Published on 28 April 2025
To make sure you don't miss out on anything our alumni are up to, each month find a summary of the latest news from Ichéquiens(ne)s seen in the press, as well as recent news from the ICHEC group!!
► ELOCOS
At the age of 21, Germain Deflandre manages a team of six people at his company Elocos, which specialises in SEO. A former ICHEC student, he set up his company assisted by the institution's incubator, Start Lab ICHEC. Today, his clients include Toyota, CBRE and Taxi Verts. The Brussels entrepreneur is banking on ethical and sustainable digital marketing, with the ambition of achieving sales of one million euros by 2025. Find out more about Germain Deflandre.
Source : "21 years old, and already six employees" Trends, 03/04/2025
► PARLONS FINANCE
Hamza Naqi, a former ICHEC student in market management and finance, is the founder of Parlons Finance, a Belgian media outlet that popularises investment. He is also an expert in the Trends Invest Challenge competition. Born out of his academic career at ICHEC, his project aims to fill the gap in educational content on finance in French-speaking Belgium. With more than 180,000 followers on social networks, he is working to democratise investment and financial education, particularly among young people.
Source : "A great opportunity to take your first steps in the world of investment" Trends-Tendances, 03/04/2025
► ELIA GROUP
Bernard Gustin, a former ICHEC student, is at the heart of a major capital raising of €4 billion for Elia Group. The aim: to finance a vast programme of investment in electricity transmission networks in Belgium and Germany, including the North Sea energy island project. The deal, described as a ‘race against time’, has reassured the markets and boosted the share price. Gustin sees it as an example of governance and financial strategy that could serve as a model for universities.
Source : "De kapitaalverhoging was een race tegen de tijd" Trends, 03/04/2025
► TERO
Coming from one of Belgium's wealthiest families, Nicolas and Arthur Lhoist have launched the Tero Group in 2021, active in private padel centres, catering, team building and accommodation. Heirs to the Lhoist industrial group, they claim an independent entrepreneurial trajectory rooted in their generation. Arthur Lhoist is a graduate of ICHEC, where he studied business management. His brother Nicolas is a graduate of Solvay Brussels School. Together, their ambition is to develop their international network while maintaining a hands-on approach to governance.
Source : "Nicolas and Arthur Lhoist – Racket Men" Trends, 03/04/2025
► IMAQA
The article puts the spotlight on ImAqa, a young start-up founded by three science and adventure enthusiasts, including Alexandre Buslain, a graduate in commercial engineering from ICHEC and in computer engineering from ECAM. After an initial expedition to Greenland, combining exploration and scientific data collection, the team decided to structure its business. Their objective: to use field logistics to support climate research, while at the same time raising awareness among young people.
Source : "ImaqA, une start-up en terres inconnues" La Libre Belgique, 11/04/2025
► FILIGRANES
he legendary Filigranes bookshop has been reborn in a new form in the Mayfair area of Brussels, under the guidance of multi-entrepreneur Mehmet Sandurac, a graduate in commercial engineering from ICHEC. Saved from bankruptcy, the concept is being transformed into a ‘Filigranes 2.0’ combining culture, design and lifestyle in an immersive formula. With a target of €15 million in sales by 2025, the store aims to appeal to a broad audience, while remaining true to its literary roots. The project is also part of Mayfair's strategy to move upmarket, which could be exported outside Belgium.
