TrustUp.be

About TrustUp.be

TrustUp.be operates as an online marketplace connecting individuals with certified professionals in the construction and renovation sector in Belgium and France. The company was founded in 2016 by CEO Sébastien Remacle, with the platform officially launching in 2017. The inspiration for the business came from a negative personal experience where Remacle's parents hired a company for a kitchen renovation that went bankrupt mid-project, leaving them with financial losses and the difficult task of finding a trustworthy replacement. This event prompted Remacle, then a web development student, to create a solution to secure and simplify the process of hiring trade professionals.

The company's history includes several key milestones, starting with incubation at VentureLab in 2016. Florian, now CTO, and Anaïs, now COO, joined Sébastien Remacle as co-founders early in the journey. The first version of the platform went live in April 2017. TrustUp secured its first seed funding round in August 2018 and a Series A round in June 2022, with total funding reaching over $8.29M from investors like Noshaq, LeanSquare, Rise PropTech Fund, and Brick & Mortar Ventures. Significant growth milestones include launching in Flanders in 2021 and entering the French market in 2024.

The platform is free for private users, who can browse through over 40 trade categories—such as roofing, plumbing, and solar panel installation—to find local professionals. TrustUp vets all listed professionals by checking their financial health, the manager's history, any social or fiscal debts, and online reputation to minimize risks for consumers. The business generates revenue through a subscription-based model aimed at the trade professionals on the platform. These professionals can subscribe to a suite of services under the "TrustUp Pro" label, which includes digital tools for managing administrative tasks like quotes and invoicing, project tracking, and improving their online communication and marketing. This model provides tradespeople with new clients at no commission fee while offering them tools to better manage their business.