Grow

{ grow }

the fifth conference

{ 2009 }

growth through entrepreneurship

{ 2009 }

interviews in Belgium

but also inUK, US, SA, India, China

the point:

collate ideas on how to get this country growing

through entrepreneurship

read the interviews and edito’s online or get the journal

www.thefifthconference.com

join the conversation online

this

is the 5 minute version

{ grow }

why grow?

{1776}

Adam Smith made the point...

“It is in the progressive state, while the society is advancing

to the further acquisition, rather than when it has acquired

its full complement of riches, that the condition of the great

body of the people seems to be the happiest and the most

comfortable.”

“It is hard in the stationary, and miserable in the declining state.”

{2005}

so did Benjamin Friedman...

economic growth seems to make people more tolerant, less

prone to violent dispute and keener on democracy.

economic decline, on the other hand, is associated with social

strife, intolerance and authoritarianism.

what about the environment and

depleting resources?

is this the age of stupid?Franny Armstrong

growth = progress

it is not necessarily about more, more,

more...

a better world is still possible

poverty & inequality

work-life balance

health

quality of food

environment

liveable cities

‘growth must improve the condition of people’

‘are you developing enough...that is the key question’

Karel Van Eetvelt, managing director Unizo

{ Belgium }

Status

compared to The Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland

lower per-capita GDPBelgium = slower economic growth

lower score Global Competitiveness Index (WEF)

we got wealthy through

FDI , entrepreneurship & export

but all are in decline

structural fault lines:

ageing population +

high structural unemployment+

high proportion of ‘subsidised employment’

= low societal productivity

highest tax wedge in the world=

high wage costs=

declining competitiveness of exporters

‘a culture of contentment’Luc De Bruyckere, Chairman VOKA

we’ve become ‘immune’ to the crisisWilson De Pril, Director-General AGORIA Flanders

{ start-ups }

just do it

“Do not wait for someone to recruit you. Create your own job. Start a business....”

Guillaume Vanderstighelen, co-founder Duval Guillaume

free up the idea

“Don’t be secretive about your idea. Ideas need to be free. All ideas will be copied. It’s execution that

matters.”Sebastien de Halleux, co-founder & coo Playfish

mix things up

“That’s what I do on a daily basis. I mix things up and look for new spaces.”

Sven Bally, co-founder Colibricard

define the value

“Finding core value starts with scarcity.”Sacha Vekeman, co-founder Mobiya

“A company is not a business; it’s just a legal entity. You decide if it becomes a business or not.”

Jeroen Meens, co-founder Cynex

do not start alone

“Start with the right people; you can’t do it alone”Hans Nissens, ceo Oxynade

“Management experience is not the same as entrepreneurial experience”

James Thompson, director Wharton Societal Wealth Program

think big, start small

“Too often, people try to build everything at once but end up building nothing.”

Brice Le Blévennec, director EMAKINA

“It can also be done with limited resources. At least, if one has enough imagination.”

Maarten Van Laere, co-founder & ceo Serverscheck

cash is king

“Cash flow, cash flow – manage it hard. Someone who owes you money is running their business on your

cash.”Neil Watson, co-founder Digital Planet (South Africa)

{ growth companies }

growing is difficult, growing consistently is even more difficult

the growth formula...

innovate

“Ideas are our raw materials, but even more important are the people who work with these ideas.”

Hans Bourlon, joint ceo Studio 100

“If you’re a rebel, you also stir up that bit of rebelliousness in your people”

Lieven Messiaen, ceo Modular Lighting

“It’s in the confrontation that new things emerge”Koen Vanmechelen, artist creator of the Cosmopolitan Chicken

Project

internationalise

“The know-how which we accumulated is being projected on to other countries, adapted to the local legislation”

Luc Desender, ceo Electrawinds

“It’s time Belgium became the access point to Europe.”Luc Missinne, managing director Porter Novelli Belgium

choose growth markets

“You can only grow if there is enough demand for your product”

Luc Desender, ceo Electrawinds

take the money

“If capital is offered take as much as you can... Don’t delay, think big, much bigger.”

Peter Grognard, ceo Septentrio

governance

“You need to structure yourself, organise yourself, to make sustainable growth possible. Otherwise

your company simply cannot outlive you.”Luc De Bruyckere, chairman VOKA and Ter Beke

{ fixing the system }

foundations: fixing the welfare model

reform labour market for more flexibility

reduce taxes on wages

get rid of tax imbalances

more efficient government administration

strategy: invest in the future

investing in strategic sectors

Flanders in Action (VIA)Marshall Plan Wallonia

tech transfer

“The aim is to create one or two spin-offs per year”Ann-Pascale Bijnens, director tech transfer University of

Hasselt

“We’re focused mainly on creating the right environment for our start-ups. We do this by leveraging not only our faculty, ... but also our

network beyond the institute”Pranay Gupta, joint ceo CIIE Ahmedabad India

teaching entrepreneurship

“Our programme is 50% engineers & scientists from UCL and 50% MBA students from LBS. That’s

turning out to be a very powerful course..”Keith Willey, Associate Professor London Business School

“Our focus is to improve the international capabilities of our SMEs. .. We do that via our

training programmes but we’ve also developed an international network of advisors”

Andy Hamilton, ceo The ICEHOUSE Auckland New Zealand

entrepreneurial eco-system

“The US101 is the life artery of a distinct and vibrant community”

Filip Tack, ceo Nomadesk

BetaGroup attracts 1500 members...

schools & culture change

“We need a process of cultural change”Luc De Bruyckere, Chairman VOKA & Ter Beke

“Entrepreneurship is an attitude! You need to be challenged; you need to be hit on the head

occasionally!”Vincent Van Quickenborne, Minister for Entrepreneurship &

Reform, Belgian Government

entrepreneurs taking responsibility

“Give me a shout if I can help!”Inge Geerdens, ceo CVWarehouse

{ grow }

it’s urgent

thank you

BelgacomCegeka

GetronicsING

KeywareUniversity of Hasselt

Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School

www.thefifthconference.com