FlockScore launches first rating platform for industrial suppliers at Web Summit
British-Belgian start-up provides transparency in procurement and supply chain
Lisbon/London/Ghent, November 12, 2025 - FlockScore, a Belgian-British start-up from Start it @KBC, will officially launch its eponymous rating platform for industrial suppliers today at the Web Summit, describing it as a kind of “Glassdoor© for supply chains”. FlockScore aims to bring transparency to the often opaque world of industrial suppliers.
Providing insight into the performance metrics of industrial suppliers and thus ensuring greater transparency in purchasing: that is FlockScore's mission. The idea arose from co-founder Matthew Spencer's own experiences in the procurement department of Belgian steel wire manufacturer Bekaert.
Limiting risk
'The financial health of suppliers is generally well known, but their performance is usually much less so. It is one of the biggest and most common problems in procurement: when choosing a new supplier, companies often have little information or references to base their decision on, which means that the choice is often a leap in the dark. That is a major risk, which we want to address with FlockScore,' says Thomas Cambier, co-founder of FlockScore. 'By providing insight into the performance metrics of suppliers, we eliminate that risk and ensure greater transparency in the supply chain. This enables industrial companies to better assess how well a particular supplier can meet their needs, so they can make an informed choice and limit their risk without having to compare lots of test samples themselves – a time-consuming and costly process.’
Anonymous scorecards
FlockScore uses anonymous scorecards for this purpose, drawing on various sources: feedback from customers and users, but also other sources such as news reports, awards and certificates. This information is collected from publicly available web sources using AI.
To access the platform, companies must share their own scorecards. With the credits they receive for doing so, they can then view the scorecards of other companies. In addition, FlockScore also wants to develop a premium offering that enables deeper analysis, as well as APIs for integration with other software or legacy systems. The founders also see a host of other opportunities to generate revenue.
Industry-wide view
Initially, however, the challenge lies mainly in persuading companies to share their data and collecting as much data as possible.
'Our product has been validated by several potential customers, and we already have our first major industrial player on board, who is putting its scorecards on the platform. The biggest challenge will be to set everything up, get the ball rolling and get as many companies as possible on FlockScore – first in Belgium and Europe, and then beyond,‘ continues co-founder Thomas Cambier. ’The good news is that most companies already have scorecards internally, and they can upload them in bulk, anonymously and privately to our platform.'
Although the initial focus is on heavy industry such as automotive and aerospace, the intention is to eventually evolve into a platform that offers an industry-wide view, something that, according to founders Matthew Spencer and Thomas Cambier, does not yet exist. Quality is guaranteed by collecting as many reviews and data as possible.
In search of funding
In addition to the Start it @KBC accelerator programme, FlockScore also took part in the Alpha Programme at Web Summit, the annual tech conference in Lisbon. It also has its own stand at the conference this week, to establish contacts, gain inspiration and meet other entrepreneurs and investors.
'The feedback we get at events from procurement leaders at some of the largest or best-known car brands in the world are clear: we want the final solution of your product. Major players from the US and Canada have also shown interest. To accelerate our development towards that final solution, we are now looking for external capital for additional staff and marketing. The first discussions are already underway, but interested parties are still welcome to come forward,' concludes Thomas Cambier.
About Start it @KBC
Start it @KBC is a unique, equity-free accelerator programme that focuses on real impact and has supported more than 1,800 start-ups since 2014, including over 1,500 in Belgium. This makes it the leading player Europe, and even the fifth largest worldwide.
Twice a year, a new batch of selected start-ups embarks on a one-year programme focused on growth and internationalisation. In addition to intensive guidance, the start-ups also gain access to an international network and remain part of an active ecosystem of founders, investors, mentors, experts and corporate partners for life.
Since its inception in 2014, Start it @KBC has played a key role in the Belgian start-up ecosystem and has been jointly responsible for the launch and growth of some of the most successful Belgian tech and impact-driven ventures.
In total, the start-ups that participated in the programme have already raised more than 1.1 billion euros in capital and created more than 12,000 jobs. Among the best-known former participants in the programme are names such as Aikido Security, Bolt, Loop Earplugs, Conveo, Segments.ai, Crazy Games and Ritchie.
In Belgium, Start it @KBC has hubs in Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Hasselt, Kortrijk, Leuven, Charleroi, Louvain-la-Neuve and Liège.
https://startit-x.com/en/accelerate
Paul Geens