The Venture Studio Explained: How StarApps is Redefining Startup Creation

StarApps, founded in Ghent by Lorenz Bogaert and Nicolas Van Eenaeme, is setting a new standard for venture studios. Combining 25 years of experience, serial entrepreneurs and Tech investors Lorenz and Nicolas help put Ghent on the map as Tech capital of Europe. Their venture studio, active since early 2024, has already backed promising startups like the facility management platform FixForm, B2B lead generation specialist Bizzy, and partnership collaboration tool Introw. StarApps focuses on building startups with sustainable growth, not just in numbers but in impact. We spoke with Jeroen Vroman, Studio Manager at StarApps, to dive deeper into their approach and how they guide startups from idea to market success.

The Venture Studio Model: Building Startups from the Ground Up

Venture studios are changing the game for launching and scaling startups. Unlike incubators or accelerators, which back external startups, venture studios like StarApps generate their ideas in-house, creating startups from the ground up. They offer a clear, repeatable path to launching successful startups. From early pioneers like Idealab in the '90s to today’s leaders like StarApps and Rocket Internet, venture studios have proven they can thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

Here’s why this model works so well:

1. In-House Idea Generation: Venture studios don’t wait for pitches—they spot gaps in the market and create startups to fill them.
2. Shared Resources: Startups get access to a pool of resources like legal, HR, and marketing, freeing them to focus on product development.
3. Hands-On Support: It’s not just about money—venture studios stay involved, often acting like co-founders to help guide the startup from day one through scaling.

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StarApps: A Boutique Venture Studio 

StarApps shows how a boutique venture studio can drive success. Instead of having tons of startups, StarApps focuses on just a few, giving each one high-touch, personalized support. This way, every startup gets the attention it needs to scale without burning out its resources.

Here’s how they do it:

Market-Driven Ideas: They look deeper into market research to find business opportunities worth pursuing. For example, FixForm—a startup from StarApps—was created to solve specific challenges in facility management.

Fast MVPs: Once an idea is validated, StarApps moves quickly to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This lean approach lets them test in the market and gather feedback fast.

Support Beyond Launch: Even after a startup is live, StarApps stays involved. They help with partnerships, fundraising, and long-term strategy, making sure startups are prepared to grow.

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Why StarApps Chooses a Boutique Approach

While plenty of venture studios follow similar methods, StarApps stands out with its boutique approach, prioritizing quality and sustainability over rapid growth. StarApps uses a structured methodology, their "Venture Building Playbook & Guidelines," to ensure that only the best ideas move forward. With fewer startups to focus on, they maintain high standards of quality and provide continuous involvement beyond the launch phase. This enables StarApps to guide startups through every stage, from ideation to scaling, and ensure their success in the long run.

Their boutique approach prioritizes sustainable growth over quick exits or IPOs, allowing for greater flexibility and adaptability. 

Why Choose a Boutique Venture Studio?

If you’re thinking about partnering with a venture studio, here’s why a boutique model might be best for your startup:

Tailored Support: Startups get expert advice from the founders and team members, who stay deeply involved.

Focused Resources: With fewer startups on their plate, boutique studios can dedicate more time and attention to each one.

Strategic Growth: The focus isn’t just on launching—it’s about building long-term, sustainable growth.

A Strong Network: Studios like StarApps have the connections you need to grow, from investors to industry leaders.

Is a Venture Studio Right for Your Startup?

Choosing how to fund your startup can be overwhelming. Each path—whether it’s bootstrapping, raising venture capital, joining an accelerator, or partnering with a venture studio—has its pros and cons. So, how do you know if a venture studio is right for you?

Need more than capital? Venture studios don’t just write checks—they help you build the product, define your strategy, and guide you through the tough early stages.

Feeling decision fatigue? Venture studios provide structure and help you prioritize, which can be a lifesaver when there are so many decisions to make.

Looking for a co-founder-level partner? If you want more than just funding, a venture studio might be the right fit.

No one-size-fits-all solution exists. It depends on what your startup needs right now. If you’re looking for funding, a venture capital firm might be better. But if you need hands-on help to build and scale, a venture studio like StarApps could be your best bet.

Key Success Factors for Venture Studios

StarApps employs several key factors that ensure their startups thrive:

• Market Research & Validation: Before pursuing any idea, they conduct in-depth market research to identify real business opportunities. This minimizes risks and ensures that only viable concepts move forward.
  
  
• A Strong Core Team: The team at StarApps consists of experts across various domains—ranging from product development to marketing and business operations. This in-house talent drives the quick and efficient execution of ideas.
  
  
• Access to Shared Infrastructure: Centralizing functions like HR, legal, and finance reduces operational costs and enables startups to focus on building their products and finding product-market fit.
  
  
• Funding & Investment Support: StarApps maintains relationships with investors and VCs, which helps secure funding for its startups as they scale. Their boutique model ensures that each venture receives tailored funding strategies based on its specific needs.

Challenges and How StarApps Overcomes Them

While the venture studio model offers many advantages, it also presents challenges:

• Resource Allocation: With several ventures at different stages, it’s all about smart prioritization. Giving each startup the attention it needs, without stretching the studio’s team and resources too thin, takes solid project management. Experienced venture studios with strong networks like StarApps addresses this by maintaining a smaller, focused portfolio, which ensures that each startup gets the attention it needs.

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• Scaling: Starting a venture is one thing, but scaling it? That's a whole different game. For venture studios, the challenge is figuring out how to help each startup grow without spreading resources too thin or losing focus. It's all about balancing scale with keeping the studio running strong. Scaling goes beyond just having money in the bank. Startups need the right infrastructure, a clear strategy, and key market connections. That’s where studios like StarApps come in. They offer data-driven growth strategies tailored to each startup's needs, giving founders a clear roadmap to scale successfully.

How Pitchdrive and StarApps Collaborate

Pitchdrive plays a key role in supporting startups in partnership with StarApps. Pitchdrive supports startups by partnering with venture studios to move companies from the MVP stage to scaling. They help with talent acquisition, securing funding, and strategic partnerships, ensuring startups are equipped for growth. This collaboration ensures that startups are equipped with the right resources, connections, and insights to reach their full potential.

Final Thoughts 

Venture studios represent an innovative and hands-on approach to building startups, offering a distinct advantage over traditional incubators and accelerators. By developing ideas in-house and providing continuous support through expert teams and resources, venture studios streamline the path from concept to market, resulting in higher success rates.

StarApps exemplifies the power of this model, particularly within fintech and app development, with its focus on quality, sustainable growth, and rigorous validation processes. Though challenges like resource allocation and scaling remain, the venture studio model's structured framework significantly mitigates these risks.

By collaborating with studios like StarApps, Pitchdrive enhances its ability to support startups beyond the MVP stage, offering guidance in talent acquisition, funding, and strategic partnerships. For entrepreneurs seeking a faster, more structured path to market, venture studios are a compelling solution for launching and scaling successful ventures.

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Also good to read:

11 Best Venture Studios for Startups: Top Picks for Innovation and Growth

Top 10 Early-Stage VC Firms in Europe: Best Investors for Startup Growth

Investing in Early Stage Startups: Tips and Strategies

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