The Qbic Fund is a multi-sector fund supporting spin-off companies of the Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp university associations and of VITO. Through its strategic partnership with the universities of Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp, and VITO, the Qbic Fund has early and privileged access to promising research projects at these partner universities. Our investment approach is based on early in-depth and independent review and analysis followed by hands on involvement and support.  In May 2012 the Qbic Fund held its first close and currently it has over € 30 million under management. The Qbic Fund is backed by several public and private investors and managed by Qbic Venture Partners.

Qbic Fund

SPDG is a single family office representing the Périer-D'Ieteren branch. It co-controls the D’Ieteren Group, together with the other D'Ieteren family members. Since 1805, the Group has developed strong brands mainly in the automotive industry: D'Ieteren Auto, the leading importer of Volkswagen brands in Belgium, and Belron, the global leader in vehicle glass repair and replacement. Next to its role as a major shareholder of D'Ieteren, SPDG has developed its investing activities to drive innovation and generate lasting impact in road mobility & smart cities.

SPDG

Rise PropTech Fund is a hands-on venture capital fund dedicated to Late-Seed and Series A startups active in the PropTech sector

Rise PropTech

Junction is a sustainable fund that invests growth-equity in SMEs and scale-ups that play a crucial role in the energy transition.

Junction Growth Investors

Hysopt

Hysopt creates and sells software for HVAC designers and provides advice to engineering firms, installation companies, architects, builders, and manufacturers. Hysopt uses calculation and simulation software to increase HVAC performance, reduce carbon emissions, and save energy costs.

Hysopt is a Belgian company that has developed a revolutionary physics- and cloud-based software platform for optimizing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Their innovative approach focuses on system-level engineering rather than individual components, enabling HVAC engineers to design and optimize HVAC systems for maximum efficiency, performance, and cost savings.

The HVAC Engineering Software

Making air conditioners and heating more efficient, Antwerp's Hysopt closes on €5.3 million

Launch of ‘Hysopt BIM syncer©’ unleashes revolution in HVAC engineering

Hysopt software platform for HVAC optimisation receives over EUR five million

Technologies that automate and optimize building operations using data-driven insights.

Smart Building Technology

Hysopt is a Belgian company that has developed a revolutionary physics- and cloud-based software platform for optimizing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Their innovative approach focuses on system-level engineering rather than individual components, enabling HVAC engineers to design and optimize HVAC systems for maximum efficiency, performance, and cost savings.
Hysopt's cutting-edge software incorporates mathematical models based on the laws of physics to create fully-fledged digital twins of building HVAC systems. These digital twins simulate the entire system's energy flows, allowing for sensitivity analysis, flaw detection, and optimization of system configurations and control strategies. The software can predict parameters such as energy costs, CO2 emissions, and thermal comfort, helping to achieve optimal system performance and sustainability.
Through its software, Hysopt empowers property developers, engineering consultants, installers, and facility managers to optimize HVAC systems before construction or renovation, eliminating risks and suboptimal choices. Across 450 projects, Hysopt's software has achieved an average energy cost savings of 30% and a reduction of 40% in CO2 emissions.
In November 2022, Hysopt raised EUR 5.3 million in funding to accelerate its international expansion and partner channel growth. The company, founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the University of Antwerp, has grown to over 30 employees and operates in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the UK, with plans to enter the German market in 2023.

Verkada is a leading provider of a cloud-based physical security platform designed to protect people and assets. The company offers an integrated suite of solutions comprising video security cameras, door-based access control, environmental sensors, alarms, visitor management, and mailroom management. Verkada's hybrid cloud architecture leverages edge-based processing and cloud computing capabilities to deliver real-time insights and seamless remote access.
Verkada's innovative camera lineup includes a wide range of models suitable for indoor and outdoor deployments, with resolutions ranging from 2MP to 4K and onboard storage capacity of up to 365 days. The cameras feature powerful analytics like people and vehicle detection, enabling users to search and filter footage based on various attributes.
Verkada's Command platform serves as a centralized, user-friendly interface for managing and monitoring all devices across multiple locations. It offers advanced features such as face search, cross-camera tracking, and proactive alerts, empowering organizations to streamline investigations and enhance overall security posture.
As of June 2024, Verkada's platform is trusted by over 24,000 organizations worldwide, including several Fortune 500 companies. The company has continually expanded its product offerings and capabilities, introducing solutions like a multisensor camera, advanced air quality sensors, and a 16-door access controller in November 2022 to meet evolving customer needs.

Verkada

Cloudastructure is a cloud-based video surveillance provider that offers an artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) powered platform. The platform utilizes proprietary technology to enable real-time monitoring, detection, and analysis of video footage. It offers features such as facial recognition, age and gender prediction, vehicle detection and color recognition, license plate recognition, object counting, and firearm detection. Cloudastructure's solution operates on a scalable cloud architecture, eliminating the need for on-premises hardware and associated costs.
The platform provides advanced search capabilities, customizable alerts and notifications, and integrates with various security systems. In January 2022, Cloudastructure acquired Visionful, a smart parking technology solution, to enhance its offerings with parking management and analytics capabilities. The company also announced plans to acquire Infrastructure Proving Grounds (IPG), an IoT cybersecurity monitoring service, to strengthen its cybersecurity offerings.
As of January 2022, Cloudastructure reported an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of over USD 1.3 million, representing a 1400% growth from the previous year. The company's sales pipeline grew from USD 60,000 in January 2021 to USD 10.5 million by January 2022, reflecting significant market traction.
In March 2023, Cloudastructure integrated remote guarding capabilities into its platform, enabling real-time intervention and deterrence of suspicious activities through virtual patrols, voice-down alerts, and escalation to law enforcement when necessary. The remote guarding feature has become a key differentiator, included in over 75% of the company's proposals as of August 2023.

Cloudastructure

Faceter is a computer vision surveillance technology that leverages a decentralized fog network of miners to provide smart security solutions for households and businesses worldwide. Their facial recognition technology, which has been independently tested and proven to have a 99.78% accuracy rate, enables users to set up their own CCTV systems using old smartphones or IP cameras. By activating facial recognition on these devices, Faceter allows users to detect potential threats and monitor their premises effectively.
The Faceter platform operates on a token economy, where users can contribute their GPU power to the decentralized network and earn FACE tokens in return. These tokens can then be used to pay for the computing power required to run the facial recognition and surveillance capabilities. Faceter's technology offers a range of features, including facial recognition, age detection, and person re-identification across multiple cameras.
In addition to its smart security solutions, Faceter provides easy integration with existing CCTV systems and apps, allowing users to enhance their surveillance capabilities seamlessly. The platform also offers a cloud-based storage solution for video data, ensuring secure and reliable access to recorded footage.
In February 2022, Faceter introduced a mobile video surveillance service that eliminates the need for additional equipment like servers. This service utilizes a cloud-based platform for storing and analyzing video data, providing a cost-effective and secure alternative to traditional surveillance systems.

Faceter

Blink Identity is a company that provides a privacy-focused facial recognition technology for access control and identification purposes. Their system utilizes proprietary biometric facial recognition software combined with specialized hardware to accurately identify individuals at full walking speed, even in varying lighting conditions. The technology does not store photographs; instead, it converts facial images into unique encrypted templates for comparison against enrolled templates securely stored in an encrypted database.
Blink Identity offers a "VIP Lane" service at venues, allowing streamlined entry for guests who have enrolled by providing their name, email address, and a forward-facing photograph taken with their cellphone camera. This photograph is converted into a template and associated with the user's ticket or event details. At the venue, high-speed machine vision cameras capture images of attendees, convert them into templates, and match them against the enrolled templates, facilitating expedited access while preventing fraud.
The company prioritizes data security and privacy, adhering to strict policies and procedures. In April 2022, Blink Identity successfully completed the Service Organization Control (SOC) two Type one audit, demonstrating its commitment to maintaining robust security controls for data processing and handling.

Blink identity

Augury is a leading provider of AI-based machine health solutions that enable manufacturers to predict and prevent industrial machine failures, thereby improving machine performance. The company's technology combines the internet of Things (IoT), AI, and human expertise to monitor machines continuously, diagnose issues, prescribe corrective actions, and guide users in implementing those actions.
Augury offers two primary solutions: Machine Health for Critical Equipment (MH CR) and Machine Health for Supporting Equipment (MH SE). MH CR provides precise fault diagnostics, root cause analysis, and detailed instructions to avert machine failures and optimize performance, backed by Augury's reliability engineers. MH SE enables users to quickly determine the severity of potential issues and perform proactive maintenance.
The process involves installing wireless sensors on machines to capture data, which is then transmitted to Augury's secure cloud for analysis by advanced AI algorithms. Diagnostic reports are sent to users, providing insights, recommended actions, and user guides. As of October 2022, Augury had diagnosed over 100,000 machines with 99.9% accurate diagnosis, helping global customers achieve 3-10x return on investment within months.
In December 2019, Augury received an USD 8 million investment from Qualcomm Ventures' AI Fund, recognizing its leadership in the Industrial internet of Things (IIoT). The investment aimed to accelerate the transformation of the industrial sector by leveraging 5G technologies for improved machine health solutions.

Augury

Platforms that automate building management. They gather and analyze data from multiple components, including hardware and sensors, and use a combination of technologies such as IoT, cloud computing, and machine learning for data-driven, proactive, and real-time building intelligence and controls.

Solutions that automatically adjust energy consumption using optimization algorithms, taking into account factors such as energy demand, weather, occupant comfort, and utility prices. These systems aim to reduce energy consumption, cost, and emissions without compromising occupant experience.

Smart lighting solutions include providers of hardware (e.g., smart light bulbs, smart windows, and shades) and lighting-as-a-service.

Smart HVAC solutions include sensors that integrate with building automation systems and specialized HVAC equipment that uses data gathered by sensors to manage temperature, humidity, and air flow. They aim to enhance occupant experience through improved comfort and indoor air quality whilst optimizing energy consumption and utility costs.

Providers of smart water management solutions including irrigation, leak detection, water health monitoring, and water usage analysis.

Developers of smart security solutions including security cameras, sensors, alarms, and access control combined with cloud-based software, and providers of video surveillance-as-a-service and access control-as-a-service.

Occupant experience platforms connect building owners, operators, and occupants to share information and feedback on comfort, maintenance, and safety. Rating systems allow building operators to measure, manage, and disclose key indicators such as ESG performance, digital connectivity and health and safety, assess their exposure to climate risk, and avail themselves of sustainable finance opportunities.

Providers of smart elevators and escalators as well as people-sensing platforms.

Technologies that monitor restroom usage, supplies, traffic, and maintenance.

Companies that use GenAI as a core part of their smart building product offering

Smart building technology companies use GenAI to optimize energy usage, enhance occupant comfort, and streamline building management processes

Smart buildings are a component of smart cities

Companies aim to provide sustainable solutions for energy and water usage

Smart building tech includes reducing energy and water consumption through recycling

Internet-enabled monitors and sensors optimize energy and water use and manage occupancy and security

Smart building tech products can monitor energy consumption and occupancy and adjust usage accordingly

Certain functions, such as HVAC, can be personalized

Hysopt

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