Passion for your profession is essential to achieving success. For our founder, Filip Smet, it’s so important that he wove it into our company name: AMOtek, reflecting a deep love for technological progress. Beyond helping companies with IT development, funding and go-to-market strategies, AMOTEK Group also plays an active role in investing in promising startups. We recently sat down with Filip to learn more about how he chooses the startups to invest in.
#1 The team
What are the key factors you consider when deciding whether to invest in a startup?
"The startup team is without a doubt the first thing I look at. Who are the individuals behind the company? Is there a 'click' on a personal level? It is important that this click is there because we support the startups we invest in with the search for contacts and the optimization of their offering. You tie yourself to them in the long term. But commitment also plays a big role. Do the entrepreneurs show me that they are committed full time to their business? If not, I am less inclined to invest. They have to show me that they want to take a boat to an island, set the boat on fire and then hammer away at their success on the island. If they don't want to cut themselves off from other projects to focus on their business they are not taking any risk themselves. So why take a risk with an investment? Finally, there must also be some track record that the entrepreneurs can present: experience in the industry they are launching in or a business they have built in the past.'
Are there certain red flags for you?
"One-person startups carry higher risks. However, it's less of a concern if they’ve built a team and formed strong partnerships. Another red flag is the absence of a solid exit strategy. It’s important to have clear agreements and understand how to pivot or exit if needed, as visions and business models can evolve quickly."
#2 Match with AMOTEK's core
How do you determine if a startup is a good fit for Amotek and your expertise?
"I ask myself if I can add value to this startup. Can I connect them to valuable contacts? Our focus is on B2B or occasionally B2C ventures that can transition to B2B. I also need to know what the entrepreneurs expect from us. We're less likely to invest if their expectations are unrealistic or outside our core capabilities."
#3 Have any sales been realized?
“I certainly don't stare blindly at numbers. In fact, I would venture to say that I go forward on my intuition rather than the Excel with the financial plan. What I do find essential is that products/services have already been sold. If the founding team or the CEO themselves fail to sell anything, I don't believe sales can do it afterwards.”
#4 Proactivity and positivity as a mindset
"When a startup approaches us with a funding question, we sit down with them several times. From those conversations I derive what mindset they are in entrepreneurship. As a founder, you constantly have a lot of challenges. When one problem is solved, the next one presents itself. Good entrepreneurs think in solutions, not in problems. They also know which problems deserve which attention and can prioritise. When they fail to do that, I drop out. A successful entrepreneur is also someone who picks things up quickly and acts proactively. There must be progress between our meetings and more importantly, they must take the feedback we give them and work with it. If I pass my contacts on to an entrepreneur and they do nothing with it, I will never invest in them. For me, the degree to which things move forward and therefore the proactivity of the team is the key to success"
AMOTEK supports emerging startups through Filip's unique approach, blending intuition, enthusiasm and strategy for sustainable growth. By focusing on dedicated teams, leveraging core strengths and fostering market traction, AMOTEK ensures each investment is rooted in shared values. For entrepreneurs, AMOTEK offers more than funding; it's a partnership for long-term success.
