Willem Broekaert

Willem Broekaert has worked in a variety of roles in the life sciences and biotechnology industries. Willem began their career in 1993 as a part-time professor at the University of Leuven (Belgium) in Biotechnology, and later became a professor in Plant Biotechnology and Plant Pathology. In 2006, they became the General Manager of B-Tek, a company that provides consulting and management services in the areas of biotechnology, agriculture, and nutrition. In 2008, they co-founded and became the General Manager of FUGEIA NV, a venture-capital backed spin-off company of the University of Leuven. In 2015, they became the Managing Partner of V-Bio Ventures, a venture capital fund that finds, builds and finances young, innovative companies in the life sciences arena. Willem also became a Board Observer of Orionis Biosciences in 2015. In 2016, they became a Board Director of Aphea. Bio, a company that focuses on the development of microbiome-based biologicals for the agriculture market. In 2018, they became a Board Director of Coave Therapeutics. In 2020, they became a Board Director of Ubiqutek (RootWave) and a Board Observer of Animab. In 2021, they became a Board Director of Protealis.

Willem Broekaert obtained their PhD in Agricultural Sciences from KU Leuven, a Master in Economy and Management of Agricultural & Food Business from ESSEC Business School, and a Master in Bio-engineering from KU Leuven.