May 8, 2025, the official launch of Steward-owned BE

9 mei

We’re officially launched 🚀!

Backed by an amazing group of 175 great people in a vibrant La Tricoterie. Never would we have thought that a topic like ‘Ownership’ could bring together so many people in Belgium. But… Yes We Can!

Great variety of speakers

With Christian Sigmund from WILDPLASTIC®, who shared their journey toward steward-ownership, the advantages it now offers... the competitive edge, and even the notion that Wildplastic might no longer exist today without steward-ownership.
And Annika Schneider from Purpose Economy, who beautifully outlined the history and growth of the global movement. And why steward-ownership is becoming so crucial for an economy fit for the 21st century.
With the powerful story of Rhea Verbeke from eXo Membranes, on the brave journey to structure their Belgian start-up differently. And the bumps they encounter along the way.
The very inspiring insights and thought leadership from Astrid Leyssens, Lisette Schuitemaker, and Mike Odenhoven on steward-ownership-aligned finance. About the paradigm shift, about unlearning what we take for granted, about the need for matchmaking, courage, and the importance of pioneers.
A pre-event featuring some incredible steward-owned ventures that gave investors a closer look at their work: CrowdBuilding, eXo Membranes, Biosphere Solar, Levv, Sumthing & Alkemio, supported by Céline Bouton from BE.IMPACT.
About 100 facilitated one-on-one conversations about this new paradigm via ConversationStarter.net
And Peter Depauw, who took us through the externalities of ownership, debunked some myths around steward-ownership, and showed how steward-owned will continue to accelerate in Belgium.

All the way to the symbolic moment when Kuifje/Tintin’s rocket launched into the sky.

And the perfect quote from Jennifer Armbrust:

🫶 A business can be a prototype of the world you want to live in...

The official start!
And the best is yet to come.

And now?
Time to push through. The momentum is strong, and minds are opening in Belgium.

“We need to rethink ownership.”

And that is exactly what steward-ownership offers. It redesigns companies to embed two crucial principles in their DNA:
(1) Self-determination, (2) Profit serves purpose