Pitchdrive | Early-stage VC ??

??2024 is almost a wrap, so it’s time to reflect on the thrilling year we’ve had with flourishing portfolio startups, our third fund in only 4 years, exciting new investments, and crazy exits ?? ???€50M Fund III launched ??? 16 new portfolio startups added, bringing the total to 60 ??? +150 founders empowered 24/7 ??? Invested in 15 countries all around the globe ??? 3 exits in the portfolio We asked some of our new portfolio founders about their entrepreneurial drive. See it yourself in the video below??? Featuring: Cem Ruso ?? from Datapad, James Mcelroy from Axe, Jonas Deprez from Donna, Stefano Saitta from MAAT, Alex F. from Privasee, Bart-Jan Leyts from Otamiser, Ben Towers from Happl, Frank Zwerts, and Michiel Bearelle from Vendorvue. Pitchdrive | Early-stage VC ??, Boris Bogaert, Koen Christiaens, Wim Derkinderen, Emily Kegels, Alexine Capiau, Deniz ?zkan, Bram Troch, Lotte Geldermans

?? Investment News - Conveo (YC S24) raises $5.3M to transform market research with AI ?? We at Pitchdrive | Early-stage VC ?? are thrilled to back Conveo in their $5.3M seed round, alongside Y Combinator, 6 Degrees Capital, Entourage, and Syndicate One. Trusted by global brands like Unilever, Orange, Sanofi, and Google, Conveo revolutionizes qualitative research with AI-powered video interviews—delivering deep customer insights 100x faster than traditional methods. By automating the entire research process, from interviews to instant analysis, Conveo’s AI research co-worker makes insights instantly accessible to any team, from researchers to the CEO. No more slow, costly studies—just real-time answers that drive smarter, faster decisions. We’re excited to support Dieter De Mesmaeker, Hendrik Van Hove, and the entire Conveo team as they reshape the future of market research. ?? Read more ?? https://lnkd.in/eRBAz-NA.. #AIResearch #MarketResearch #StartupFunding #innovation

Finally, the word is out - one of the most influential women in the world, Oprah Winfrey, is coming to Belgium for the first time on March 23rd for an exclusive Supernova pre-event! We're proud to co-organize the SuperNova conference, gathering top investors, entrepreneurs, and executives in Antwerp on March 27th and 28th. Tickets are available through the link in the post below???

Three Pitchdrive portfolio startups, Donna, Powernaut, and Vendorvue, were featured in the top 10 promising Belgian startups to keep an eye on in 2025 by EU-Startups! Well-deserved recognition for these top startups ??????

Every startup founder should embrace the reversed hockey stick to enable their inevitable pivot. Founders are more often than not rushing to “escape the flat blade” of the hockey stick curve. My advice? Don’t rush it at all costs ?? ? The flat blade—that early stage of slow growth—isn’t a phase to skip over. It’s where the real work happens. It’s where you experiment, pivot, and build the foundations to fuel your exponential growth later. I know it’s tough. Grinding day and night, walking into walls, and feeling like nothing’s moving but the flat blade isn’t a delay—it’s a proving ground. Master it, and you’ll be ready for that exponential climb ?? More insights on embracing the flat blade and pivoting your way to success here???? https://lnkd.in/eM-hJKUs

?? Investment News - Ghent’s Powernaut raises €2.4M to Build the Next Generation Power Plant ?? We at Pitchdrive | Early-stage VC ?? are excited to join the €2.4 million pre-seed funding round for Powernaut, alongside international investors Revent, Seedcamp, and Syndicate One. Powernaut’s innovative software optimizes millions of decentralized devices—like solar panels, EVs, and batteries—helping energy suppliers balance local energy production with grid needs. Their solution not only accelerates the transition away from fossil fuels, it also reduces costs for consumers, paving the way for a sustainable energy future. We’re thrilled to support Powernaut in shaping the next generation of energy systems and driving impactful change for a greener world. ???? Congratulations to Florentijn Degroote, Serge M., and the entire Powernaut team! We’re excited to see how you’ll redefine the energy sector with your vision and technology ?? #EnergyInnovation #RenewableEnergy #StartupFunding #AI #ClimateTech #earlystagefunding Read more ?? https://lnkd.in/g-jxx-bW..

?? Investment News - Istanbul-based Datapad raises over $500K to Revolutionize Data Analytics with AI Agents ?? We at Pitchdrive | Early-stage VC ?? are thrilled to lead the pre-seed funding round for Datapad, joined by e2vc, Startup Istanbul, and top angel investors. Founders Cem Ruso ?? and Orkun Soylu have impressed us with their deep expertise and bold vision. Datapad redefines how businesses approach data by replacing static dashboards with proactive AI-driven insights. Their solution empowers leaders to focus on strategy, not spreadsheets, by delivering real-time KPI monitoring and actionable recommendations—all through a conversational interface. Congratulations to Cem, Orkun, and the entire Datapad team! We’re proud to support Datapad on its journey to shape the future of AI-powered decision-making and establish itself as a global leader in analytics innovation. ??? #AIAnalytics #StartupFunding #DataDriven #TechInnovation Read more ?? https://lnkd.in/eErm_-Ny..

#ForbesBe30Under30 just came out and guess what? 5 of our portfolio founders were selected! ?? Huge congrats to Bart-Jan Leyts (Otamiser), Casimir Morobé (Toqua), Lander T’Kindt (Donna), and Hendrik Keeris & Steve Declercq (Bizzy) for being change-makers in not only the Belgian but the international ecosystem ??.

We're speaking at SINC's "Go With the Coach" in Antwerp tomorrow!??? Wim Derkinderen will deliver the main keynote on key indicators for startup success. Later, he and Emily Kegels will host coaching sessions, diving deep into how to pitch and sell like a pro. Want to know more about how you can take your startup to the next level? Get expert advice, sharpen your pitch, and learn the secrets behind successful startups. See you there? Claim a ticket below ?? edit: The tickets are all sold out! #Pitchdrive #SincEvent #StartupSuccess #PitchingSkills #StartupJourney #Innovation #Entrepreneurship

?? Investment News - Ghent-based Vendorvue raises €1.4M to Eliminate Vendor Compliance Headaches with AI ?? We at Pitchdrive | Early-stage VC ?? are proud to lead the recent €1.4 million funding round for Vendorvue, together with Syndicate One, followed by several top business angels. The strong founding team has impressed us with their significant traction within only 4 months of inception. Vendorvue revolutionizes the way procurement teams manage compliance by automating the collection, validation, and tracking of essential documents. This not only cuts down on manual labor but significantly enhances accuracy and efficiency across industries. We are excited to support Vendorvue’s mission to empower procurement teams, allowing them to focus on strategic tasks by freeing them from the burden of administrative overhead. Congratulations to Michiel Bearelle, Anthony Ringoet, Jean-Marc Bosschem and the entire Vendorvue team! We look forward to seeing your continued growth and the impact of your cutting-edge platform on the global market. ???? #Pitchdrive #Vendorvue #AICompliance #ProcurementInnovation #StartupFunding #TechnologyInvestment Read more ?? https://lnkd.in/eGkhfdFc