© Thomas Laenens
2023

Work experience

VENTURE BUILDER

Bundl, Antwerp | FEB 2021 — PRESENT

Bundl is a venture development firm teaming up with corporations to create new ventures from scratch and tackle new markets together.

  • Created, refined and validated new value propositions and business models for a major Belgian bank, resulting in the launch of a new venture that won gold at The Qorus awards.
  • Launched a venture arm for the world’s largest malt producer to invest and support pre-seed and idea stage startups, resulting in a first cohort with 27 applicants and 4 partnerships under development.
  • Managed innovation projects for Global 2000 companies, leading to validated venture concepts, new growth opportunities, and revenue streams.

CO-FOUNDER & CEO

Connected Heroes, Brussels | FEB 2019 — APR 2021

  • Build Connected Heroes from the ground up, fostering a community of over 1,000 entrepreneurs across 73 countries with 2,500+ answers provided.
  • Oversaw an international team of developers in Romania and Spain, resulting in the successful launch of the Connected Heroes mobile app.

CO-FOUNDER

VETTEPET | NOV 2018 — FEB 2023

Founded a fashion company specializing in hats, together with a childhood friend and my brother. VETTEPET which means COOLCAP in Dutch. Sold in 2023 (undisclosed).

  • Managed the production of 2000 hats in Vietnam, ensuring quality and timely delivery.
  • Created the webshop and developed branding and e-commerce strategies such as Meta ads, resulting in a positive ROI on marketing investments.
  • Secured media coverage in multiple newspapers through targeted PR and press outreach efforts.

PRODUCT MANAGER

ING, Brussels-Amsterdam | NOV 2017 — JAN 2019

Delivered a shared IT platform between Belgium and the Netherlands, enabling a harmonized cross-border product offering for clients.

  • Streamlined 6 account opening processes for integration into the shared IT platform, resulting in a list of requirements.
  • Developed and presented strategic recommendations to VP-level executives, facilitating informed decision-making.
  • Conducted a risk assessments for 10+ squads, ensuring proactive identification and mitigation of potential issues.