hub.info: 15 years of guidance for Brussels entrepreneurs

2010: the first calls 

The 1819 service and its free phone line launch nearly eight years before Wallonia’s equivalent, 1890. Two advisors take turns answering about 1,000 calls per year, with a clear mission: offer neutral first-line advice and direct people to the right services. 

2013: formal partnership with Actiris 

hub.info signs its first agreement with Actiris to organise info sessions for jobseekers and strengthen the link between employment and entrepreneurship. The partnership is renewed after the creation of hub.brussels in 2018. 

2017: opening of the physical helpdesk 

A major step towards accessibility: entrepreneurs can now walk in without an appointment at Chaussée de Charleroi 110. A key service for those who prefer in-person contact or are less comfortable using the phone. 

2018: integration into hub.brussels 

hub.brussels is created through the merger of impulse.brussels, atrium.brussels and Brussels Invest & Export. 1819 becomes hub.info and gets the resources to evolve into a strong, neutral and accessible front door to the support ecosystem, linking over 240 public and private partners. 

This aligns with hub.brussels’ core mission: to simplify access to entrepreneurship support and coordinate its ecosystem. 

2020: the Covid-19 crisis 

An unprecedented year: call volume increases fivefold, reaching 45,000. About 30 colleagues from hub.brussels join temporarily to help. Opening hours are extended and new tools launched on the fly—like quick coaching, targeted online content and sector-specific support. Advisors are trained to manage psycho-social risks. 

2021: hub.info goes mobile 

Despite the service’s success, some audiences still lack access to info or don’t see entrepreneurship as a real option. hub.info takes to the streets with a mobile infobus, bringing support directly to underserved neighbourhoods. The service also joins Bruxelles Formation’s Formtruck for additional outreach. 

In October 2022, regular twice-monthly sessions also launch at the Cité des Métiers in Madou. 

2022: war in Ukraine and energy crisis 

hub.info quickly aggregates resources related to the war in Ukraine and its impact on Brussels-based businesses—especially rising energy costs and available support schemes. 

It also launches a dedicated info page for newly arrived Ukrainian refugees. 

More than 70 multilingual information sessions (EN, UA, ES, AR) are held in collaboration with partner organisations, helping reach an increasingly diverse audience. 

2025 and beyond: staying human 

With 240+ partners, a trilingual website (24,000 monthly visitors), 25,000 newsletter subscribers and 250 events per year, hub.info has grown into a collective service. Each piece of advice draws on the strengths of the wider network. 

As AI reshapes how we access information, hub.info continues to offer expert, neutral and human-centred support. 

The future of the service will be written together—with our partners, and always with the same goal in mind: ensuring that every entrepreneur has access to clear, tailored and trustworthy guidance.