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 epoxides

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.

As she pursues the promising lead of epoxide chemistry at Yale University, she makes a discovery: it is possible to synthesize epoxide membranes that are extremely resistant, yet show promising performance.

The epoxide boom

2022

As the potential of epoxide membranes becomes clearer, Rhea and the team in Leuven discover more and more applications, including gas separation, solvent treatment, and water at extreme pH.

Academia to industry

2022-2024

As the research progresses, Rhea 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 of the university walls could look like.

This journey proves challenging, as opinions at the MTG on the exact path of commercialisation diverge. After a break, Rhea picks up the development again with Laurent. Together, they starts sketching out what a potential spin-off 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.