Start it @KBC Podcast

All eyes are on the UK this month as Brexit looks like it’s finally going to happen on January 31. What does this mean for business and for startups in Belgium and the UK? Should we be worried? We discussed the potential fallout with Start it @KBC managing director Anna Thomlinson, who happens to be British, and Pieter Moeremans, co-founder of Plannr.eu, a software company that facilitates the process of relocation for expats and businesses.

 It’s no secret that at Start it @KBC we promote female entrepreneurship. Also no secret is the fact that there’s still lots of work to be done there. That’s why we decided to hand over the mike to Eleanora Censorii, driving force behind Destination Everywhere Accessible Travel, to hear about her company and her challenges as a female founder. The online platform promoting travel for people with disabilities was launched in 2017.

As most entrepreneurs know, it’s important for startups to start selling to their target market as soon as possible. Yet selling directly to B2C customers is very different than selling to other businesses. What challenges are involved? And what’s the best way to approach B2C sales? In this podcast Pieter Minnebo from Eduvik tells us everything we need to know.

Growth hacking: is it just another marketing buzzword, or should we consider it the holy grail of modern marketing? We invited Nicholas D'hondt, growth hacking expert and CEO of Plann3r, to talk us through it. “Growth hacking is a mind-set. It’s the will to keep experimenting.”

 “To me, design thinking is a state of mind. It’s what forces people to look differently at problems and their possible solutions.” With his definition of design thinking, Dennis De Clercq (Buffl) immediately reveals the most important element in the whole design thinking process: having the right view. In this podcast, we zoom in on the importance of customer centricity and unravel what corporates can learn from startups. 

In this episode of the Start it @KBC podcast, we listen to the remarkable startup story of Loop, the company that develops fashionable and comfortable earplugs. “Our goal is to change the perspective of youngsters towards ear protection”, says co-founder Dimitri O.

Is having the right PR strategy a necessity when you’re going to market? And how do you know what your strategy should be? We invited PR expert Saar Dietvorst and Hadrien Crespin, co-founder of the smart parking app Seety, to discuss the perfect PR approach for startups. “PR done right is using the media and the public opinion to take your startup to the next level.”

In episode 14 of our podcast, we delve into the remarkable startup story of Pieterjan Verhaeghen, co-founder of Bolt. Bolt is the energy matchmaker that lets customers decide which specific local wind, solar, bio or hydropower station is to provide the energy they use.

It’s great to be green, but do startups really need a sustainable or a circular business model in order to be successful? “We want big companies and governments to take their responsibilities, but it’s the startup world that can provide us with specific and measurable solutions.”

Is finding the product-market fit an essential milestone in the growth of your business? Or can your startup still be successful without it? We invited Bruno Koninckx (KnowledgeFlow) and Bart Buckinx (BookWidgets) to our podcast studio to share their thoughts, experiences and advice. “Lose touch with the market, and you lose your product-market fit.”

Do you have an amazing idea for a brand new product or company? That’s great! The next step is to sell that idea to customers and investors. Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with outstanding pitching skills. Sara Rachdi, founder of THINK with People, and Amaury Timmermans, co-founder of startup QIQO, share hands-on tips and tricks on perfecting your pitch.