"A start-up's journey is never linear," says CEO Simon Tavernier. After pivoting from a consumer photo app to a customer loyalty platform, Stampix found its niche helping brands connect with customers through personalized photo prints. But scaling internationally proved more challenging than expected – which is why Simon turned to the Scaleup Flanders Masterclass for guidance.
From family legacy to innovation
Growing up in a photography family, Simon watched his grandfather build Spector, a successful photo printing business that later transformed into smartphoto.be. Though he pursued engineering, Simon inherited what he calls "the entrepreneurial gene." In 2016, a personal experience sparked an idea: as a new father taking countless photos of his son, he noticed how rarely digital pictures became physical memories.
Together with his cousin Anton Mussche, Simon founded Stampix with a clear mission: make photo printing frictionless through brand partnerships. "Looking back, we were quite naive," he admits. "But you can calculate risks all you want – at some point, you just have to take them."
On getting hit in the face
The initial concept attracted start-up capital and support through Tax Shelter and the Birdhouse Accelerator program. But early success led to an important revelation. "Everyone has a plan until they get hit in the face," Simon reflects. "Our original model attracted the same users repeatedly – not the new customers our brand partners wanted to reach."
This insight led to a crucial pivot. Today, Stampix provides photo rewards for brand loyalty programs. Customers upload personal photos through a brand's platform, receiving physical prints with branded content on the reverse. "We've found the sweet spot between quality and relevance," Simon explains. "Personal photos have high emotional value but relatively low production costs – perfect for loyalty programs reaching millions of customers."
Stampix by the numbers
Simon & Anton founded Stampix: 2016
Year of the inaugural ‘Loyalty Meetup’, hosted by Stampix: 2025
Initial start-up capital gathered from angel investors
Approximate profit in 2023
Number of photos printed and sent so far
Going from 1 to 10
With the business model proven, Simon knew Stampix was ready to scale internationally. "People often quote Peter Thiel saying going from 0 to 1 is harder than 1 to 10," he says. "But scaling internationally isn't just about copying and pasting local success."
Despite trying various approaches – hiring local sales teams, partnering with local companies, working with sales coaches – international expansion proved challenging. That's when Simon discovered the Scaleup Flanders Masterclass. "I commit to learning something new each year. When I saw the Masterclass topics – finance, funding, PR, pricing – I knew it was exactly what we needed. I signed up on the spot."
"Scaling internationally isn't just about copying and pasting local success."
- Simon Tavernier, CEO at Stampix
Practical insights for sustainable growth
The Masterclass delivered three key transformations for Stampix:
1. Strategic positioning
"The Masterclass helped us clarify our story," Simon explains. Working with expert coaches, they refined their sales pitch and investor deck, making them more compelling for international expansion.
2. Marketing innovation
A session on PR revealed that impactful marketing doesn't require massive budgets. "Don't be afraid to be the authority," Simon shares. This insight inspired Stampix to launch the 'Loyalty Meetup' in 2025, positioning them as thought leaders in the loyalty rewards space.
3. Operational scalability
The program provided practical tools for reducing founder dependency. "When I couldn't attend sessions, other team members could go in my place," Simon notes. "This helped us grow as an organization."
“The speakers either inspired us or provided tangible tools and tricks that founders like me can implement right away,” he adds. “Thanks to the growth marketing session, we now have a clear go-to-market strategy and playbook. What’s more: you can bring other members of your team to the Masterclass. Even when I couldn't attend, other Stampix employees could go in my place to ensure we kept growing as an organization.”
"Thanks to the growth marketing session, we now have a clear go-to-market strategy and playbook."
- Simon Tavernier, CEO at Stampix
A community of scale-ups
Beyond the formal sessions, Simon emphasizes the value of connecting with peers facing similar challenges. "The Masterclass creates an opportunity to connect with other founders in the same phase," he explains. "These relationships continue long after the program ends."
Looking back, Simon strongly recommends the program to other tech scale-ups ready for growth. "It's not just about the knowledge – it's about the community and practical tools you gain. Every session gives you something you can implement the very next day."
“It's not just about the knowledge – it's about the community and practical tools you gain.”
- Simon Tavernier, CEO at Stampix
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