The Ghent effect: small city, serious tech punch

Ghent. Once known for canals, beer, and a castle.

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In the past year(s), it’s been hard to miss: high-profile exits, Wintercircus startups

continuously announcing investment rounds, and the city emerging as a hub for serious tech discussion.

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At nexxworks, we’re proud to call Ghent home — and fortunate to compare this city every day with other leading innovation hubs around the world. From where I stand, Ghent has all the raw ingredients to keep progressing.

I see 4 reasons for the latest surge: 
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🎪  Bricks matter: Wintercircus, where the magic happens

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As in retail, it’s location, location, location — and it’s worth starting by underlining just how critical that is. If you haven’t been to Wintercircus, imagine a 19th-century circus transformed into a high-tech playground packed with startups, labs, and event spaces. It’s beautiful.

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But the real magic isn’t the building — it’s the energy. Innovation happens when people connect, whether over coffee, at events, or in late-night conversations. Somehow, that happens more naturally here. You’ll regularly find interesting people (including nexxworkers) there — it’s just that kind of place where you meet people you (don’t) know yet, where unexpected introductions come easily.

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And in a time when hybrid work is still reshaping, places like this matter more than ever. Wintercircus offers more than just desks; it delivers community, serendipity, and in-person connection.

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Ghent has applied this formula across the city: Tech Lane Science Park in the south, the Port Tech hub in the north, and Upoffiz by Upgrade Estate are all purpose-built to foster connection and innovation.

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Lesson? If you want a credible ecosystem, you need spaces where talent wants to be— not just where they’re required to show up.

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🚀 Pay it forward & stay visible — the people powering the rocket

Let’s be clear: bricks alone don’t build ecosystems — people do.

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Ghent’s startup scene thrives on an unwritten rule: pay it forward. Founders who achieve success don’t retreat — they invest, mentor, and open doors. This mindset is frequently championed by CEO's of recent succes stories (Showpad, Henchman, Silverfin, Lighthouse, ....) and traces back to the early days of the Netlog mafia.
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The key? They don’t just help and invest — they stay active and (re)present.

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It’s reminiscent of the moment when Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin elevated Belgian tennis — suddenly, a new generation believed they belonged on the world stage.

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Every thriving ecosystem needs visible role models. Ghent has them, and notably, they remain approachable. No closed circles or inflated egos — you’ll see them at meetups, on panels, and advising early-stage teams.

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That kind of visibility creates a ripple effect: it reinforces the belief that success is possible locally. When young founders watch people from their own city go global, the mindset shift is simply: “If they can do it, why not me?”

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Importantly, this isn’t just altruism — it’s smart ecosystem thinking. Reinvested success fuels the next wave.

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Silicon Valley refined this long ago; Ghent is adapting it with its own local nuance.

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Lesson? Pay it forward, stay visible, and cultivate a culture where experience is shared freely.

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Want to experience this yourself? Join our Flanders Technology Tour, in which we will visit some of these organzations ourselves! 

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🏢 The city that gets it: why Ghent’s government is a quiet force

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Here’s a less obvious point, and not at all political motivated point of view: City Hall has been a enabler of Ghent’s tech rise.

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Yes, local governments often take heat (and Ghent is no exception), but the city’s administration has played a meaningful role in shaping today’s ecosystem.  Conversations with local public servants reveal a genuine commitment to innovation and tech development. It backed the transformation of Wintercircus, co-developed the Tech Lane Science Park, and partnered on the Port Tech hub.  

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In short, Ghent’s administration isn’t only applauding from the sidelines; it’s playing an active role in building the ecosystem. And no, most likely it’s not as pink as I see it when actually in the room ... but you can’t deny they have a positive impact.

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Lesson: Sometimes the smartest government move is to enable, not control. And, not to subsidise stuff that’s broken at the end, but to empower at the very beginning.

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🤘 Humble swagger: An underrated advantage

One consistent trait among Ghent founders: ambition, with minimal arrogance.

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Entrepreneurs here are aiming for global markets and billion-dollar competitors — but they remain grounded.  You won’t see exaggerated self-promotion, no Bentley’s or Lamborghini’s in the garages here. Instead, it’s a combination of quiet confidence, clear focus, and disciplined execution.

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Learning: This humble swagger attracts talent, earns investor trust, and builds a resilient community — arguably one of Ghent’s most overlooked strengths.

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🌍, are you paying attention?

Ghent’s momentum wasn’t scripted by a master plan or EU strategy document. It emerged because people, places, private sector, and public sector aligned.

The broader lesson?

Focus on creating the right conditions, empower those doing the work, and allow ecosystems to evolve organically. And, honestly ... if a small medieval city located in Belgium can build a globally credible tech hub — others can too.