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Startup ecosystem in Leuven

Local startups, investors, and operators based in Leuven, Belgium.

2 entries.

Materialise

Leuven, Belgium · Startup

Materialise is a pioneer in additive manufacturing, operating one of the world's largest 3D printing facilities alongside a suite of industrial and medical software. Its Mimics software suite supports surgical planning, personalised implants and medical device design for hospitals and MedTech firms globally; its industrial arm serves aerospace, automotive and consumer goods. Founded in 1990 in Leuven by Fried Vancraen and Hilde Ingelaere as the Benelux's first rapid-prototyping bureau, the company listed on NASDAQ (MTLS) in 2014. As of Q1 2026 it reported $302 M trailing revenue and a $335 M market cap, and in May 2026 spun off its eyewear division to focus on core manufacturing and healthcare software.

BelgiumLeuvenListedDeep TechHealthTechSoftwareDigital Health

Swave Photonics

Leuven, Belgium · Startup

Swave Photonics has developed the world's first true holographic display chip — the HXR spatial light modulator with sub-300 nm pixels — enabling AR smart glasses, heads-up displays and 3D video walls without waveguides or varifocal lenses. Spun out of imec in Leuven in 2022 by Theo Marescaux and Dmitri Choutov, the company closed a €27 M Series A in January 2025 co-led by imec.xpand and SFPIM Relaunch, followed by a €6 M Samsung Ventures-backed follow-on in June 2025, bringing total funding to over €43 M. The chip leverages CMOS manufacturing for mass-market cost structures, targeting OEMs in AR wearables and automotive HUDs.

BelgiumLeuvenSeries AAR/VRDeep TechInnovation