In this episode, Glenn L’hoëst, Partner at Cresco, sits down with Dewi van de Vyver, a female tech entrepreneur, CEO of EFFEX, and a strong advocate for innovation, ethics, and female leadership in STEM.
Dewi shares her entrepreneurial journey and her role as a CEO at EFFEX, a KU Leuven spin-off specializing in experimental design software. EFFEX enables industries to streamline product development and manufacturing, offering data-driven experimental planning solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and accelerate innovation.
Glenn and Dewi dive deep into the challenges of achieving product-market fit, emphasizing the importance of customer insights and focusing on real industry needs rather than assumptions. Dewi explains how many startups fail by building what they think customers want instead of validating demand first.
Beyond her work in tech, Dewi is a strong advocate for female entrepreneurs in STEM, co-founding ADA Talks to support women in leadership and working with Belgium’s STEM Platform to drive inclusive education and hiring practices. She also shares her approach to leadership, emphasizing transparency, collaboration, and building a values-driven company culture over rigid hierarchies. Dewi reflects on balancing entrepreneurship with personal fulfillment, stressing that success comes from aligning work with passion rather than chasing an ideal work-life balance.
From scaling tech companies to breaking barriers for women in business, this episode is packed with insights for entrepreneurs looking to build impactful, customer-focused businesses.
