How to Get Funded by Entourage: A €100 Million Pre-Seed and Seed Fund That Rarely Takes Board Seats

Entourage, the Ghent-based early-stage firm founded by former Showpad chief executive Pieterjan Bouten, announced on October 29, 2026 that it closed its second fund at €100 million, according to Tech Funding News. This profile sets out the facts, what makes the firm different, and how founders can approach it. Facts come from that coverage unless we say otherwise, and we have not seen the firm's own documents.

The Fund in Numbers

• Fund II size: €100 million, above an initial €75 million target
• Investors: founders, family offices and private investors, including the founders of Aikido, TechWolf and Collibra
• Portfolio plan: around 25 pre-seed and seed companies across Europe and beyond
• First cheques: €1 million to €5 million, with room for follow-on funding
• Focus: AI, enterprise software, robotics, physical AI and deep tech

By our arithmetic, €100 million spread across around 25 companies is an average of about €4 million each, though part of the fund will go to follow-ons and fees, so the average first cheque will be smaller.

Who Runs It

Pieterjan Bouten co-founded In The Pocket in 2010 and Showpad in 2011. Entourage says he built Showpad into a software company with more than $100 million in annual recurring revenue, and Vector Capital acquired it in October 2025. Entourage launched in March 2024 as a venture studio and early-stage fund. Bouten says he has invested in more than 60 companies.

The Track Record

Tech Funding News reports that Entourage wrote early cheques into three companies:

• Aikido, a Ghent developer security company, which reached a $1 billion valuation in January 2026 after a $60 million Series B led by DST Global
• Conveo, an AI consumer research startup, which raised a $50 million Series A in September 2026 from DST Global and Balderton Capital
• Lexroom, a Milan legal AI company, which raised a $50 million Series B in May 2026 led by Left Lane Capital

Entourage says it was one of the first investors in all three. We could not confirm its ownership stakes or returns, and Fund II has not yet made a reported investment.

The Board Seat Position

Bouten criticises his own industry, saying many VCs destroy value in early-stage boardrooms and that his firm rarely takes board seats, even when it leads a round. For a firm writing up to €5 million at pre-seed and seed, that is unusual, because the board seat is often the main formal tool of an early investor.

For founders, this can mean more control and fewer meetings. It can also mean less formal oversight, so make sure you have your own advisers and an agreed way to share updates.

Why Founder-Backed Funds Are Spreading

Entourage is not alone. Begin Capital named the founders of Runware, Codesphere and Dwelly as venture partners in its $100 million Fund II, according to the same publication. Funds backed by former founders pitch operating experience and alignment, since their investors know the work. The trade-off is that a fund funded by individuals may have a smaller pool for follow-ons than one backed by large institutions, so ask how reserves are set.

Who Entourage Is a Fit For

• European founders in AI, enterprise software, robotics and deep tech at pre-seed or seed
• Teams with early product and customer evidence who want a lead or co-lead
• Founders who want a light-touch investor and have a strong view of their own direction

It is less obviously a fit for consumer or non-technology businesses, given the stated focus.

What Early Investors Look For

Expect questions about why your team is the one to build this, what you have learned from early customers and how fast you can reach the next milestone. For robotics and deep tech, expect questions on technical risk, capital needs and timelines, since those companies usually need more money and have less room for error.

How to Approach Entourage

• Get a warm introduction from a portfolio founder, a co-investor or a fund investor
• Send a short note with what you build, your proof, the round size and why this firm
• Prepare your data room, check your cap table and model your dilution, including any SAFE already outstanding
• Ask whether the firm expects to be the lead investor and what its term sheet would include
• If you have a lead, ask whether Entourage would co-invest

Questions to Ask Before You Pitch

• What does "rarely takes a board seat" mean in practice, and what information rights does the firm expect?
• How much of Fund II is reserved for follow-on rounds?
• How does the firm decide between leading and co-leading?
• What help does it offer on hiring and customer introductions?

What to Watch

Fund II's first investments in robotics and deep tech will show whether the model works beyond software. For founders, the signal to watch is whether Entourage keeps its light-touch approach when a round gets competitive.

What We Could Not Confirm

We could not confirm the fund's legal structure, its filing status or returns from Fund I. Check Entourage's own materials for the latest details.

Browse the investor directory for more active funds, or explore active capital on AngelLinx @ angellinx.ai/register.

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