Gino Engels

TLDR

Gino Engels co-founded Lighthouse, formerly OTA Insight, which has grown into Belgium's fifth Unicorn with a $2.4 billion valuation after its $370 million Series C.

Overview

Gino co-founded Lighthouse (originally OTA Insight) in Ghent, building a revenue intelligence and business intelligence platform for the hospitality industry. The company helps hotels benchmark rates, forecast demand, and optimize pricing using data from online travel agencies.

Lighthouse raised a $370 million Series C at a $2.4 billion valuation, cementing its status as Belgium's fifth Unicorn and one of the country's most significant SaaS success stories. The Ghent origin of Lighthouse continues the city's track record as a hub for B2B SaaS companies with global ambition.

Career History

• Co-founder and Chief Customer Officer at Lighthouse (Nov 2021 - Jan 2025)
• Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Lighthouse (Aug 2012 - Oct 2021)
• National Account Manager at Sony Pictures Entertainment, London (Jul 2011 - Jun 2013)
• National Account Manager / Key Account Manager at AB Inbev UK (May 2009 - Apr 2011)

Education

• Master, Finance, Economics & Management, European University College Brussels (2003 - 2008)

LinkedIn Voice

Posting style: Celebratory and team-focused. Posts mainly around company milestones. Heavy use of emojis. Moderate frequency, clustered around announcements. No recent posts since stepping down.

Key themes: Lighthouse milestones (Unicorn status, $369M funding, $100M ARR), hospitality industry trends, M&A activity, founder transition after 12 years

Avg engagement: 239 likes, 29 comments

Notable post: Stepping down from Lighthouse, 1,032 likes and 167 comments -- deeply personal farewell.