A different approach is necessary

In a little while, 20 entrepreneurs, managers, bankers and representatives from the civil society arrive at the first share#square at Participium. Guest speaker is Frank Demets (first from the left), who will give a vision on the future of business. He will do this looking back on his past as editor-in-chief for the newspaper ‘De Tijd’ and as a strategic communications consultant at Febelfin.

Some minutes ago, Lagast and Demets went through the presentation together. It looks good: Frank makes a stand for a different approach. In essence it comes down to this: entrepreneurs need better focus and better support, more funding is needed for that particular intermediary group between local traders and small businesses that can still find support with family and friends on the one hand, and the medium-sized companies for whom sufficient capital is available on the other hand. After Frank’s lecture, Jan Lagast will discuss this subject into more detail by indicating that Participium will turn a great idea into a company by giving it the right company vision and attracting the right people and financing.

Investment Committee monitors creation process

Since the beginning of this month Participium has set up an Investor Committee to properly monitor the creation of new companies. One of the company’s most important parameters for success is the success ratio for new ideas getting beyond the drawing board and becoming reality. However, the monitoring and limitation of the efforts that are made for an idea that does not achieve its manifestation is also an important point of attention for Participium. The Investor Committee of Participium keeps an eye on these matters and ensures that the innovation pipeline functions properly.

The Investor Committee of Participium follows a stage gate process that is comparable to R&D processes in companies that regularly come up with new products on the market. Our new products are our very companies. Participium intends to create 30 of these companies and to make them successful. Participium would like each and every one of these companies to have a pan-European perspective. That also means that we will travel Europe in search of information and contacts to be able to test our ideas at a very early stage against the different realities in the different corners of Europe.

Tuesday 30/9 Participium is a guest at businessrooms in Zottegem

On Tuesday 30 September, our first share#square takes place. Guest speaker is Frank Demets, former editor-in-chief of newspaper ‘De Tijd’ and strategic communication advisor at Febelfin. Years of talking with business leaders and entrepreneurs, helped Frank to build a strong vision on corporate finance. And as a keen observer, he knows how to put his finger on the tender spot. On the other hand, he also has suggestions and advice on how companies in Flanders may look forward to a bright future in these tougher (but all the more fascinating) times.

This first share#square takes place in the business center where Participium also has its registered office. BusinessRooms Zottegem receives us in a homely atmosphere, which characterizes the building since it was recently converted into an office. It is located in Zottegem, a 10-minute walk from the station and easily accessible from the N42 towards Geraardsbergen.

For whom?

• potential directors and interim managers
• professional investment companies
• entrepreneurs, managers and business angels
• banks and financiers
• potential partners and external consultants
• representatives of government and civil society

Program of share # square Tuesday, September 30, 2014

• 17:30 Reception and snack
• 18:00 Herman Demarbaix (Participium): short presentation
• 18:15 Frank Demets (ex-Time): corporate financing in 2014
• 19:00 Jan Lagast (Forte / Participium): successful growth
• 19:30 questions
• 20:00 networking drink

Guest speaker

• Frank Demets is the former editor-in-chief of newspaper ‘De Tijd’ and the former strategic communications advisor at Febelfin. Frank is now active as an independent consultant investor communications and also provides the reality check of the files at Participium.

Participation is free. Please do register in advance via e-mail.

After the registration, you will receive a notification of participation and the directions.

On 23/10, share#square is a guest at Forte in Melle

On Thursday, October 23, share#square is invited at Forte, a specialist service provider that provides management advice and marketing services to companies with a focus on technology. Forte ensures that its customers achieve great growth and has achieved many successes throughout the world with its own methods and management concepts.

Forte is located in Ghent near the R4, in a beautiful building that was renovated by the renowned architect Glenn Sestig. The location alone is worth the trip to Melle.

For whom?

• potential directors and interim managers
• professional investment companies
• entrepreneurs, managers and business angels
• potential partners and external consultants
• representatives of government and civil society

Program Thursday, October 23, 2014

• 17:30 Reception and snack
• 18:00 Herman Demarbaix (Participium): short presentation
• 18:15 Jan Lagast (Forte / Participium): success factors and scenarios for growth
• 19:30 questions
• 20:00 networking reception

Guest speaker

• Jan Lagast is a partner and senior advisor at Forte. He regularly gives keynote sessions about growth based on his experience. Together with his team, he has realized growth doublings for numerous references.

Participation is free. Please do register in advance via e-mail. 

After the registration, you will receive a notification of participation and the directions.

The old business model no longer works

Jan Lagast spoke this afternoon for the assembled guests of Packo Inox in Zedelgem. This company was celebrating its 50th anniversary in a beautiful pop-up lounge. Jan was asked to give managers in logistics, production and quality insights in the challenges that await them in food and pharma.

One of the lessons learned is that these challenges are not located inside of the factories, but all around us, right here in the context in which we will work. Fundamentally, the old business model that made us rich in the West since the 1960s is no longer applicable. For years we have been buying cheap raw materials in third world countries, adding some cheap labor on the spot, transporting that half-finished product cheaply to the rich West after which we add some expensive final labor to it. Finally we sold the end product to rich customers.

A global village

Today, rich customers are all around the world, also in Africa. In addition, the world literally becomes a big village, with on top of that the social media that send both positive and negative messages around the whole world in just a few seconds. Even the slightest mistake, made by a large company travels around the world in hours. As a company you feel the effect of that worldwide.

But on the other hand, this also opens up perspectives, because as a result of the many nutritional issues, Asians are now more interested in products from the West. With the right quality approach, it should also be possible for our (expensive) Western companies to win over (rich) customers in former third-world countries.

Participium builds first companies

Today, the first Investor Committee of Participium gathered to reflect on the companies that we structurally want to work on and in which we want to invest full time and effort. Last summer, Participium’s emphasis shifted from advisor-supervisor to company builder. And that has its consequences for our way of working.

As a company builder, Participium will now only lead companies for a longer period of time to guarantee success in the medium term. In existing companies we work together with the existing team that can further realize their product or service. But we also create our own companies, which we believe to be potentially successful throughout Europe. In the first years, the focus will be on two ‘sweet’ spots: Brains@Work and Living & Leisure. The first group consists of knowledge workers and their suppliers. Product manufacturers and service providers for the future of living and recreating are part of the second group.

All projects Participium was involved in, in the last few months were analyzed. The Investor Committee decided to actively engage in the reorganization of two existing companies. The first one is a management consultancy firm annex marketing communications specialist for technology companies and the second one a software producer that creates web software for consultants and freelancers. In addition, Participium is preparing a completely new franchise concept for administrative services for its first capital injection. All projects are covered by the Brains@Work sector and have an international growth perspective.

Participium will of course not abandon its customers from the advice and guidance. These customers get the opportunity to receive structural support if they are open to it. Today, however, Participium wants to invest resources and time on a number of crucial projects.