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A Founder, a Jury, and a Few Lessons Learned in South Tyrol
October 25, 2026
Tom
11 min read
After a busy few weeks, I escaped to South Tyrol to disconnect. A call from a Start it @KBC jury member turned my weekend into a reflection on positioning, verticals, solo founders, and what investors expect from startups.

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About the Author
Tom Vanderbauwhede is the founder & CEO of ReplyFabric, lecturer in AI at KdG University, and a seasoned entrepreneur with 25+ years of business experience. He holds master's degrees in Applied Economics, Business Administration (MBA), and Strategic Change Management & Leadership. Tom is passionate about building AI tools that reduce email overload and help teams focus on what matters.
Connect with Tom on LinkedIn and follow his journey as a founder.