When Two Worlds Collide: Reflections from the Belgian Economic Mission to Los Angeles

Last week was absolutely mind-blowing.

I had the incredible privilege of attending the Belgian Economic Mission to California, a delegation of 500 Belgian entrepreneurs, politicians, and military personnel, led by none other than Princess Astrid of Belgium herself.

For me, as a Belgian living in Los Angeles, the experience was surreal. People I usually meet at separate events on different continents were suddenly all in the same room, on the same coast, at the same time. My worlds collided in the most beautiful way possible.

My Californian contacts were genuinely impressed by the delegation. One funny observation that kept coming up? "Belgians are all so tall!"

Two Visions, One Future

After countless conversations with both US and Belgian companies, what struck me most was how complementary our visions are. In today's challenging global landscape, collaboration isn't just important, it's essential. We need to amplify each other's strengths.

What became crystal clear is that Belgium excels at innovation, research, and deep technical expertise, we're the birthplace of groundbreaking ideas and cutting-edge technology, while US organizations have mastered the art of scaling, growing, and taking those ideas to global markets with unmatched speed and reach.

It's a perfect match.

And I'm thrilled to share that this perfect match translated into real action: RealityMatters was one of 61 companies signing new agreements between US and Belgian companies during the mission. This is what true transatlantic collaboration looks like, not just conversations, but concrete partnerships that will shape the future.

A Week of Unforgettable Moments

The mission took us straight into the beating heart of Hollywood innovation:

We went behind the scenes at Digital Domain and AGBO, witnessing cutting-edge VFX and storytelling magic up close.

I was proud to see multiple Flemish voices including myself take the stage at the Infinity Festival Hollywood, showing LA that our creativity and tech prowess resonate far beyond our borders.

We pitched to Google and the Los Angeles Venture Association, demonstrating that extraordinary things are happening in the Belgian entertainment industry.

The Beautiful Challenge

The most challenging part for me personally? Two major events coincided last week, the Belgian Economic Mission and the Infinity Festival. But this overlap also created a unique opportunity.

At the Infinity Festival, I had the chance to speak with fellow Belgian entrepreneurs about the Belgian XR ecosystem. What makes our ecosystem so special is the combination of world-class knowledge, we have access to great talent being prepared for today's market expectations, students that are ready to hit the ground running, and the subsidized support of the Belgian government. This creates the ideal breeding ground for innovation and initial growth.

Looking Forward

LA, you've been inspiring.

Flanders, Belgium, you've been extraordinary.

Now let's continue creating the future of tomorrow, today, across entertainment, technology, innovation, and beyond!

In the current challenges every entrepreneur is facing worldwide, I'm more convinced than ever: collaboration is the key. Let's blend Belgian innovation with American scale. Let's turn know-how into global impact. Let's amplify each other's strengths.

After such a busy week, I needed some quiet me-time. The less-known nature side of Los Angeles provides plenty of opportunities to clear your mind. Sometimes the best ideas come not from the next meeting, but from a peaceful walk in nature.