Scaleup Flanders and dups join forces to strengthen transaction readiness of Flemish scale-ups

Scaleup Flanders, the leading growth programme for Flemish scale-ups organised by Agoria, Sirris, Vlerick and VITO, has entered into a strategic partnership with dups, a specialized advisory firm active in startup financings, acquisitions and exits. dups joins the programme’s partnernetwork alongside Eximium Talent and Osborne Clarke Belgium.

The collaboration responds to a structural challenge faced by many scale-ups: while access to capital remains essential, the complexity of financing rounds has increased significantly. Founders are confronted with increasingly sophisticated negotiations around valuation, dilution, governance rights and long-term control, often at moments where the company’s future trajectory is being defined.

By partnering with dups, Scaleup Flanders aims to reinforce its support precisely at those decisive moments, focusing not only on capital raising, but on the quality and sustainability of the deals underpinning growth.

From growth ambition to structured transactions

dups has built a strong track record behind the scenes of Belgian startup financings and strategic transactions. Rather than operating asa classic intermediary, the firm supports founders at the intersection of strategy, law and finance, helping them translate growth ambitions into balanced agreements that protect both entrepreneurial drive and investor confidence.

“As scale-ups grow, financing decisions become less about momentum and more about structure,” says Frederik Tibau, Program Manager at Scaleup Flanders. “Founders need experienced guidance when entering negotiations that will shape their company for years to come. dups brings exactly that expertise. This partnership strengthens our ability to help scale-ups make informed, durable choices at critical inflection points.”

Within the Scaleup Flanders ecosystem, dups will support participating companies on financing strategy, deal preparation, investor negotiations and transaction readiness. The partnership is designed as a complement to the programme’s broader focus on scaling leadership, organisation and international growth.

For dups, the collaboration offers a way to engage earlier and more structurally with high-potential Flemish scale-ups.

“Too often, founders only realise the full implication sof a financing round once the documentation is already on the table,” says Pierre-AlexisLéonard, CEO of dups. “By working with Scaleup Flanders, we can intervene earlier in the process, helping entrepreneurs understand their options, manage dilution and enter negotiations from a position of clarity and balance. Strong companies are built on strong, well-structured deals.”

Both organisations emphasise that better-prepared transactions ultimately benefit the broader ecosystem. In a more selective funding climate, that structural maturity increasingly determines which scale-ups can continue to grow. Fewer misaligned shareholder structures, healthier founder–investor relationships and more robust scale-ups increase the chances of building companies capable of scaling beyond Belgium.

“Flanders has no shortage of ambition or innovation,”Tibau adds. “What often determines success is how companies navigate a handful of key moments. By bringing partners like dups into our network, we strengthen the foundations on which our scale-ups grow.”

Scaleup Flanders is an initiative of Agoria and Sirris, supported by VLAIO, and developed in close collaboration with partners including Vlerick Business School and VITO. Since its launch, the programme has supported hundreds of Flemish scale-ups in building scalable organisations and pursuing international growth.

About Scaleup Flanders

‍Scaleup Flanders supports Flemish scale-ups in their transition from fast growth to sustainable international expansion. The programme combines strategic guidance, peer learning, expert coaching and access to a strong partner network focused on leadership, organisation, financing and global growth.

More information: https://www.scaleupflanders.com

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About dups

‍dups is a specialized advisory firm supporting founders during critical moments such as fundraising, acquisitions and exits. The firm focuses on deal structuring, negotiation support and long-term value protection for entrepreneurs and investors.

More information: https://www.dups.be

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