From LegalTech to VC: Gilles Mattelin's Playbook

Dr. Niklas Richter · 2026-06-03

### From Two Exits to a Bold New Bet Gilles Mattelin didn't stop after selling Intuo to Unit4 and Henchman to LexisNexis. Instead of resting on his wins, he launched 100IN—an AI-first venture capital fund that backs 100 pre-seed tech startups. His approach is different: invest in many young companies, decide fast, and give founders real support. No slow, traditional VC model here. ### Building Consumer Brands with Average Rob Alongside Average Rob, Mattelin is building consumer brands like Tout Bien Pils and La Patate. He moves effortlessly from legaltech to fries and from SaaS to beer. But there's a clear thread through everything he does: strong branding, community building, and speed of execution. ### What's Really Behind an Exit? In this episode, we dig into what actually happens after a sale. When do you sell? When do you wait? How does it feel to let go of a company you built from scratch? We talk 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. Speed often matters more than perfection. Mattelin keeps repeating one belief: entrepreneurship should stay fun. ### A Different Kind of Success Story This isn't a classic success story. It's about building, selling, and starting over. Thinking bigger. Moving faster. And staying brave. ### Key Takeaways from Gilles Mattelin's Journey - **Sell with purpose**: Know when to exit and when to hold. Timing isn't just about money—it's about momentum. - **Speed over perfection**: In early-stage investing, quick decisions beat polished ones. Move fast or lose the deal. - **Community is currency**: Whether it's legaltech or beer, building a loyal community around your brand creates lasting value. - **Reinvest in the ecosystem**: Use exit capital to fuel the next generation of founders. That's how you build something bigger than yourself. - **Keep it fun**: If entrepreneurship stops being enjoyable, you're doing it wrong. Passion drives persistence. ### The Bottom Line Gilles Mattelin's story shows that success isn't a straight line. It's a series of bold moves, smart exits, and fresh starts. Whether you're building a SaaS company or a potato brand, the principles stay the same: brand hard, move fast, and never lose the joy of building.