.25 billion - more than double what it was in 2020! They're crushing it in the data intelligence space, working with over 500 major companies globally, including 70% of the largest U.S. banks and seven of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies.

Their platform is seriously next-level, helping businesses make sense of their data with smart governance, quality control, and privacy features. With the whole world expected to create 181 zettabytes of data by 2025, Collibra's technology is becoming more crucial than ever.

The company keeps expanding its team and platform capabilities, proving that Belgian tech startups can compete with the biggest players in Silicon Valley.

Simera Sense is making serious waves in space tech with their game-changing satellite camera systems. Based in Belgium, they've just secured a massive €13.5 million investment to scale up their operations and push innovation forward.

What's really impressive is that they already have 19 optical payloads zooming around in space, with another 43 ready to launch. Their work in earth observation is absolutely crucial - we're talking about technology that helps track climate change, manage natural disasters, and optimize agriculture.

The earth observation market is huge, currently worth $12.55 billion and expected to hit $20.73 billion by 2029.

That's some serious growth potential!

What makes Simera Sense stand out is their practical approach to satellite technology. They're not just dreaming big - they're delivering results.

Their new development hub in Toulouse is going to double their team size by 2025, focusing on creating even better high-resolution cameras for satellites.

They're working with major players like AAC Clyde Space, Open Cosmos, and OHB Systems AG, proving they're a force to be reckoned with in the space industry. Their technology helps solve real problems on Earth, from monitoring environmental changes to supporting urban development, and they're just getting started.

Looking ahead, Simera Sense is focusing on developing higher-resolution cameras and integrating smart on-board processing systems.

This means their satellites won't just take pictures - they'll process data right there in space, making everything faster and more efficient. It's pretty mind-blowing to think that this tech could help us better understand and protect our planet.

For anyone into space tech or environmental solutions, Simera Sense is definitely a company to watch in 2025 and beyond.

AgomAb Therapeutics, based in Ghent, Belgium, is making waves in biotech with its groundbreaking work in treating fibrosis and restoring organ function.

Founded in 2017, the company has seriously stepped up its game, securing an impressive $100 million Series C funding in 2023, led by Fidelity Management & Research Company.

Their main focus? Developing treatments that can actually reverse fibrosis - a game-changer for patients dealing with organ damage. Their lead program, AGMB-129, recently received Fast Track Designation and is now in Phase 2a trials for Fibrostenosing Crohn's Disease, targeting a condition that affects nearly 50% of Crohn's patients who currently have no approved treatment options.

What's extra cool is their smart approach to developing tissue-specific treatments - they've got AGMB-447 for pulmonary fibrosis and two cMET receptor agonists in the pipeline.

The company has come a long way since its early days, when they started with HGF-mimetic antibodies based on argenx technology.

Now, they're not just working on one solution but building an entire portfolio of treatments that could help thousands of patients. Their research focuses on key pathways like TGFβ and HGF/MET, aiming to create treatments that don't just manage symptoms but actually fix the underlying problems.

With their current momentum and solid funding backing them up, AgomAb is definitely one of the most promising biotech companies to watch in Belgium's startup scene.

Their work could literally change how we treat fibrotic diseases, making them a perfect example of how Belgian innovation is pushing the boundaries of medical science.

What's amazing about Biobest is how they've totally changed the game in sustainable agriculture. Starting as the first company to commercialize bumblebees in 1987, they've grown into this incredible force with over 2,800 employees worldwide and a presence in more than 70 countries.

Their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is seriously cool - they use beneficial insects, mites, and nematodes to control pests naturally, which means farmers can cut back on harsh chemicals.

Plus, they've got this awesome Biobest Academy where anyone can learn about sustainable farming techniques at their own pace.

With a turnover of over 300 million EUR, they're not just talking about making agriculture more sustainable - they're actually making it happen. Their solutions cover everything from greenhouse crops to medicinal cannabis, and they're constantly developing new ways to help farmers protect their crops naturally.

The best part? Their methods actually work better for the environment and help create healthier food systems. It's pretty inspiring to see how they're making sustainable agriculture the new normal.

Aphea.Bio is seriously shaking up agriculture with their cutting-edge biotech solutions. Based in Belgium's biotech hub in Ghent, this innovative startup has been pushing boundaries since 2017 through their APEXbio™ R&D platform, which creates game-changing biocontrol and biostimulant products.

They just scored big in 2024, securing €70 million in Series C funding to accelerate their growth. Their focus on using natural microorganisms to boost crop health - it's like giving plants their own personal health coaches! Their latest breakthrough, INITIΛ by Aphea.Bio™, is a special biostimulant for maize that helps with everything from germination to nutrient absorption.

The company's commitment to sustainability isn't just talk - they've recently become a certified B Corporation, proving their dedication to both environmental and social impact.

Their product lineup includes two biofungicides, VALORIA™ and VIRTUOSA™, which are currently awaiting EPA approval. With operations expanding across Europe and into the US, Aphea.Bio is proving that agriculture can be both high-tech and earth-friendly.

They're not just developing products; they're creating solutions that could help feed the world while protecting our planet. Their research shows that these biological solutions can make farming more sustainable without sacrificing crop yields - exactly what modern agriculture needs.

Founded in 2022 by Willem Delbare and his team, Aikido Security has quickly become one of Belgium's most exciting tech startups, revolutionizing software security for developers and businesses.

Their rapid growth led to securing over €16 million in Series A funding in 2024, just six months after raising €5 million in seed funding, making them the fastest-capitalized startup in Belgian history.

What makes Aikido stand out is their fresh take on security - they've created a platform that actually makes sense for developers, cutting through the noise of false positives and complicated security jargon.

The platform now serves over 3,000 organizations and 6,000 individual developers, adding about 10 new organizations daily.

Their success caught the attention of major players, leading to a partnership with Visma to secure their portfolio of 175+ companies. What's really cool is how they're making security accessible to everyone, not just big corporations, with features like auto-fixing vulnerabilities and human-readable security reports.

Their platform helps companies meet essential compliance standards like SOC2 and ISO 27001, while keeping things simple enough for smaller teams to manage. With 30% of their customer base in the US and growing international interest, Aikido is proving that European tech startups can compete with the biggest names in cybersecurity.

Let me set the record straight about Gorilla's journey in Belgium's tech scene. What started as a promising venture has faced some real challenges. As reported by Tech Times, despite reaching a $1 billion valuation in 2021, Gorilla had to close its Belgian operations, including warehouses in Brussels and Antwerp.

However, the company's pivot has been interesting - they secured €6 million in funding to transform into an energy tech platform, helping companies transition to net-zero operations.

Their new focus on sustainable energy solutions shows how startups can adapt when their initial business model hits roadblocks. The shift came amid broader industry changes, where quick-commerce companies had to rethink their strategies.

Gorilla now processes massive amounts of data to help energy companies develop innovative pricing plans and promote sustainable consumption. They've attracted major clients like British Gas and Shell Energy, proving there's still plenty of opportunity in Belgium's tech ecosystem - just not always in the way we initially expect.

With 40 employees across offices in Antwerp, London, and Melbourne, they're showing how adapting to market realities while maintaining a focus on sustainability can create a viable path forward in today's competitive tech landscape.

Founded in 2017, Cowboy stands out as a game-changer in urban mobility with their smart e-bikes. As the first e-bike retail brand to achieve B Corp certification in 2022, they're not just talking about sustainability - they're making it happen.

Their mission goes beyond just making cool bikes; they're focused on transforming city transportation with connected e-bikes that get better over time through software updates.

The brand's commitment to sustainability includes a circular program where they refurbish previously ridden bikes, ensuring every bike stays on the road longer.

The startup's growth has been seriously impressive.

Cowboy just secured €5 million in funding and is looking at reaching profitability in 2025.

What makes them different is their tech - features like AdaptivePower that adjusts motor power based on conditions, theft alerts, and crash detection. Their latest model, the Cross, launched in 2024, helped double their market reach and even snagged the GQ Ebike of the Year Award.

The company's also smart about their manufacturing, moving more of their production to Europe to improve supply chain efficiency.

The real impact of Cowboy is in how they're changing city life.

With 60% of car trips being under 5 miles, their e-bikes offer a perfect alternative for urban transport.

Their app tracks fitness metrics and connects riders to a broader community, making each ride more engaging. Users are cycling more frequently, with stats showing significant increases in both distance traveled and time spent riding.

Between their commitment to sustainability, smart technology, and growing community of riders, Cowboy's proving that the future of urban transport is electric, connected, and seriously cool.

Qover has seriously stepped up its game in 2024, making major moves in the European insurance scene. The Brussels-based insurtech just launched its motor insurance solution in Ireland, marking its tenth country expansion in just three years.

Their recent team-up with Mastercard to handle return shipping costs for online shoppers in Belgium and Luxembourg - super helpful for those of us who shop online constantly.

Their platform is crushing it with features like instant claims processing and AI-powered data analysis, making insurance actually straightforward for once. The company's not just talking big either - they've secured $30 million in Series C funding and are aiming to cover all European markets by 2025.

With over 2.5 million users across platforms like Revolut and Monese, Qover's showing exactly how insurance should work in our digital age. They're basically turning insurance from this boring, complicated thing into something that just works seamlessly with the apps and services we already use.

Their CEO Quentin Colmant puts it perfectly when he says embedded protection is becoming a strategic tool for businesses - it's not just about having insurance anymore, it's about making it part of our everyday digital experience.

Between their smart tech, rapid expansion, and innovative partnerships, Qover's definitely one to watch in Belgium's tech scene.

Belgium's tech scene is absolutely crushing it in 2025! According to the latest investment data, Belgian startups pulled in €470 million just in the first half of 2024, with AI companies getting over 70% of that funding.

The startup ecosystem is seriously heating up, with big players like TechWolf and Robovision securing massive funding rounds. What's super exciting is that Belgium's startup scene is showing clear signs of maturity, especially with the number of successful exits jumping from 13 in 2018 to 36 in 2023.

The country is now home to four unicorns - Collibra, Odoo, Deliverect, and team.blue - with team.blue hitting an impressive €4.8 billion valuation. Adding to this momentum, Belgium's focus on digital strategy and open data management is creating tons of opportunities for new tech ventures.

While early-stage funding is strong at 77% of total capital (compared to Europe's 42%), the real challenge now is scaling up and keeping top talent. With local VCs raising over €200 million in new funds this year and international investors showing major interest, Belgium's tech ecosystem is definitely on track for some serious growth.