Founded just over three years ago, AxonJay’s mission is to make artificial intelligence accessible to every company, regardless of their size or needs. Jean-Philippe Schepens van Thiel, CEO and co-founder, brings strong entrepreneurial experience to the table, having previously successfully exited 3 scale-ups and led an innovation department for a Tier1 Data company. The idea to create AxonJay came from a desire to make AI more usable and better suited to the real needs of businesses.
Today, in a highly competitive AI market, AxonJay stands out. “There are a lot of AI companies, but very few do it our way.” Their approach is based on result transparency, ease of use, and performance that even small businesses can access. “AI shouldn’t be reserved for companies with a bag full of money or an army of data scientists,” Jean-Philippe insists. At the heart of their tech is a system that translates data into signals while consuming up to 80% less energy than traditional methods a more sustainable path that earned them Google’s title of 2023 Cloud global Startup of the Year.
But AxonJay is more than just technology it’s about a strong internal culture built on shared values. Every team member signs a manifesto before joining “the tribe,” as they call it. It includes principles such as respect, sustainability, transparency, and individual responsibility. “We want to attract people who share our values.” The tribe, spread across the globe, gathers every ten weeks for a ‘track week’a time to live and work together. This unique working style attracts a lot of spontaneous applications.
When it comes to environmental impact, AxonJay walks the talk. From choosing a historic building in the Royal Gallery for their offices, to using second-hand furniture and committing to zero carbon footprint, sustainability is embedded in daily life.
“We don’t just want to do tech, we want to do it right.”
For Jean-Philippe, entrepreneurship is not just about having a great idea: “Everyone has ideas. What matters is execution—again and again.” He also speaks openly about solitude & stress management, and the need for deep passion to stay on course amid constant uncertainty. “It’s passion that gets me out of bed each morning. I want to use deep tech to contribute to a better world.”
He shares a piece of advice he’s passed on to his sons: “Be ready to learn, unlearn, and relearn constantly.” For him, the ability to question one’s own knowledge is the key to future success.
And if he could have dinner with anyone? No name in particular, but a profile: someone deeply creative, be it in science, art, or writing. A mind capable of seeing “other dimensions,” as he puts it. Today, perhaps it would be Belgian artist Charles Kaisen, who exhibited origami artwork in the Royal Galleries. What inspires him in these people is their way of coming to an idea and transforming it into something tangible, a different way of thinking that resonates with AxonJay’s DNA.
For those still hesitant about AI, he reminds us: “Technology is like a hammer. It can destroy or build. It’s up to us to choose.” Jean-Philippe describes himself as a technopositivist, convinced that innovation can and must serve everyone.
And with AxonJay, he fully intends to prove it.
