Belgium’s answer to Silicon Valley is the perfect place for aspiring entrepreneurs 

So how do our Masters students tap into Ghent’s active entrepreneurial community? Programme director and Professor of International Entrepreneurship, Oli Mihalache, explains…  

Ghent is fast becoming Belgium’s own Silicon Valley. What does this mean for our Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship students?  

One of the major advantages of this Masters programme is its location. Ghent has a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem – and it’s growing fast. There are so many opportunities for our students to meet founders, find internships and grow their networks.  

There’s also a strong entrepreneurial culture of paying it forward. Founders in Ghent want to support future business owners, through mentorship, investment and sharing expertise. It’s a very open, collaborative community – and one we’re proud to be a part of. 

How does the programme connect students with the community? 

We have a number of partnerships with influential hubs and incubators. For example, our partnership with the tech and innovation centre Wintercircus means you can join their events – and network with seasoned entrepreneurs. They also host events that are exclusively for our Masters students, so you get an inside view of innovation in action. We don’t just teach – we get you into the building where founders are at work. 

You’ll also benefit from our collaborations with two Ghent-based incubators – imec and Start it @KBC.  

A key element of the Masters is the Start-up Accelerator, where you refine your business idea, develop a business model and pitch it. We bring in representatives from both incubators at the beginning, to tell you what they look for in start-ups. Then they come back to hear your final pitch and give you feedback. So if you decide to apply for an incubator or accelerator in the future, you’ll have a real headstart. 

And of course, all our Masters students have access to our global alumni network. Many of our alumni have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs. Indeed, five of Belgium’s seven unicorns have ties to Vlerick, including Lighthouse and Collibra. Our alumni are always willing to support students and offer advice. They also contribute to the Vlerick Entrepreneurship Fund, which supports aspiring entrepreneurs either during the programme or after graduation. 

It sounds like there’s a strong focus on action-oriented learning… 

What makes this programme so impactful is that’s built on real business. You take on real challenges with real companies. You build your own start-up – or create and implement an innovation for an existing organisation. You learn best practice from seasoned entrepreneurs and get advice from leading incubators. Everything is designed to give you the skills, knowledge and mindset to make an immediate impact – whether that’s by launching your own venture or stepping into an innovation role. 

As well as the Start-up Accelerator, you’ll take part in the Innovation Challenge, where you work with companies like KPMG to tackle a real business challenge and make an impact on an organisation. And you’ll do a final project – either working on your own business plan or in an established organisation. You may even secure your dream job for after graduation – just like our alumni Aleksandra and AhmadMario.  

For students who want to gain even more experience, there’s an optional six-month Career Acceleration Track. You can also choose an internship up to 6 months in a start-up or scale-up instead of doing electives – truly integrating yourself into the Ghent entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

What about outside of Belgium – do our Masters students venture beyond Ghent? 

Of course! When you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, your network is everything. Our base in Ghent places you at the heart of Belgium’s most active start-up community. But you can also build a broader European network with trips to Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam. 

You’ll check out innovation hubs like Plug and Play in Paris, Tech Barcelona and Amsterdam’s Startup Village. You’ll discover how organisations like Bpifrance and Keen Venture Partners support entrepreneurs. And you’ll see inside some truly innovative organisations like urban farmers InstaGreen and grocery delivery pioneers PICNIC. There’s time to explore these fantastic cities too – a highlight for me is sunset paddleboarding in Barcelona! 

We encourage you to make connections throughout these trips – you may even find yourself a mentor for your final project. 

All of this activity is designed to prepare students for their leap into business. What do you think an aspiring entrepreneur needs to be successful? 

Today’s Masters graduates are entering a business environment where everything is changing. From geopolitical shifts to AI rewriting the rules – there’s no clear path ahead. That’s why the mindset you develop at Vlerick is so critical.  

Today’s successful entrepreneurs have a global outlook. If something is happening somewhere in the world that could impact their business, they know about it. They move fast – but they’re open to feedback. They build – and then rebuild.  

This entrepreneurial mindset empowered our alumni Grégoire and Rayan to launch their drone company – check out their story. 

So the Masters is designed to cultivate this mindset? 

Everything you do on this Masters – from learning how to make decisions and refining your critical thinking through to honing your presentation and pitching skills – is designed to help you develop an entrepreneurial mindset.  

We encourage you to adopt a founder mentality in everything you do, to take ownership, be agile and learn to pivot quickly. And we bring together a tight-knit, highly motivated, diverse group, so you’re constantly drawing on different skillsets and exploring different perspectives. 

There’s an energy that flows through the Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship students. And when you put this specialist group inside the bigger, influential Ghent entrepreneurial community, this energy is amplified. It’s a truly inspiring way to accelerate your career. 

Ready to join the Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship? 

Find out more – or book a call with the team.