On Wednesday, August 27, over 300 members of Brussels’ entrepreneurial ecosystem gathered at the AG campus for the Beci Summer Summit. A sold-out event marked by dialogue and entrepreneurship.
It was hard to find an empty seat that day. Beci’s rentrée brought together a packed room: business leaders, public decision-makers, partners, and journalists at the AG campus, the organization’s new structural partner. While the event carried a sense of post-summer reunion, its main purpose was to put entrepreneurship back at the center of the debate, or rather, at the heart of Brussels. This was indeed the theme of the first edition of the Beci Summer Summit: “Brussels, Capital of Entrepreneurship.” CEO Thierry Geerts emphasized: “Brussels doesn’t need to copy other models; its strength lies in the diversity of its economic ecosystem,” before calling for action: “Let’s dare for Brussels and be proud to be Brussels-based!”
In this friendly atmosphere, supported by AG, Choux de Bruxelles, and Interparking, discussions took the form of a real dialogue between local actors and policymakers. Here’s what stood out.
A forest to cultivate
Brussels, capital of entrepreneurship? Yes, but more importantly, “Brussels is a forest,” Thierry Geerts opened. A metaphor highlighting that collective vitality relies on the diversity and strength of Brussels’ businesses, regardless of size. Bernard Quintin, Minister of Security and the Interior in charge of Beliris, who was present at the summit, added: “A gardener must ensure that young shoots are not suffocated.”
The message is clear: planting ideas is not enough; they must also be nurtured, free from bureaucratic burdens and obstacles. Brussels’ forest, made up of start-ups, family SMEs, multinationals, and independents, thrives on diversity and interaction. As Annick Hernot, President of Beci, notes in her editorial: “this forest does not grow on its own.”
Map, simplify, connect
Alain Heureux, Business Development at Beci, presented an impressive map of Brussels’ initiatives: 456 support points including incubators, federations, coworking spaces, and public and private services (see QR code at the end of the article). Behind this wealth of resources, he highlighted a clear need: connect more, simplify pathways, and make the ecosystem more readable for those starting out.
In the same spirit, Lisa Isnard, Secretary-General of Beci, called for reducing the administrative burden that too often stifles entrepreneurial momentum, a commitment Beci translates into immediate actions, independent of the political calendar (detailed on page 3 of this magazine edition).
The Minister for SMEs, Independents, and Family Businesses also attended, a reminder of Brussels’ potential, provided remaining obstacles are removed.
See you in 2026
The Summer Summit did more than take stock; it opened a perspective. Policymakers, entrepreneurs, partners, and journalists came together side by side — proof that collaboration and dialogue are possible despite differences (rest assured, no one was locked in a conclave).
The key takeaway: even without a Brussels government, Beci continues to act, structure, and bring together public and private actors.
Beci is also consolidating alliances with new partners such as BDO, NSI, and AG — evidence that a collective dynamic is underway.
The next invitation is already set: see you on August 26, 2026! Brussels holds all the cards to become the capital of entrepreneurship, if it continues to cultivate cooperation, listening, and boldness. To paraphrase L’Echo: YAKA!
Discover the map of Brussels’ ecosystem!