Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), the Flemish export agency, has unveiled Startup.Flanders, a platform aimed at assisting Flemish start-ups looking to expand into international markets,

as well as foreign start-ups interested in establishing a presence in Flanders.

FIT's launch of Startup.Flanders positions it among the growing number of tech nations, regions, and cities that are establishing start-up platforms. Similar initiatives include Techleap.nl in the Netherlands, La French Tech in France, and Startup Berlin.

"With our extensive global presence in over 70 markets, FIT is uniquely positioned in Flanders to deeply connect Startup.Flanders with start-up ecosystems worldwide," stated FIT.

According to a recent report, Flanders is home to approximately 2,500 start-ups, collectively contributing to a business value of 36 billion euros, nearly triple the value in 2018. The report underscores the continued focus on innovation within Flanders' start-up ecosystem and emphasizes the significance of venture capital for Flemish start-ups.

While acknowledging the importance of the new platform, FIT CEO Joy Donné expressed concerns regarding tax reforms currently under discussion at the federal level in Belgium. Donné cautioned that the venture capital provisions in the reform could have a "negative impact on the international competitiveness of start-ups." Photo by  Erich Haesler Interlaken CH, Wikimedia commons.