Behind the scenes: Ben Bauwens on The Future 5 2024
Behind the scenes: Ben Bauwens on The Future 5 2024.
Pitching your startup can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, especially when it’s in front of a live audience. Ben Bauwens knows the feeling firsthand. As a participant in The Future 5, he had the chance to present his idea, connect with other entrepreneurs, and gain valuable insights along the way. We caught up with Ben to talk about the highs, the challenges, and the lessons he picked up along the way.
Where did you hear about The Future 5?
A friend of mine, Julien, applied for The Future 5 the year before - and was part of the 2024 year as well. He encouraged me to apply, saying it was a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs to gain visibility and practice pitching. I took his advice, and I’m glad I did!
The Pitching Experience
How was the overall experience—from signing up to pitching at Future Entrepreneurship?
The application process was straightforward—just filling out some forms and waiting for selection. The real excitement began with the pitch at SuperNova. Walking around and meeting other start-ups was inspiring. It was my first time pitching to a jury without slides, which was a challenge but also a great learning experience.
Future Entrepreneurship had a different audience—young professionals and students, which suited us well. The Expert Stage was unique, with everyone wearing headphones like a silent disco. Being on the Main Stage was fun, even though we only got one or two questions each. The Workshop Bus sessions were also interesting, though I found it amusing to be called an "expert" when many attendees were older than me.
From the moment you learned that you were selected for The Future 5, how did you prepare for the pitch?
The SuperNova pitch was tough because I couldn’t use slides, which was a first for me. I wrote out my script and practiced with my co-founders acting as a critical jury. For The Future 5, I created a pitch deck, which made things flow more naturally. On the Main Stage, I focused on being authentic and answering questions spontaneously.
Key Takeaways and Valuable Connections
Are there specific moments from your Future 5 experience that stand out?
Definitely. Pitching was a highlight, especially with my family in the audience. It was the first time since my childhood that they had seen me perform—although in a very different way! They were really enthusiastic, but then again, as family, they kind of have to be. Beyond that, I loved the overall atmosphere of Future Entrepreneurship. It makes entrepreneurship fun and accessible for students.
Did you make any valuable connections?
Absolutely. As one of The Future 5, we had a booth at the Future Fair, and so many people stopped by. I had some great conversations with potential customers and even representatives from the city of Antwerp, which was especially relevant to our business concept.
What did you learn from participating?
It was our first time presenting our concept to the outside world and receiving external validation. That gave us confidence but also taught us to be more critical and refine our approach.
Did you pick up any valuable lessons from other entrepreneurs?
Talk to people. Everyone is willing to listen to your story and give feedback. Those interactions are always valuable.
One of the rewards was a workshop with Cambrian. Was it valuable?
Absolutely. We even had a second workshop later on. For start-ups, money is always tight, so free legal advice is incredibly valuable.
Why The Future 5 is Worth It
When we talked earlier, you already mentioned wanting to participate again. Why would you recommend it to other young entrepreneurs?
It’s a unique way to showcase your product beyond social media. You learn how to pitch, network, and gain valuable feedback. Even if you’re not selected, the application process and initial pitching round are still incredibly useful experiences.
Any tips for future participants?
Make the most of the event and be proactive. Prepare your pitches thoroughly, but stay flexible and authentic. Use tools like the Conversation Starter app to connect with the right people. Engage with everyone, even those outside your target audience—you never know where valuable feedback might come from.
Final Words of Advice
Finally, do you have any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Just do it. Take small steps and, after a few months, look back to see how far you’ve come. Talk to as many people as possible, validate your problem—not just your solution—and don’t stress about someone stealing your idea. People are too busy with their own projects. Share your ideas and learn from the feedback you receive.
Interested in joining The Future 5? Don’t miss the chance to pitch your startup and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs.
Send in your application here: https://www.thefuture.be/agenda/the-future-5
The deadline to submit your application is March 9th.