Placement Quest

Filip Balcaen, Founder: Filip is the entrepreneurial force behind Baltisse, bringing over 30 years of experience in industrial companies to his investment approach.

Before founding Baltisse in 2007, he served as CEO and Chairman of both Balta and IVC, two successful industrial businesses he built and scaled.

His track record of operational value creation in manufacturing and industrial sectors forms the foundation of Baltisse's distinctive investment philosophy.

Filip's hands-on experience as both an operator and owner gives Baltisse a competitive advantage in evaluating opportunities and supporting portfolio companies.

William (Private Equity & Real Estate): William joined the Baltisse team in April 2021, bringing specialized expertise in both real estate and private equity transactions.

He advises on deal execution, asset management activities, and strategic investment decisions across Baltisse's portfolio.

His role encompasses both transaction advisory and ongoing portfolio management.

The broader Baltisse team consists of specialists across multiple disciplines including management, strategy, corporate finance, M&A, and real estate development.

This multidisciplinary approach enables the firm to bring creative problem-solving capabilities to complex investment situations, supporting entrepreneurs and businesses through various stages of growth and transformation.

Baltisse is a top-tier Belgian investment company that has distinguished itself through a unique blend of entrepreneurship and operational expertise since its founding in 2007.

Based in Ghent, Belgium, the firm operates as one of the leading placement agents and investment firms in the European alternative investment landscape.

The company focuses on value creation by bringing together people with the ambition to achieve excellence and the spirit to act like owners.

Unlike traditional financial intermediaries, Baltisse's approach is rooted in decades of industrial operating experience, translating into investments and advisory services characterized by hands-on involvement and entrepreneurial mindset.

Baltisse operates across multiple asset classes including private equity, real estate, capital markets, and energy investments.

This diversified platform allows the firm to identify value creation opportunities across different sectors while maintaining a consistent investment philosophy centered on entrepreneurship, trust, and accountability.

The firm serves as both a principal investor and an advisory partner, combining its entrepreneurial heritage with sophisticated financial expertise to support complex transactions and long-term value creation initiatives.

Baltisse operates across four primary areas:

Private Equity: Advisory services and principal investments in private companies, with particular strength in industrial and manufacturing sectors.

The firm provides both capital raising support for fund managers and direct investment capabilities.

Real Estate: Investment and advisory services across real estate transactions and development projects.

The firm's real estate practice combines financial structuring expertise with operational development capabilities.

Capital Markets: Strategic advisory and placement services connecting investment opportunities with institutional capital.

As one of the recognized private equity placement agents in Europe, Baltisse leverages its entrepreneurial track record to support fundraising initiatives.

Energy: Specialized investment focus on energy sector opportunities, reflecting the firm's broader interest in industrial and infrastructure assets.

The firm's advisory approach is distinguished by its combination of corporate finance expertise, M&A execution capabilities, and operational insight gained from years of building and running successful businesses.

This allows Baltisse to add value beyond traditional financial advisory services.

Baltisse is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, positioning the firm at the heart of European business activity with strong access to both continental European and UK markets.

The Ghent location reflects the firm's industrial heritage, as the region is known for its manufacturing and logistics infrastructure.

From its Belgian base, Baltisse serves clients and investment opportunities across Europe, with particular strength in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and other Western European markets.

The firm's regional focus allows for deep local relationships while maintaining the capability to support cross-border transactions and international capital raising initiatives.

Baltisse operates according to five sacred principles that guide every decision and relationship:

Entrepreneurship: The firm creates value by bringing a spirit of entrepreneurship and offering commercial opportunities alongside operational efficiency.

This entrepreneurial mindset permeates all investment activities, with Baltisse approaching each opportunity from an owner-operator perspective rather than a purely financial lens.

Speed & Simplicity: Quick and efficient decision-making is Baltisse's trademark.

The firm prides itself on streamlined processes that allow for rapid response to opportunities, eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy that often slows down traditional financial institutions.

This agility is particularly valuable in competitive transaction environments.

Trust & Accountability: These are paramount principles in linking entrepreneurship to value creation.

Baltisse builds lasting relationships based on mutual trust and clear accountability, recognizing that successful long-term partnerships require alignment of interests and transparent communication.

Excellence: The firm brings together people with the ambition to achieve excellence, setting high standards for both its own team and the partners and portfolio companies it works with.

Owner Mindset: Perhaps most distinctively, Baltisse emphasizes acting like owners rather than passive financial investors.

This principle reflects Filip Balcaen's heritage as a successful industrial entrepreneur and shapes how the firm approaches every engagement.