Rudi Cuyvers

Anyone interested in the why, how and where of spin-offs needs to listen to Rudy Cuyvers at and& Leuven. He has been involved in the start-up of more than 65 spin-offs in a wide range of areas so clearly has considerable expertise and experience to share.

Cuyvers is a Civil Engineer with a Ph.D. in Electronics (KU Leuven) and an MBA focusing on entrepreneurship (Flanders Business School). Already during his Ph.D. he was involved in multiple EU projects and collaborations with industry. In 1996 he joined KU Leuven Research & Development (LRD) as an innovation advisor, initially to stimulate collaboration with SMEs, and later on to support spin-off creation.

In 2002 Cuyvers became responsible for the Spin-off & Innovation Unit. This unit supports the creation of university spin-offs by coaching the business (plan) development & validation and supporting deal-making with investors. He is also managing director of the Gemma Frisius Fund, the seed fund which was set-up in 1997 by KU Leuven together with KBC PE and BNP Paribas Fortis PE.

The Spin-off & Innovation Unit also actively supports the creation of a high-tech ecosystem by providing specialized trainings, of which there are many outstanding examples. Book your ticket for and& Leuven to hear more about them!