UCLL’s entrepreneurial journey: empowering student-entrepreneurs with StartMinds
UCLL’s entrepreneurial journey: empowering student-entrepreneurs with StartMinds
At UCLL, students are encouraged to dream big and turn their ambitions into reality with the right tools and support. Through the StartMinds project, UCLL fosters an entrepreneurial mindset by providing flexibility, expert guidance, and real-world business experience. One shining example of this initiative is the introduction of a new student-entrepreneur status, designed to support students in launching and managing their businesses alongside their studies.
Turning Dreams into ACTION
UCLL has long supported student entrepreneurship, and it’s yielding great results. “This academic year, we are starting with a record 35 to 40 student-entrepreneurs,”
says Annelies Schrooten, coordinator of StartMinds. With the goal of reaching 100 student-entrepreneurs annually, UCLL has introduced additional benefits,
including flexible exam schedules and bi-monthly consultation days where students receive free strategic and financial advice from industry partners .
learning by doing
The
initiative not only provides financial and academic flexibility but also exposes students to real-world challenges and solutions. By engaging with experienced mentors and like-minded peers, student-entrepreneurs at UCLL gain the confidence to take their ventures to the next level.
Two inspiring students share their entrepreneurial journeys:
Rhune Moonen (21) from BELGIUM: “Gluten- and Lactose-Free Granola”
At just 17, Rhune Moonen founded M’Oats & More, a company specializing in gluten- and lactose-free granola. “I discovered my intolerance during the COVID-19 period and quickly realized how difficult it was to find tasty, allergen-free food,” she explains. Together with her sister Chloë, Rhune experimented with recipes and successfully launched a range of flavorful granola products.
M’Oats & More now offers a variety of flavors and operates from an industrial kitchen in her family home. In 2021, Rhune started studying SME & Entrepreneurship at UCLL
to align her education with her business goals. “Balancing studies and business is challenging, but my sister helps with the bookkeeping. After graduation, I plan to focus entirely on growing my company.” Currently, M’Oats & More is available in ten locations across Limburg and through an online store.
Antoine Carboex (21) from bELGIUM: “A Mechanic at Your Doorstep”
Final-year Electromechanics student Antoine Carboex recently launched Thuisgarage.be, a mobile mechanic service that repairs cars at customers’ homes. “I’ve been
passionate about cars since childhood,” Antoine shares. “When I saw how much my parents spent on car maintenance, I realized I could offer a more affordable
alternative.”With Thuisgarage.be, Antoine eliminates the inconvenience of traditional garages by providing on-location repairs. Customers book appointments online, and Antoine services their vehicles—handling everything from maintenance and diagnostics to inspection readiness. Despite his demanding academic schedule, Antoine works evenings and weekends. “Traditional garages charge over €100 per hour, but I keep my rate at €50, with no extra markup on parts,” he explains. As his business grows, he hopes to expand and
hire additional mechanics.
Inspiring the Next Generation
By supporting student- entrepreneurs with mentorship^, networking opportunities and hands-on learning, UCLL is shaping the next generation of business leaders. Throught StartMinds students gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to turn their ideas into thriving businessess. With the right mindset, resources and determination dreams can become reality. UCLL and GATE are proud to celebrate and support students like Rhune and Antoine on their entrepreneurial journeys, inspiring others to take the leap into business ownership.
Learn more about the GATE project and how it’s transforming entrepreneurial education [here].
