From Visitor to Exhibitor: Our First VivaTech Experience

The past few days were all about VivaTech in Paris.

For years, I attended technology events as a visitor. This year was different. This year, I was standing on the other side of the booth as an exhibitor. That may sound like a small difference, but it completely changes the experience.

For ReplyFabric, this was our first public appearance and our first real marketing effort. Until now, most of our energy had gone into building the product, testing it with users, improving security, preparing for launch, and making sure everything worked as it should. Suddenly, we were no longer talking about ReplyFabric in meetings and video calls. We were presenting it to hundreds of people at one of Europe's biggest technology events.

We were part of the Belgian Pavilion, together with around 30 startups from across the country. Even more exciting, ReplyFabric was selected as one of the 10 startups representing Flanders, one of Belgium's three regions alongside Wallonia and Brussels. Not a bad milestone for a startup making its first public appearance.

To make the experience even more memorable, I brought my son Layo along. He is currently finishing his Master's degree in Business Engineering, and sharing this entrepreneurial adventure with him was something special. Seeing startup life through his eyes added an extra dimension to the entire week.

Day Minus One: A Strong Start

We arrived in Paris the day before the exhibition officially opened.

The first event on the agenda was an investor networking evening hosted at Lombard Odier, the private bank. We had been invited by The Harbour, a startup matchmaking organization that helps connect founders with investors and ecosystem partners.

Unfortunately, timing was not entirely on our side. When I arrived, a group of French venture capitalists had just left because France was playing Senegal. That was a bit disappointing, as I would have loved to meet them. Still, the evening turned out to be well worth attending. The conversations that did happen were engaging and insightful, and I left with several interesting connections and a better understanding of the broader startup ecosystem.

Day One: Showtime

The next morning, the real work began.

Egor, a KdG intern who already knows ReplyFabric inside out, joined us and proved to be a tremendous help throughout the event. Having someone who understands both the product and the startup journey made a huge difference.

As soon as the doors opened, visitors started flowing through the halls. Before long, we were fully immersed in conversations, product demonstrations, and discussions about email productivity, AI, and the future of work.

One thing quickly became apparent: most conversations were in French, around 90 percent of them. As a Belgian entrepreneur, you learn to adapt quickly, and after a few hours I found myself switching languages almost automatically.

The days were intense. When you are exhibiting, there is very little downtime. You spend hours standing, talking, listening, explaining, answering questions, and refining your pitch based on the reactions you receive. It is demanding, but it is also incredibly energizing. That evening, we were invited to the Belgian Embassy, another highlight of the trip, where it was inspiring to see the support that exists for Belgian startups looking to grow internationally.

Day Two: Startups Meet Corporates

The second day started with a corporate venturing event organized by PwC.

The conversations there were somewhat different from those on the exhibition floor. Rather than discussing products and features, the focus was often on partnerships, innovation programs, and how large organizations are exploring AI and emerging technologies.

Throughout the day, we continued meeting founders, investors, corporate innovation teams, and potential customers, and every conversation added another piece to the puzzle. One thing everyone seemed to have in common was the heat. Paris was absolutely baking, and combined with a packed exhibition hall it made for some long and exhausting days.

Day Three: Running on Energy and Curiosity

By the third day, a rhythm had developed.

The conversations kept coming, the demonstrations kept running, and the interest in ReplyFabric remained encouraging. Many visitors immediately recognized the challenge we are trying to solve. Email remains one of the biggest productivity bottlenecks in organizations, especially in shared inboxes where multiple people collaborate.

At the same time, I could feel the accumulated fatigue. Exhibiting for several consecutive days requires a surprising amount of energy. You are constantly interacting with people, and every visitor deserves the same enthusiasm and attention, whether they are the first person you meet that morning or the fiftieth. Fortunately, curiosity and adrenaline compensate for a lot.

Day Four: Time to Reflect

Eventually, it was time to pack up and head home.

As the train left Paris, I found myself reflecting on the week and asking the question every founder asks after an event like this. Will it generate business? The honest answer is that I do not know yet. Some contacts will probably never lead anywhere, while others may evolve into partnerships, pilot projects, customers, or perhaps even investment opportunities. That is simply how startup events work.

What I do know is that the trip was already valuable, regardless of the commercial outcome. It brought inspiration, feedback, and new ideas, and most importantly it introduced me to a remarkable group of people who are all trying to build something meaningful. As founders, we often spend months focused on product development, roadmaps, and execution, and VivaTech was a reminder that building a company is also about relationships, conversations, and continuously learning from others.

For ReplyFabric, this was our first public appearance, our first exhibition, and our first real step into the wider startup ecosystem. And if the experience taught me one thing, it is that this is only the beginning.