Hey Antwerpreneurs,

Welcome to the 12 new subscribers who’ve joined since last month!

In case you missed it, here’s a link to our last issue.

Once a month, we bring you inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and business owners in Antwerp.

Subscribe below to join other readers 👇️ 

Average reading time: 5 minutes

What’s on the Menu?

• 🍦 Scoop: The Wednesday Waffle Concept

• 💬 Words of Wisdom: From the mind of Barack Obama

• ✋ Antwerpreneur: Get to know Jan Verhoeven

• 💎 Quiz Question: Can you guess the health benefits?

• 📍 From Our Readers

• 🎁 Bonus: This one you don’t want to miss

🍦 Scoop

In October, one of my close friends shared a video in one of our group chats that introduced the idea of the "Wednesday Waffle."

It's a simple but powerful idea: once a week, you send a video to your friends, updating them on your life and what's coming up. It’s an easy way to stay connected, especially if you have friends living in different cities or countries (like our group).

For the past 8 weeks, we’ve made this a regular ritual and it has quickly become a weekly highlight for all of us. It’s not just about sharing updates—it’s about staying connected in a way that feels more personal and real, even when we’re far apart.

If you’re looking for a way to keep in touch with friends, I can’t recommend this enough. Here’s the video for those interested.

💬 Words of Wisdom 

While we typically focus on entrepreneurs and business owners based in Antwerp, this time we had the pleasure of meeting Jan, who previously had his offices here before relocating to Lier, in the Province of Antwerp.

✋ Antwerpreneur: Jan Verhoeven

Meet Jan!

A civil engineer turned entrepreneur.

He’s the founder of Ginger Jack and Gingerwald.

His story isn’t just about his products. It’s about resilience, innovation, and promoting healthier living.

A Glimpse into Jan’s Life

Jan starts his day at 6:00am—with yoga or a workout.

This keeps him flexible for his favorite hobbies:

• Padel

• Windsurfing

Afterward, he meditates for 12 minutes, checks his emails, and plans his day.

All before his wife and two kids wake up.

This quiet time helps him set clear goals and focus on the day ahead.

Jan is an admirer of Barack Obama, known for his ability to remain calm under pressure.

If he could have dinner with anyone, it would be him.

He even wants to tattoo “WWOD—What Would Obama Do?”

A reminder to think clearly and act decisively.

The Corporate Climb and a Game-Changing MBA

Jan spent 10 years working at ABB, climbing the corporate ladder.

And he was determined to keep rising.

A full-time MBA at Vlerick Business School seemed like the perfect next step.

But, an entrepreneurship class during his MBA changed everything.

Jan had to draft a business plan for a fictional company.

He named this company “Gingerwald”.

The idea?

Introduce gamified and nudging-based juice corners to companies, offering cold-pressed juice shots that deliver the full day's worth of fruits and vegetables in one drink. Cold-pressing preserves the taste and nutrients, unlike traditional juicers that lose them due to heat.

Why?

Jan was living on fast food, energy drinks, and soda.

He wanted to provide a fast and healthy option to people.

The Birth and Early Days of Gingerwald

After finishing his MBA, Jan decided to leave the corporate world.

In 2015, he brought Gingerwald to life.

He remembers staying up late with his wife, chopping vegetables and juicing hundreds of shots for their first presentation at the VOKA event.

Their first customer? Wunderman.

By 2020, Gingerwald had 40 customers.

The business was booming.

The Pandemic Challenge

But everything changed with COVID-19.

Offices closed.

Remote work started killing Gingerwald's customer base.

Jan made some of the toughest decisions of his career: he laid off all his employees and struggled to pay his suppliers.

With a family to support and bills to pay, he even considered returning to the corporate world.

But, instead he chose to innovate.

Enter Ginger Jack

In October 2020, Jan and his friend Frederic Bodson founded Ginger Jack, a premium, 100% organic, non-alcoholic ginger drink company.

During the day, Jan tried to keep Gingerwald alive.

At night, he worked with Frederic to perfect their ginger recipe.

After six months of experimentation, they found the recipe:

• Mint

• Lemon

• Sugar cane

• Secret herbs

• Mediterranean lime

• Asian ginger, known for its lighter taste and premium quality.

They started small—40 bottles for friends and family.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

With Gingerwald’s machinery and all their combined savings of €5,000, Ginger Jack launched.

The Fall of Gingerwald and Lessons Learned

While Ginger Jack flourished, Gingerwald continued to struggle.

Despite Jan’s efforts, the financial pressures were too great.

In the summer of this year, he was forced to file for bankruptcy for Gingerwald after a supplier issued a court order.

The biggest lesson?

“In a product-based business, having a co-founder can be a game-changer,” Jan says.

At Gingerwald, Jan was the bottleneck.

All the decisions and progress depended on him.

With Ginger Jack, sharing responsibilities made growth faster and more efficient.

Ginger Jack Today

• Two flagship products:

  1. Ginger Jack: a premium ginger-based beverage

  2. Curcuma Jane: a ginger and turmeric-based beverage

• Sold in 800+ stores across Belgium, the Netherlands, Romania, and Croatia

• An online store launched in December 2023:

  • Already 6,000 recurring buyers

  • Accounts for one-third of their monthly revenue

• Projected 2024 revenue: €1.3 million

To grow their brand awareness, they strategically chose to sell in independent shops where passionate owners often act as brand ambassadors.

Looking Ahead

Scaling is the next big challenge.

With a team of seven, they plan to move to a bigger space and create new products in the coming years.

“We know we need funding and people to reach the next level,” Jan says.

Motivation and Giving Back to the Community

Seeing the positive impact Ginger Jack has on people’s lives is his biggest motivation.

“The most rewarding moments are seeing what we’ve built as a team or hearing positive feedback from customers,” he says.

Each year, Ginger Jack collaborates with To Walk Again, a volunteer organization supporting people with physical disabilities, to host a gravel biking fundraiser.

Why?

Ginger helps with digestion, addressing a common issue for wheelchair users.

Next year’s goal?

1,000 participants and hopefully the cycling star Wout van Aert!

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Jan believes in karma and the power of networking.

"Talk to as many people as possible. Most people are kind enough to share their time and advice," he says.

He also recommends tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to get a clear picture of your business.

Crafting Success from Adversity

Jan’s journey shows how setbacks can lead to new opportunities.

Through Ginger Jack, he’s inspiring healthier living while building a sustainable business.

His mission?

Making a positive impact, one bottle at a time.

💬 Enjoyed this story? Show your support by liking or commenting on our post. Every interaction helps us grow and share more inspiring stories like this one!

Jan’s Recommendations

• People: Wout Van Aert

• Podcasts: The Miracle Morning and Jeroen Leenders

• Books: Getting Things Done and The Miracle Morning

• Currently listening: Mayer Hawthorne and Kapitein Winokio—now that his kids have figured out how to play Spotify in the car.

• Favorite spots in Antwerp: His favorite restaurant is Piétrain. He also enjoys comedy shows, concerts, and hitting the nearby bars afterwards.

Antwerpreneur-to-Antwerpreneur

Question from Laurent to Jan: Looking back at how far you’ve come, what would you do differently as advice to someone just starting out?

Jan admits he wanted to be structured from the start.

In reality?

It was chaotic.

The early days were hectic, and the pace hasn’t slowed down.

Looking back, Jan emphasizes the importance of tracking things early to build good habits. This foundation makes it easier to stay organized and keep them going.

Want to Connect with Jan?

Connect with him on LinkedIn or stop by Ginger Jack’s office!

📍 From Our Readers

In our welcome email, we ask new subscribers to share their favorite café in Antwerp. Here's what some of our readers had to say:

Boris Bijlstra: Butchers Coffee

Elias Van Loon: Berlin

💎 Quiz Question

Which of the following are the key health benefits of ginger?

A) Increases energy levels, lowers blood pressure, and improves vision

B) Helps with weight loss, improves skin health, and enhances sleep quality

C) Reduces stress, prevents hair loss, and promotes bone health

D) Has anti-inflammatory properties, boosts your immune system, and is good for digestion.

_{You can find the answer at the end}

🎁 Bonus for Our Subscribers

As a special thank you for being part of our journey, Antwerpreneurs has teamed up with Ginger Jack for an exclusive holiday promotion.

You’ll get the code in your inbox tomorrow.!

A big thanks to Jan for making it happen. 🎉

Pura Vida! 🦥
Jose

P.S. Do you have an Antwerpreneur you'd like to see featured in a future issue? Reply to this email and let us know!

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Answer: D) Has anti-inflammatory properties, boosts your immune system, and is good for digestion.