Xavier Walthoff-Borm is an expert in startups and scale-ups at VLAIO and guest professor at HOGENT. He works at the intersection of entrepreneurship, finance, and innovation policy, focusing on how ambitious startups learn, grow, and scale. With a PhD in entrepreneurial finance and an international academic track record, he combines rigorous research with hands-on ecosystem building. He leads strategic initiatives such as the VLAIO 2031 strategy and the Scale-Up Monitor, shaping how Flanders supports high-growth entrepreneurship. His work bridges theory and practice, contributing to leading journals and actively influencing the public debate on startups and scale-ups.