The process was straightforward. Upliift understood our business quickly and didn’t require an exhaustive deep dive. It took just four months from our first conversations to signing the final contract.

Upliift was patient and respectful. They never pushed for things we weren’t comfortable with or haggled over price. We both valued fairness and long-term success over short-term gains. It was like finding the right partner for your family. You want to know they’re in it for the right reasons.

These investment vehicles often result in companies losing their corporate identity and ultimately being sold after three or four years. That’s not how we wanted to grow our business. So, although Upliift’s permanent equity model was new to us, its promise of long-term growth, a focus on maintaining the company’s value, and a respect for our identity prompted our decision to move ahead with them.

One of the things that resonated most was Upliift’s permanent equity approach. They would invest in our software, invest in the company, help create subsidiaries in other markets, focus on growth – and stay on board for the long term.

With the future of the business secured, our thinking is shifting from defence to offence. The future looks bright, and we’re excited to keep building on our strengths with a partner who shares our vision and goals for success over decades.

In Upliift, we have found people who appreciate the difficulties we might encounter in the coming years, as well as the opportunities for growth. They are tech people who have already gone through the growth process like the one I had in mind for SEC — and this will enable us to avoid repeating mistakes made by others. It’s good to have someone by our side who understands what we do.

Our business had saturated the Belgium market, and we needed a structured approach to other territories, including the UK. We wanted a partner that knew our market and would support long term success – not an investor that had no idea about our business or was looking for a quick exit.

When you care about the company you and your family have built, you want it to be in good hands. If you’re looking for someone who will look after it like their own, Upliift should be on your list. Unlike other investors who are purely in it for profit, Upliift sees beyond the numbers. They understand that value is also about people, customers, and reputation. 

I didn’t expect such a strong advisory presence from Upliift and I am really happy with it. We’re reworking many of our company processes and working methods, and I believe that the changes being proposed will inevitably lead to healthy and continuous growth, which is what we all want for SEC. To grow and find the people who can support that growth is so important for companies like ours.