Hello Ruben, can you explain how Gorilla started?

"Before Gorilla, I co-founded Tablebooker, an online restaurant booking tool, and worked as COO at November Five. These experiences taught me a lot about entrepreneurship and building a business. Our journey at Gorilla started when we received a request for proposal from a UK energy company. We realised that there wasn't a market solution to their problem, so we decided to build one ourselves. We called our platform Gorilla, continuing a tradition at November Five of naming internal tools after monkeys. It was playful and it stuck. The breakthrough came when British Gas, the UK's largest energy company, called us. They were looking for the same solution we had just started developing, and that was the moment we knew it was time to spin off and build something big.” 

What problem are you solving? 

"We are tackling one of the biggest challenges in energy management today. Traditionally, energy companies offer many fixed day and night tariffs, but these don't reflect real market conditions. Consumers are still encouraged to use energy at off-peak times, even though this often means higher carbon emissions because there's less solar available. Our platform enables energy companies to analyse data and optimise decisions on pricing and consumption. The solution improves profitability while driving the transition to cleaner energy. For example, energy companies can use our platform to offer real-time pricing to steel mills. Knowing that their energy costs represent 20-40% of their total costs, our solution can have a huge impact.”

Gorilla started at the end of 2018. How do you look back?

"Looking back on the first few years of Gorilla, I'd say it wasn't without its challenges. The first two to three years were about finding product-market fit and proving scalability. But then came the pandemic, followed by the energy crisis, which fuelled the need for future-proof energy management. Suddenly the demand for our product grew. In 2024, we've raised €23 million in funding and grown our team from 50 to 105 people. At the same time, it feels like we're just getting started, especially as we expand into new markets like the US and Germany, where the energy sector is still traditional and ripe for disruption.”

How important is Antwerp as an innovation ecosystem?

"Antwerp has played a significant role in our success. When we talk to business leaders in Amsterdam, Berlin or London, they see Antwerp as a city that matters. We've been able to attract top international talent and that's been key to our growth. The city's innovation ecosystem is growing and there's a lot of talent here that wants to solve big challenges. It's the kind of environment where amazing things can happen. At Gorilla, remote working is part of our DNA, with employees spread across the globe. But we still value our headquarters in Antwerp as an important hub for collaboration and growth.”

You mentioned Radical Candor by Kim Scott as one of your favourite books. Why is that?

"We value open and honest communication. Radical Candor taught me that if you care about your people, you have to give them honest feedback. We practice this every day at Gorilla - being honest with each other because that's how we all grow. Working at Gorilla can be intense, but it's also rewarding. This intensity helps us build strong relationships within the team. Direct feedback is essential to ensure that we all keep moving forward.”

What are the key qualities that people need to be successful at Gorilla?

"What we do at Gorilla is so complex that you can't know everything, and every employee should be aware of that. We have two main pillars: computing and energy. The key factor is communication between these two pillars. Cooperation and ownership are also essential.”

How do you see the future? 

"Looking ahead, I'm excited about the future of Gorilla. We've built a strong foundation in data and energy, but we're not stopping there. To become a leading international company, we need to continue to develop our product and expand into new markets. The energy sector is very insular and each country believes its energy challenges are unique. If we can convince the right parties in one market, the rest will follow. We're just getting started. Our mission to drive sustainable energy solutions and improve energy management for businesses around the world is gaining momentum. With a clear vision and a talented team, we are ready to reshape the global energy landscape.”

Bio

Name: Ruben Van den Bossche.

Job title: Co-founder and CEO, Gorilla - Energy Data Applications.

Age: 39.

Passionate about: Building. It used to be LEGO and software. Now, I like to build organizations. Occasionally, I make some LEGO again with my kids. 

What drives me: Creating an impact on how energy is bought and sold, contributing to climate solutions.

What clears my head (1): Working in my vegetable garden. Planting seeds and nurturing is a wonderful metaphor for scaling up a business. 

What clears my head (2): Taking a sauna. Forgetting problems and challenges becomes much easier when it's hot.

Inspirational entrepreneurs: I don’t have a single role model, but businessman Frank Slootman has written some excellent books.

Recommended book: Radical Candor by Kim Scott.