Hexa
Hexa (formerly eFounders) is a Brussels-based startup studio co-founded by Belgian Quentin Nickmans and Frenchman Thibaud Elziere, described as one of the most productive startup studios on the continent.
Hexa operates as a startup studio, building and spinning out SaaS companies from Brussels and scaling through Paris. Founded in 2011 as eFounders, the studio rebranded to Hexa in 2022 when it restructured into multiple vertical studios: eFounders (SaaS), Logic Founders (Fintech), and 3founders (web3).
The studio's portfolio includes Front, Spendesk, Aircall, Mailjet, and TextMaster, among others. Since 2011 it has launched approximately 40 startups, three of which reached Unicorn status, with a combined portfolio valuation of around EUR 5 billion and over 700 million euros raised.
Key People
Quentin Nickmans - Co-founder, Hexa (formerly eFounders)
Thibaud Elziere - Co-founder, Hexa (formerly eFounders)
In the media3
Thibaud Elziere discusses his motivation for writing a book titled "Feet on the Ground, Head in the Stars," explaining that he spent ten years thinking about it because he was frustrated by radical and simplistic narratives about entrepreneurship on social media that lack nuance, such as claims that entrepreneurs must work 24/7 or that money is the primary driver. He wanted to use his own lived experience to reveal what actually happens behind the scenes and counter the unrealistic slogans about entrepreneurship that he disagrees with.
Thibaud Elziere discusses how he founded Photolia, a crowdsourced image bank platform launched around 2004 that was sold to Dailymotion for 800 million dollars after 10 years. He explains that after his success in tech, he shifted into real estate and hospitality through Iconic House, a luxury property business he runs with his brother and associate, choosing to finance projects through borrowing rather than external investment, contrasting this with his tech entrepreneurship experience.
Thibaud Elzière discusses how his startup studio HEXA has created 30 companies, three of which are unicorns, increasing success odds dramatically. He reflects on what drives entrepreneurs to repeatedly build companies, questioning whether it stems from dopamine addiction, childhood trauma, or desire for impact, while noting that successful founders he has observed shared complete focus on their business during the first three years.