UBI Business School Brussels hosted an insightful guest lecture and workshop featuring three distinguished experts who guided students through the practical, legal, and strategic steps of starting a business in Brussels. The session brought together students from the BSc, MSc, and MBA programmes, strengthening UBI’s mission to nurture an entrepreneurial, globally minded community.
The workshop was led by:
- Mr. Bilal Lezeik – Founder & Creative Producer, Limelight Productions
- Mr. Baudelaire Montcho – Client Advisor, Business Counter, Securex
- Ms. Niki Karafillakis – Advisor, hub.info, hub.brussels
The session combined real-world experiences, legal guidance, and institutional support to help students understand how entrepreneurship works in Belgium, especially for international and non-EU founders.
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Bilal Lezeik
Founder & Creative Producer, Limelight Productions
Mr. Bilal Lezeik shared his entrepreneurial journey as the founder of Limelight Productions, a visual communication agency established in Beirut in 2012 and now operating from Brussels. With over a decade of expertise in creative visual storytelling, he collaborates with organisations working in human rights, gender equality, peacebuilding, emergency response, and education.
During his presentation, Bilal introduced the agency’s mission and evolution into a global creative partner for socially driven organisations. He highlighted Limelight’s multidisciplinary services including:
- Animation & graphic design
- Strategic communication
- E-learning content
- Capacity-building projects
He also shared advice for new entrepreneurs on establishing a business in Brussels, navigating the creative industry, and adapting to Belgium’s multicultural business environment.
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Baudelaire Montcho
Client Advisor – Business Counter, Securex
Mr. Baudelaire Montcho provided students with a clear, step-by-step guide to the administrative and legal obligations for launching a business as a non-EU entrepreneur in Belgium. With extensive experience advising international founders, he explained:
- The purpose and process of obtaining the Professional Card
- Required documentation, legal considerations, and processing timelines
- Registration with the CBE (Crossroads Bank for Enterprises) and VAT
- Social security obligations for self-employed individuals
- GDPR and mandatory compliance responsibilities
Baudelaire also presented the role of Securex as a one-stop partner for administrative registration, legal support, HR solutions, and insurance services for entrepreneurs.
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Niki Karafillakis
Advisor – hub.info, hub.brussels
Ms. Niki Karafillakis introduced students to the comprehensive support ecosystem offered by hub.brussels, the Brussels Agency for Entrepreneurship. Her session gave future entrepreneurs a structured understanding of the business landscape and available support channels.
Key topics included:
- Administrative conditions to start a business
- Choosing a legal form
- Taxation & social contributions
- Differences between employment and self-employment
- Support programmes such as springboard schemes, shared enterprises, and subsidies
- How to use the 1819.brussels platform to find expert guidance
Niki emphasised that Brussels offers one of Europe’s strongest support networks for international entrepreneurs, with free guidance, coaching, and sector-specific resources.
A Valuable Experience for UBI Students
The workshop was highly engaging and provided practical clarity for students considering entrepreneurship during or after their studies. The combination of creative industry insights, legal expertise, and government-backed support made it a complete and actionable session for aspiring entrepreneurs.
UBI Business School thanks our speakers for their invaluable contributions and for supporting the entrepreneurial spirit within our student community.
