collective originalstartups & scaleupscampuscollective

Funding Evening: How to Successfully Raise Money From Angels, VCs & Banks

19. 01. 26

19:00-22:30

Deel

READY TO RAISE?

This January 2026, we’re kicking off the year with an event on one of the biggest hurdles for founders: securing the right funding at the right moment. You'll have the unique opportunity to network with Belgian angel investors and have a drink together at the Foyer next to our Auditorium.

From angels and venture capital to bank financing: we’ll break down what really matters, what investors look for, and how to navigate the fundraising landscape like a pro.

Curated by our Startups & Scale-ups curator Louis Jonckheere, this session brings together a top-tier line-up of investors, founders, and financing experts.

SPEAKERS

Entrepreneur: Louis Jonckheere
Angel investor: Lorenz Bogaert
Startup friendly bank Belfius: Kristof Schelfhout and Karel Van Lierde
Head of Marketing at London-based Connect Ventures: Claire Walker

What you can count on:

Reversed pitches from the experts in the room
Strong curated panel
No fluffy theory
Real stories from people who’ve actually raised (and funded) millions
Clear takeaways you can apply the next day

Whether you’re prepping your first round or levelling up for your next stage, this masterclass will give you the clarity, confidence, and strategy to move forward.

AGENDA

7.00PM Welcome & registration at our blue front desk (entrance Miriam Makebaplein)
7.30PM - 8.15PM Reversed pitches of an angel, VC and bank expert
8.15PM - 9PM Panel
9PM The unique opportunity to network with Belgian angel investors and have a drink at our Wintercircus Foyer.
10.30PM. Close

GUEST POLICY -This event is exclusive for Campus Residents and Collective Members. No guests allowed.

CANCELLATION - Can’t make it? You can cancel your ticket up to 4h for this event.

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NO-SHOW POLICY - We’re becoming stricter on no-shows as of 2026. Not to be difficult, but because empty spots mean someone else misses out.
Soon, no-shows will be linked to a €25 contribution to the Wintercircus Fund, an initiative supporting those who might otherwise have less access to networks like ours.

Collective Type of Events

Collective Original - Our own signature events, created by and for the Collective community. These gatherings bring all members together to connect, learn, and grow. Fully curated and organized by Collective.

Collective Invites - Events we co-create with partner communities. You’ll meet new people, discover fresh ideas, and tap into networks beyond Collective , while still enjoying our signature vibe. Think of it as Collective + friends.

Collective Choice - Handpicked recommendations for great external events hosted at Wintercircus. Not organized by us, but absolutely worth your time. We arrange your access (tickets or %) and make sure you can join in, because we know you’ll love it.

Claire is Head of Marketing at London-based Connect Ventures, where she works closely with founders from day one - shaping how Connect shows up, communicates, and partners with its founders at the earliest stages. Her role is central to ensuring founders understand exactly who Connect is, what it stands for, and what it’s like to work with the team from the very first interaction.

Claire brings over seven years of experience working alongside founders building outlier, product-led companies. She spent seven years at Notion Capital, where she led marketing, brand, and community, partnering directly with founders from pre-seed through to growth. Earlier roles in startup operations give her a practical, operator-level understanding of the realities of early company building.

She also leads the firm’s flagship summit, Built by Few, which spotlights leading product companies and founders across Europe.

Lorenz Bogaert is a tech entrepreneur, investor, and the co-founder of StarApps, one of Ghent’s most exciting venture groups. His background includes multiple successful ventures and a long track record of building digital companies in Belgium.

He has spent years shaping the local startup ecosystem by mentoring founders, creating new ventures, and supporting early-stage teams. His experience spans product building, growth strategy, and operations, making him a rare all-rounder with deep industry intuition.

Lorenz positions himself as both a creator and a community catalyst who wants Belgian founders to think bigger. Through StarApps, he continues to expand his impact by pushing new ideas out of the lab and into the market.

Louis Jonckheere is a seasoned tech entrepreneur and one of Belgium’s strongest advocates for startups. As a co-founder of Showpad and now a key figure at Wintercircus Ghent, he’s dedicated his career to fostering innovation in Europe’s startup landscape.

Over the past decade, he has supported the growth of local B2B SaaS champions and mentored emerging founders shaping the next generation of Belgian tech. His vision highlights the evolution of Ghent from a small university city into a global startup hub. Louis blends entrepreneurial experience with civic passion, positioning himself as both builder and ecosystem leader.

Kristof Schelfhout is business & Corporate banker at Belfius Bank.
He is a creative & tailor-made solution seeker with empathic approach.

Karel Van Lierde is business & Corporate banker at Belfius Bank.

Funding Evening: How to Successfully Raise Money From Angels, VCs & Banks

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