Barely two years ago, Jarne Bogaert (25) graduated as a civil engineer from Ghent University. Today, he and two fellow students run the Ghent-based AI company Polysense, which helps food companies produce less waste.
Their technology analyzes potatoes in real time, allowing machines to operate more precisely and reducing raw material loss during the production of chips and fries. Polysense has since outgrown its startup phase. Surprisingly enough, Jarne owes its success to a student association centered around a racing car.
In short
- Jarne Bogaert graduated from Ghent University in 2023 as a civil engineer.
- He founded Polysense with two fellow students in 2022.
- They help food companies reduce waste through artificial intelligence.
Dare to explore. “In 2020, I joined UGent Racing. A completely new project that really gained momentum when, after all the lockdown misery, we were able to start building our first self-driving electric racing car. In the final year of my studies, as a team leader, I had the opportunity to manage 80 people and participate in international competitions. That's where I discovered my passion for entrepreneurship and innovation. I met Yarne De Munck and Lucas Van Dijck, the co-founders of Polysense. And tech entrepreneur Peter Hinssen, who gave our start-up a huge boost. Many of the Polysense technologies are also linked to the car we built back then. Even now that I'm no longer with UGent Racing, I enjoy continuing to follow the team. Seeing how our legacy lives on, how others are now making it evolve: that's the best part.”
Dare to jump. “Even before I graduated, Yarne De Munck asked me to start a business together. I hesitated for quite a while, because a startups come with risks. Ultimately, I decided to give it a try. If it didn't work out, I'd find another path. I haven't regretted it for a moment.”
The civil engineering program needs to be broader. "At UGent Racing, I learned a tremendous amount about management, organization, team building, and leading people. I'm reaping the benefits of that every day. As a civil engineer, there's a good chance you'll end up in a management position. I think the program should focus more on those essential skills and broader societal issues."
Cherish a good crisis. "If you run into a problem and have no idea how to solve it, grab it with both hands (laughs). That's another thing I learned at UGent Racing. When we were competing in a race in the Netherlands, a storm completely destroyed our tent. You have to make quick decisions: how do you get everyone to safety? Do you continue the race? How do you get everyone on the same page while you're just trying something out yourself? I learned a lot from that."
… and cherish your study friends. "A few fellow students I met during my very first class at Ghent University are still my best friends. They largely shaped who I am today. With the ‘burgi’s’, you’re immediately thrown to the lions: after just three weeks, you have your first exam. That shared fate probably helps in forging friendships. Studying together can be very bonding (laughs).”
No two potatoes are the same. “Every potato differs in shape, size, skin thickness, and starch and sugar content. But the standard production process barely takes this into account. This variation in raw materials results in a lot of waste, for example, at French fry producers. Fries are fried too long, too short, too hard, or too soft, are full of black spots, or still have their skins on. With Polysense, we try to adjust the parameters more intelligently using artificial intelligence. Our cameras and sensors rapidly monitor the entire process, allowing machines to operate more accurately and reducing waste. We do this for Agristo and Roger & Roger, the parent company of Croky, as well as for other companies that work with meat, vegetables, and fruit, among other products."
"Ghent University is the ideal talent pool for us. We enjoy collaborating on bachelor's and master's theses and internships. I stay in touch with some of our professors, and many of our new employees are Ghent University alumni."
Profit and systainability do match. “What was previously discarded can now be put back on the shelves. That means both economic and ecological gain. For us, it was essential to prioritize that positive impact: there's nothing vague about it. Based on the idea that we wanted to combine sustainability and AI, we tried all sorts of projects. That's how we ultimately ended up in the food industry and slowly but surely found our focus. Many AI applications lack that societal dimension, but we believe that's precisely where the future lies.”
Don't say "university," say "talent pool." "Ghent University is the ideal talent pool for us. We enjoy collaborating on bachelor's and master's theses and internships. I stay in touch with some of our professors, and many of our new employees are Ghent University alumni. We now have 21 employees and continue to recruit heavily."
Ghent is heaven for a startup. "There are many founders in Ghent who are experiencing the same struggles and are happy to help each other. At the same time, we're looking ahead. An investment round in June raised €2 million and should help us gain a foothold in other European countries. I'm quite interested in moving abroad someday."
Jarne Bogaert graduated from Ghent University in 2023 as a civil engineer with a master's degree in electrical engineering. During his studies, Jarne became team leader of UGent Racing, which competed in international competitions with a self-driving racing car. With two fellow students, he founded Polysense in 2022. Their company uses artificial intelligence to help food companies reduce waste.
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