Gabriel Goldberg

Entrepreneur & Ecosystem Builder | Founder @ Hakacia & Belgium Startup Awards | Scaling Tech & GTM Strategies | ex-Google

Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium

About

I am an execution-focused business executive and entrepreneur with a proven track record in digital strategy, data, and Go-To-Market scaling. I specialize in turning ambitious tech visions into market dominance through expert sales, marketing, and senior management. As the Business Director and Founder of Hakacia, I act as a smart digital and marketing transformation partner. From high-level strategy to concrete execution, I guide organizations in optimizing their people skills, internal processes, tech integration, and product-market fit. My core focus is the professionalization of sales and marketing organizations, delivering tangible growth for industry leaders like Brico, Cowboy, Voo, and Decathlon. Prior to Hakacia, I co-founded and scaled Semetis, establishing it as the undisputed Belgian market leader in digital marketing consultancy. As an entrepreneur, I built a highly talented team from the ground up, secured premium partnerships with Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, and successfully navigated the company's acquisition by the Omnicom Group. Following the acquisition, I served as Interim Managing Director at OMD Belgium and Luxembourg, steering the integration of Semetis into Omnicom while actively optimizing group operations. My operational methodology stems from my time at Google, where I built and developed the initial distribution channel for Google Ads in Belgium. During this hyper-growth phase, I acquired deep, hands-on expertise across Google Analytics, AdWords, and Display Advertising. Backed by an MSc in International and European Politics, I bring a unique blend of top-down strategic thinking, technical ecosystem expertise, and relentless business acumen.

Experience

  • Ecosystem Builder at Belgium Startup Ecosystem
    Jan 2026 - Present · 7 mos

  • Founder & Director at Hakacia
    Jun 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 2 mos

    Hakacia is my operational vehicle dedicated to elevating entrepreneurs, scaling businesses, and uniting the Belgian tech landscape. Through Hakacia, I operate on two core pillars: 1. Ecosystem Building & Leadership We are the founding entity behind the Belgium Startup Ecosystem and the Belgium Startup Awards. Through these initiatives, we actively break down historical regional silos (Flanders, Brussels, Wallonia) to build a unified national playground. We connect founders, top-tier corporates, and policymakers to drive innovation and facilitate cross-border funding. 2. Strategic Consulting & Scaling Tracks We drive tangible Go-To-Market and growth strategies for startups, scale-ups, and corporate giants. I partner with C-level executives to orchestrate tech integration, optimize people & processes, achieve product-market fit, and professionalize sales & marketing organizations.

  • Founder & Director (Acquired by Omnicom 2015-2023) at Semetis
    Jan 2009 - Dec 2023 · 15 yrs

    Very entrepreneurial job! Co-founded and scaled the agency from 0 to 60+ employees and €100M+ in revenue, establishing it as the undisputed market leader before acquisition by Omnicom Group. Market leader in Digital Marketing Consultancy with full accreditation by Google (Ads, Analytics, GTM & API), META, Facebook, Microsoft, Criteo, Adobe, Mixpanel, Segment, Tableau, Tealium.... Awarded Agency of the Year and Decade. Awarded most Efficient (Digital Campaigning) Agency by WARC.

  • Interim Managing Director (an Omnicom Company) at OMD Belgium and Luxembourg
    Feb 2016 - Jan 2017 · 1 yr

    OMD is the largest media agency member of the Omnicom network. While integrating Semetis within Omnicom Belgium, I accepted the challenge to temporarily run OMD reporting to the local group COO & CFO. I re-negotiated several contracts (Belron, PepsiCo, McDo, Alpro/Danone, Verisure/Securitas....) and moved the digital operations to Semetis. It gave me the opportunity to learn from the inside the functionning of a network media agency.

  • Google (2 yrs 4 mos)
    • Agency Manager
      Jan 2008 - Apr 2009 · 1 yr 4 mos

      My role consisted of developing the distribution channel of Google Advertising in Belgium (ie. Media Buying Agencies, Web Agencies & Specialized Digital Advertising Agencies). This is when the idea came to become entrepreneur and set-up a future-proof agency that later became leader on the belgian market.

    • Account Manager
      Jan 2007 - Apr 2009 · 2 yrs 4 mos

      My role consisted of setting-up the operations of the Google in Belgium. I was the only account manager for more than a year which allowed me to set-up the basics and the process before recruiting & training the newcomers. I developed a passion for technical products and therefore volunteered for becoming the "power-user" of several products like: Google Analytics, Google AdWords, Display Advertising & Internal CRM Tools. I was involved in almost every on-going internal project.