About Upgrade Estate

Business as usual is not for us

As passionate and determined entrepreneurs, we are building a well thought-out concept: housing for students, young professionals and companies with a unique integrated management and absolute focus on social & societal added value. We strive daily to increase our social impact in a value-driven context.

Discover our mission

Nele Van Damme & Koenraad Belsack
Founders & believers of Upgrade Estate

The members of the Management Team are committed to implementing the company's strategy and acting in accordance with its vision and values.

How is Upgrade Estate managed

40%

Returning
investors

Partnerships with
educational institutions

+110

Proud
medeMerkers

How it all started

1999

Food stall at
the Gentse Feesten

Upgrade Estate first saw the light of day as a business of (life & business) partners Koenraad Belsack and Nele Van Damme. They used the profit from their food truck with Keizer Karel Bread as a financial lever to buy an old townhouse and convert it into six student rooms. It left them wanting more...

2000

Spaghetti as a
connector

From the start, Nele and Koenraad connected with their tenants during the famous "spaghetti nights". It was immediately clear that students in digs develop a network for life. The student room itself was only the decor. Allowing students to connect in the common areas became a mission.

2012

Our concept

was established

Nele & Koenraad started their business in Ghent, where the number of students increased massively in a short time. It meant that they had to learn to think on a different scale. To be able to continually meet the quality requirements that student housing demands, they developed a first Upkot project in Ghent where they could combine everything: creating a community feeling through lovely, shared spaces in a sustainable context. Upkot was born...

2018

Go Your Own Way

Graduated Upkotters can now move into Upliving. We are happy to give them a kick-start in their professional career in a pleasant living environment.

Upliving.be

2021

Good vibes only

Launch of Upoffiz, because companies also have certain accommodation needs that we meet with this state-of-the-art office concept.

Upoffiz.be

Our logo,
our pilars

Our +110 medeMerkers drive our business. They afford us the opportunity to enter other markets in the future and to expand as a business. Their enthusiasm has a positive impact on customer and tenant satisfaction.