Ghent startup ecosystem.

Sources & downloads

Report (PDF)

The State of Ghent’s Startup Ecosystem 2024 (Dealroom x City of Ghent)

Live lists

• Dealroom list: https://app.dealroom.co/lists/48369
• Seedtable ranking: https://www.seedtable.com/startups-ghent
• Failory list: https://www.failory.com/startups/ghent
• Wellfound jobs: https://wellfound.com/startups/location/ghent

Summary (from the Dealroom report)

• 920+ startups & scaleups
• 310+ VC-backed startups
• Ecosystem value: > €34B (report)
• Strong dominance of health/biotech in ecosystem value; enterprise software and foodtech are also important, with an emerging cleantech ecosystem.

UGent spin-outs

The report highlights Ghent University’s role with 150+ spinouts (100+ in Ghent) and a combined enterprise value of €1.8B (Q2 2024).

Funding dynamics

Belgian investors are relatively more active in early-stage rounds; international investors are more present in breakout/late-stage rounds. Local VCs launched new funds since 2021 (report cites €590M+).

Examples of top startups mentioned

• Unicorns/€1B+ exits: argenx, Deliverect, team.blue
• Future unicorns: Showpad, Orionis Biosciences, AgomAb Therapeutics, Indigo
• Rising stars: Aikido, Protealis, Mazaro, AmphiStar, EnergyVision, timefold, MRM Health

Note on external rankings

Seedtable/Failory use their own methodology and rankings change—use them as a starting point for research and introductions.