Leuven, 16 December 2024 – The Belgian mobility platform Vaigo is taking a big step in its European growth story for sustainability through mobility policy. The original founders are taking over the platform from the Dutch Railways (NS). In parallel, Vaigo raises €1 million from the Belgian investment fund Akiles and five experienced Flemish entrepreneurs/business angels. This capital injection strengthens the position in Belgium and prepares Vaigo for further expansion within Europe. The aim is to serve 100,000 users by 2027.

A new chapter for Vaigo

Since its inception in 2018, Vaigo has grown into a trusted partner for Proximus, Orange, De Watergroep and Bank Degroof Petercam, among others. In 2020, the company was acquired by the Dutch Railways with the aim to improve the mobility offering to corporate customers..

“The collaboration with NS gave us a unique opportunity to further refine our platform and expand our expertise to the Netherlands,” says Roeland Vanrenterghem, co-founder and CEO of Vaigo. “With this buy-out, we are fully focused on our mission: to support companies and employees with smart and sustainable mobility solutions.”

Vaigo: smart mobility solutions for companies

Vaigo offers a user centric platform that makes mobility management easy and flexible for large organizations. The platform links corporate mobility benefits to business policy, suppliers and payroll, so that both employees and HR teams are unburdened:

– For employees: one portal to manage benefits such as public transport, EV charging, bike leasing and parking options.

– For HR teams: a powerful system to enforce mobility rules, encourage sustainable behaviour and automate administrative processes.

“Mobility is the fuel for sustainable growth and offers companies a strategic opportunity to become more attractive and future-proof,” says Vanrenterghem. “With Vaigo, we make sustainable choices easy and accessible.”

Commitment to sustainability and electrification

The need for integrated mobility solutions is growing due to stricter regulations and the increasing electrification of car fleets.- Electrification and cost management: Companies are faced with the challenge of controlling charging costs. Vaigo encourages smart charging through policies and saves HR teams administrative hassle.

– Behavior change: rewards for cycling, public transport and off-peak EV charging

– Support sustainability goals and ensure accurate repor^ng regarding Sustainability Reporting.

– Open ecosystem: Vaigo gives companies complete liberty in their choices for mobility partners.

Strategic investors strengthen growth

The buy-out is supported by Akiles and five Flemish business angels/entrepreneurs, who together provide a solid foundation for Vaigo’s expansion. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in which Vaigo is fully focused on growth and innovation.

Christophe Rousseaux, Managing Partner at Akiles, emphasizes: “Vaigo offers a scalable solution that perfectly meets the needs of modern businesses. Their focus on user-friendliness and sustainability makes them a unique player in a fast-growing market.”

Vanrenterghem adds: “Akiles’s focus on entrepreneurship and sustainable investments fits perfectly with our vision. The business angels also bring indispensable experience to realize our growth ambitions.”

Looking to the future

With the new investments, Vaigo wants to:

– In the short term, strengthen its market position in Belgium and abract new customers.

– In the long term, become the market leader in Europe, with a focus on multinationals and strategic partnerships with mobility providers.

“Our goal is to serve more than 100,000 users by 2027 and build a greener future together with them, ” concludes Vanrenterghem.

The advisers engaged in the transaction were Deloitte, Mace Law and CFOrent.