Wim De Waele

Wim De Waele receives a special mention in Omar Mohout's analysis of the Ghent tech ecosystem as one of the investors and connectors whose presence helps bind the ecosystem together. He is named alongside Pieter Casneuf as a notable figure in this role.

He obtained master's degrees in Economic Sciences and Computer Sciences at Ghent University in 1987 and began his career as a researcher in AI for industrial applications. He went on to lead iMinds (later absorbed by imec) as CEO until 2015, overseeing research and deep tech venturing from Ghent. He co-founded Miles Ahead, a Ghent-based venture studio focused on AI and deep tech startups, which raised EUR 20 million for its fund.