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From student entrepreneur to SaaS icon: the founder story of Jeroen De Wit (Teamleader)

Article

From student entrepreneur to SaaS icon: the founder story of Jeroen De Wit (Teamleader)

When Jeroen De Wit built his first website at age twelve, one thing was clear: he was destined to be his own boss. That early creative spark didn’t just lead to the founding of Teamleader, one of Belgium’s most successful software companies, it also helped put the "student entrepreneur" status on the map in Ghent. Today, Teamleader serves 35,000 customers and has become a cornerstone of the Visma family.We sat down with Jeroen to talk about resilience, the art of letting go, and why true entrepreneurship is all about keeping your options open.

Article

From student entrepreneur to SaaS icon: the founder story of Jeroen De Wit (Teamleader)

When Jeroen De Wit built his first website at age twelve, one thing was clear: he was destined to be his own boss. That early creative spark didn’t just lead to the founding of Teamleader, one of Belgium’s most successful software companies, it also helped put the "student entrepreneur" status on the map in Ghent. Today, Teamleader serves 35,000 customers and has become a cornerstone of the Visma family.We sat down with Jeroen to talk about resilience, the art of letting go, and why true entrepreneurship is all about keeping your options open.

Business insights

Article

From student entrepreneur to SaaS icon: the founder story of Jeroen De Wit (Teamleader)

When Jeroen De Wit built his first website at age twelve, one thing was clear: he was destined to be his own boss. That early creative spark didn’t just lead to the founding of Teamleader, one of Belgium’s most successful software companies, it also helped put the "student entrepreneur" status on the map in Ghent. Today, Teamleader serves 35,000 customers and has become a cornerstone of the Visma family.We sat down with Jeroen to talk about resilience, the art of letting go, and why true entrepreneurship is all about keeping your options open.

Business insights

When Jeroen De Wit built his first website at age twelve, one thing was clear: he was destined to be his own boss. That early creative spark didn’t just lead to the founding of Teamleader, one of Belgium’s most successful software companies, it also helped put the "student entrepreneur" status on the map in Ghent. Today, Teamleader serves 35,000 customers and has become a cornerstone of the Visma family.We sat down with Jeroen to talk about resilience, the art of letting go, and why true entrepreneurship is all about keeping your options open.

Entrepreneurship has no age limit

Jeroen was the first official "student-entrepreneur" in Ghent. "When I started, everyone asked, 'Why aren't you studying?'" he says with a laugh. Times have changed, thanks in part to his efforts to get the status recognised by educational institutions.

"My message is simple: entrepreneurship doesn't have an age limit. Whether you start early or late, we need more grit and ambition in Belgium. Our culture is often too focused on mediocrity, whereas we should be doubling down on what we’re actually good at." He notes that our education system often highlights our weaknesses rather than fostering our strengths.

The strategy of the future: maintaining optionality

One of Jeroen’s most compelling insights is his take on strategy. While many leaders obsess over rigid five-year plans, Jeroen focuses on creating options.

"What drives me in life is having options. Whoever has options has the brightest future, because they’re the ones who get to make choices."

According to Jeroen, this is the real reason you want to scale a business quickly. "You don't just grow for the sake of the numbers; you grow because it gives you the capital to invest, develop new things, and choose your own direction. As a leader, your primary job is to ensure the organisation remains agile and always has multiple doors open."

The "Lead-to-Cash" mission

What began as custom software evolved into Teamleader: a platform that helps entrepreneurs manage everything from landing a lead to collecting payment. "Every business owner wants to deliver projects on time and under budget, with a happy client and a healthy margin. That’s exactly what we offer with products like Dexxter, Teamleader Focus, and Teamleader Orbit."

With a team of 230 and an impressive growth trajectory (the famous "Triple, triple, double, double, double"), Teamleader has scooped up awards like the Deloitte Fast 50. But for Jeroen, it’s never been about the trophies: "It’s about curiosity—the constant drive to learn and turn that knowledge into something valuable for the customer, the team, and society."

The emotional rollercoaster and resilience

Growth isn't a straight line. Jeroen describes the journey as an emotional rollercoaster. "You can start Monday full of hope, feel completely overwhelmed by Tuesday night, and by Friday, it turns out to be a record-breaking week. Resilience is the keyword. You carry immense responsibility, and everyone expects you to provide a constant vision, but as an entrepreneur, you are also vulnerable."

A vital lesson he learned? The courage to question yourself. "If I hadn’t done that, I wouldn't be managing director of Teamleader today. You shouldn't cling to a title; you should cling to the ambition of being the right leader for the current stage of the company. Not every founder is the right person to take a company from 1 to 100, or 100 to 1,000. Knowing when to pass the torch is also a form of entrepreneurship."

AI and the timeless values

In a rapidly changing technology landscape where AI is rewriting the rules of product development, Jeroen adheres to a fundamental principle: focus on what doesn't change.

"Customers will always want more speed and higher quality. Whether it was ten years ago or ten years from now, customer service and quality remain the essence. AI simply allows us to get closer to the customer in real-time."

Why the Visma match works

In 2022, Teamleader joined the Visma family. For founders considering an acquisition or merger, Jeroen’s advice is clear: don't view it as a one-way street.

The choice for Visma was based on that long-standing relationship and the shared vision of autonomy. "Visma offers the freedom needed to maintain an entrepreneurial culture. You get the opportunity to learn from companies that are further along in their growth journey, while remaining at the helm yourself. It's a structure where you, as an entrepreneur, truly remain an entrepreneur."

"When you’re being acquired, the buyer does due diligence on you. But my advice? Do it right back by building a relationship. We were in talks with Visma for three years before we pulled the trigger. You have to build trust and ensure the culture fits."

He also emphasises that founders must do their homework internally: "Your duty as an entrepreneur is to build an organisation mature enough to run without you. You have to make yourself dispensable. That gives your company the leverage and value it needs during an exit."

Advice to the next generation

Asked what advice he’d give his younger self, Jeroen is resolute: "Look beyond your own backyard. Recruit internationally from day one. And learn to distinguish between a social fit and a culture fit. A team of like-minded people is comfortable, but a diverse team performs better. It’s when you hit a wall that you need different perspectives to find a creative way over it."

Jeroen concludes with a sense of gratitude: "I’m proud of what we’ve built, but mostly I’m grateful for the support of the colleagues, customers, and partners like Visma who believed in us."

About Teamleader

  • Company: Teamleader
  • Founded: 2012 (België)
  • Employees: 200
  • Customers: 35K
  • What it does: Helping entrepreneurs sell, invoice and organize in one place

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