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Ilona & Wim

We have founded businesses, acquired them, steered them through difficult times and helped them grow again. What we learned there about choosing and executing is what we bring to your table.

At the helm together since 2009

Two entrepreneurs, one course

We met in 2009. Ilona was a shareholder in a recruitment agency at the time. Wim had already founded and sold a few businesses; he started his first one at 21.

We have been in business together ever since. We built companies, acquired others, steered one through the COVID crisis and sold them again. We know what it feels like to make choices while customers, staff and day-to-day operations all pull at you.

With Seven Seas, we put that experience to work for other business owners. We help set the course and roll up our own sleeves.

Ilona StienersIlona StienersMarketing · recruitment · operationsWim Van CauterWim Van CauterSales · IT · finance

We shape vision and strategy together. For the hands-on work, we look at which of us is best placed.

Wim mainly takes on sales, IT and finance. Ilona focuses on marketing, recruitment and operations.

Our own businesses

What we bring, we have lived through ourselves

Fizzle, Staffing and Caractère were our own businesses, not clients. These are the steps that shaped us.

  1. 2009

    Meeting

    Ilona is a shareholder in a recruitment agency when we meet. Wim has already founded and sold several businesses.

  2. 2011

    Fizzle

    We found Fizzle together, our first joint business. The start of a series of companies we would build, acquire and sell together.

  3. 2016to 2018

    Staffing

    Through a management buy-out, we take over staffing company Staffing. We rework the commercial approach, set up how the branches run and how the figures are followed up, and steer on margin rather than volume alone. At the sale in 2018 the business turns over €30 million.

  4. 2020COVID crisis

    Caractère

    Shortly before COVID brings the travel sector to a standstill, we acquire tour operator Caractère. Instead of waiting it out, we rethink the business model: away from selling through hundreds of travel agencies, straight to the end customer, with Travel Atelier as a network for exclusive tailor-made trips.

    Caractère grows into a solidly profitable business. Trade magazine DVO wrote about it in January 2025.

    Read the DVO article (Dutch) →
  5. 2026

    Sale of Caractère

    In March we sell Caractère. Today we bring everything we learned along the way to Seven Seas.

Old nautical chart
Rope on the deck of a sailing boat

How we work with you

You work directly with the two of us. At the start, we agree who takes on what, what we do and what it costs.

If things turn out differently than planned, we adjust the agreement. We stay as long as we add value, and never longer than needed.

Set your course →On Board →Investing →

Get in touch

Ready for a conversation?

Book a no-obligation call about 'Set your course' for your business. We'll look together at whether this is the right approach.

Ilona or Wim will contact you personally.

The introductory meeting is free and takes place at your own premises.

Email info@seven-seas.be
Phone Wim: +32 472 65 52 15
Ilona: +32 473 86 14 10
Location Kasteelstraat 27C, 3890 Gingelom, Belgium Get directions →
Company number BE 0752.750.385

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