From LegalTech to Beer: Gilles Mattelin's Playbook

Dr. Niklas Richter · 2026-06-03

Gilles Mattelin didn't retire after selling Intuo to Unit4 and Henchman to LexisNexis. Instead, he launched 100IN, an AI-first venture capital fund targeting 100 pre-seed tech startups. His approach is simple: invest early, decide fast, and support founders without the usual VC bureaucracy. ### The 100IN Philosophy 100IN is built for speed. Mattelin wants to back lots of young companies, move quickly on decisions, and give founders real help—not just a check and a board seat. He's seen how slow traditional VC can kill momentum. So he's flipping the script.  ### From LegalTech to French Fries Alongside Average Rob, Mattelin is building consumer brands like Tout Bien Pils and La Patate. He moves effortlessly from legaltech to fries, from SaaS to beer. But there's a thread running through everything: strong branding, community building, and the ability to execute fast. ### What Really Happens After an Exit In this episode, we dig into what's really behind an exit. When do you sell? When do you hold? How does it feel to let go of something you built? Mattelin talks about working directly with people like Marc Coucke, the Ghent tech ecosystem, and how exit capital gets reinvested into new founders. ### AI in Venture Capital We explore how far you can automate sourcing and screening with AI. Mattelin believes speed often beats perfection. If you can make good decisions fast, you win. That's the edge he's building at 100IN. ### The One Rule: Keep It Fun There's one belief Mattelin keeps coming back to: entrepreneurship has to stay fun. This isn't your typical success story. It's about building, selling, and starting over. Thinking bigger. Moving faster. And staying bold. - Intuo sold to Unit4 - Henchman sold to LexisNexis - 100IN: AI-first VC fund - Consumer brands: Tout Bien Pils, La Patate - Key traits: branding, community, speed > "Entrepreneurship has to stay fun." — Gilles Mattelin This is a blueprint for anyone who wants to build, exit, and build again. No slow lanes. No playing it safe.