The eXo team

Dr. Rhea Verbeke

CEO and Co-founder

Laurent Hubert

COO and Co-founder

From small beginnings

2004

Rhea and Laurent meet during their high-school years in Brussels.

Rhea's PhD on chlorine-resistant membranes

2016 - 2020

With a MSc in Bioscience Engineering from the KU Leuven, Rhea continues her academic work under Prof. Ivo Vankelecom at the Membrane Technology Group (MTG). Her subject: further investigating the chlorine resistance of membranes. Prof. Vankelecom suggests a promising lead: what about epoxide chemistry?

As Rhea investigates the epoxy field during her Yale University research stay and at the MTG, she makes a discovery: it is possible to synthesize epoxide membranes that are extremely stable, yet show promising performance. Rhea and Prof. Vankelecom realise this could be a potential breakthrough if they can figure out how to functionalise these findings.

The epoxide boom

2022

The hard research pays off. As the potential of epoxy membranes becomes clearer, the Membrane Technology Group discovers more and more applications, including gas separation, solvent resistance or ion-exchange. Prof. Vankelecom's research group expands to keep up with the new findings and ever-increasing research paths that are uncovered.

Academia to spin-off

2022-2024

As the research progresses, Rhea, now a postdoc, realises her strong drive to see these membranes make a difference out in the world. She starts exploring the world of spin-offs and dreaming of what a possible future outside the university halls could look like.

This journey proves challenging, as opinions within the MTG surrounding the right path of commercialisation diverge, and the technology is still in its very early phases. After a break, Rhea picks up the spin-off idea again with Laurent. Together, they starts sketching out what a potential spin-out could look like.

KU Leuven Spin-Off

2025

Rhea and Laurent decide to pull the trigger: these membranes need to make it into the world as soon as possible, and they're going to be the ones to do it.

As they work out the specifics, Rhea discovers the concept of a steward-owned company, a marked departure from the usual shareholder-primacy governance models. The philosophy behind steward ownership resonates profoundly with Rhea, and she convinces Laurent this is the right way forward.

Negotiations with Prof. Vankelecom, as well as the KU Leuven technology transfer office begin.