Tinrate Raises €1.6M Seed Round Backed by Belfius

Tinrate is a Belgian platform launched in 2025 that lets buyers book paid 1-on-1 video calls with vetted experts. Buyers pay upfront before the call; experts share one link that handles booking, payment, and invoicing.

Recent developments

The €1.6 million seed round closed in January 2026 with Belfius leading the institutional side and angels including Matthias Vandepitte (Strada Partners), Steve Rousseau (World of Talents), and Arne Vandendriessche (Signpost). The round closed one month after the platform's launch, an unusually fast cycle for a Belgian SaaS company.

Background

Tinrate was founded in 2025 by Gunther Ghysels, previously the founder of mobility platform Get Driven. The Get Driven exit gave Ghysels both operational scale experience and the investor network that backed Tinrate's rapid seed round.

Investor backing

The seed round was led by Belgian institutional investor Belfius. Angel investors include Matthias Vandepitte (Strada Partners), known for backing several successful Belgian growth-stage companies; Steve Rousseau (World of Talents), an angel investor active in HR-tech; Arne Vandendriessche (Signpost), with a portfolio across Belgian SaaS; and Helena Brutsaert. The composition of the round signals that Belgian institutional capital sees the paid 1-on-1 video call category as commercially viable, not just experimental.

Traction so far

Tinrate now has over 2,000 registered experts spanning founders, lawyers, tax advisors, finance specialists, growth marketers, and coaches across Europe, North America, and Asia. The platform charges a flat 5% transaction fee with no monthly subscription, processes payments through Mollie, and generates VAT-compliant invoices automatically.

What is next

The next phase of Tinrate's growth is demand-side: increasing the rate at which buyers find and book experts on the platform. The infrastructure is in place; the leverage now is in distribution and brand recognition. The company is investing in content marketing, partnerships (including a recent integration sprint with Belgian accounting platform Dexter), and B2B corporate bundles targeting L&D budgets at mid-market companies.

Bottom line

Tinrate is among the more notable Belgian SaaS launches of 2026. With a fast seed close, a clear use case, and a growing expert base, the company has positioned itself to compete in the paid 1-on-1 video call category against larger US-origin incumbents.