Tech founders raise 7.3m euros for AI start-up ahead of launch
Two years after selling the successful accounting software firm Silverfin for 320 million euros, Belgian entrepreneur Joris Van Der Gucht has returned with a new start-up: Ravical. This venture is targeting a largely neglected segment of the digital transformation market: expert service firms, such as accountants, HR providers, legal advisers and insurers.
Ravical aims to help particularly those serving SMEs to increase the scale of their client communications while maintaining quality and speed. The platform relies on agentic AI: autonomous software agents powered by large language models capable of goal setting, task execution and learning from feedback.
This article is part of a series highlighting innovative initiatives in Flanders. Throughout the summer, Belga English takes a closer look at emerging companies that are reshaping key sectors.
Van Der Gucht believes that up to 80 per cent of routine advisory tasks could be automated, enabling professionals to concentrate on higher-value work. “Having the right expertise is no longer enough to stay competitive,” he told De Tijd. “Firms must fundamentally rethink their operations.”
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The entrepreneur is joined by two former Silverfin colleagues: AI specialists Ken Bastiaensen (right) and Benjamin Vandermarliere (left). Together, they secured 7.3 million euros in pre-seed funding, achieving one of the largest early-stage funding rounds ever in Belgium and one of the largest in Europe.
"Having the right expertise is no longer enough to stay competitive. Firms must fundamentally rethink their operations"
The funding round was led by the German venture capital firm Lakestar, an early investor in Spotify and Alan. It also saw participation from Belgian investors, including Pitchdrive, Syndicate One and several prominent Ghent-based entrepreneurs.
Track record
Although Ravical has remained under the radar until now, the product is already being piloted by several major European firms. A team of 15 is in place and growing, with a public launch planned soon.
The founders of Ravical have a proven track record. At Silverfin, they developed a cloud platform that helped accountants eliminate repetitive tasks and work more efficiently.
Born out of a “healthy frustration” with inefficiencies in the profession, the start-up expanded rapidly across Europe before being acquired by Visma in 2023. Now, with Ravical, Van Der Gucht hopes to reshape how advisory firms operate once again.
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