Thinking beyond boundaries: Young Entrepreneur Award 2025

"Can we push it a bit further? Can we try to make it even better?" If you’ve ever spent a day at AMOTEK, you’ve probably heard these words more than once. It’s in our DNA to push boundaries and take things to the next level. And if there’s one person who embodies this mindset, it’s our CEO, Filip Smet.

Jong Voka Nomination

On February 27th, our CEO Filip Smet was officially crowned Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2025, a prestigious recognition by Jong Voka Antwerpen-Waasland. The award ceremony took place at the breathtaking Athena Hall in Antwerp, where we gathered with our AMOTEKKIES, friends, and supporters to celebrate this special moment.

Filip stood alongside four other remarkable finalists: Jules Toebosch (Collé Group), Anya Kussé (Odot), and Laurent Moyersoen (ClimateCamp). As the evening unfolded and each nominee delivered their speech, anticipation filled the room. Then came the moment of truth, the voting began.

And when the results were announced? No surprise to us.😉 Filip was officially named Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2025!

A celebration of entrepreneurship

The Jong Voka Award isn’t just a fancy title. It’s a recognition of young entrepreneurs who are reshaping industries, challenging the status quo, and—yes—making real impact. Now, we know what you’re thinking: “Oh, there’s that buzzword again… ‘impact’.” But for Filip, it’s not just a trendy term, it’s what drives him.

His journey didn’t start in a boardroom but in a traditional Belgian home, where stability, a good job, and predictability were the golden standard. His parents were fans of the safe path. Filip? Not so much. In 2011, as a student, he packed his bags and left for South Korea on an Erasmus exchange. A completely different world. A place where technology wasn’t just a product, it was a vision.

And so, he did. Under his leadership, AMOTEK has grown over the past year. What started as a bold vision to create innovative IT solutions, financial advisory and investment strategies has now evolved into a company that is making a real difference in the tech ecosystem.

Filip’s entrepreneurial spirit is deeply woven into AMOTEK’s DNA. He doesn’t just talk about thinking beyond boundaries, he lives it every day. Whether it’s launching new SaaS and PaaS solutions, investing in early-stage startups, or building an ecosystem of products that help businesses scale, Filip is always looking ahead. 👀

“Entrepreneurship is a lonely journey, but you don’t have to go alone”

During his speech at the award ceremony, Filip shared a powerful message:
"Entrepreneurship is a lonely journey, but that doesn’t mean you have to go alone. If you surround yourself with the right people, you create something bigger than yourself."

This is exactly how AMOTEK operates. We believe that success is not an individual achievement but the result of collaboration, innovation and shared ambition. Every milestone we reach is a testament to the incredible team that makes it all possible.

And let’s be real, building a company isn’t always easy. It comes with challenges, setbacks and long nights of problem-solving. But what makes it all worthwhile is the people. At AMOTEK, we’ve built a culture where ideas flow freely, where failure is just another step toward success and where we celebrate every win—big or small—together.

Thinking big is good. Doing big is better.

Filip closed his speech with words that perfectly capture the essence of AMOTEK:
"So if you ask me: what is entrepreneurship? It’s building. Not just companies, not just numbers, but something that lasts. Thinking big is good. But doing big is better."

And that’s exactly what we plan to do. We couldn’t be prouder of our CEO. Filip’s recognition as Young Entrepreneur of the Year isn’t just a win for him—it’s a win for our entire team, our clients, and our mission to drive innovation and create impact.

So… what’s next for AMOTEK?

Well, we’re not slowing down. New products are on the horizon, new team members are joining our journey, and new opportunities are waiting to be explored. If you thought we were ambitious before—just wait and see what’s coming next. 

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