Vlerick Business School

About

Vlerick Business School, with campuses in Ghent, Brussels, and Leuven, is one of Belgium's leading business schools and has built growing connections to the European search fund community. The school's MBA program includes coursework on entrepreneurship, private equity, and growth management relevant to acquisition entrepreneurs. Vlerick's Entrepreneurship Center supports students exploring various paths to business ownership, including the search fund model. Belgium's central European location, multilingual business environment, and dense network of SMEs make it an interesting market for search fund activity. Vlerick's alumni network spans Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (Benelux), providing deal sourcing opportunities in a market where many family businesses face succession challenges. The school has engaged with ETA through panels and workshops, and its practical, hands-on approach to management education prepares graduates for the operational realities of acquiring and running a small business.