Belgium’s economic mission led by H.R.H. Princess Astrid lands in San Francisco in October 2025. Clear goal: connect Belgian founders and scale-ups with California decision-makers across tech, health, clean energy, film and luxury. Through official meetings, sector panels and targeted B2B, it’s the right moment to enter the U.S. market while structuring cross-border investments via Luxembourg (SOPARFI, SPF) and tapping local bridges in San Francisco and Los Angeles. This friendly, hands-on guide shows where to meet, how to structure Belgium–Luxembourg–U.S. flows, which sectors are hot, and the simple steps to turn handshakes into pilots, clients and investors.
Why are San Francisco and California strategic for Belgium?
San Francisco and the Bay Area (Silicon Valley) concentrate capital, talent and enterprise buyers. Los Angeles adds powerhouse media-entertainment, sports tech and mobility. That mix lets Belgian companies land partners, pilot customers and investors — moving fast from pitch to production.
- Access to VC, corporate VC, family offices and industrial partners.
- Deep ecosystems in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, climate tech, med-tech/biotech and fintech.
- Straightforward entity setup for local ops (Delaware/California LLC, C-Corp).
What are the concrete benefits for Belgian entrepreneurs joining the mission?
Beyond photo ops, the mission creates practical meetings. You leave with prioritized prospects, investor intros and potential pilots. Structurally, combine a U.S. subsidiary for operations with a Luxembourg holding for cross-border investment and governance.
- Qualified meetings with clusters, incubators, chambers of commerce and local authorities.
- Visibility through events, panels, power lunches and sector showcases.
- Robust structuring: SOPARFI/RAIF/SCSp in Luxembourg plus a U.S. entity in California/Delaware.
How should you structure flows between Belgium, Luxembourg and the United States?
Keep it simple: your U.S. subsidiary handles operations — it sells, signs, invoices and hires. The Luxembourg holding company (SOPARFI) owns the group and can invest, refinance or bring in co-investors. For private wealth objectives, an SPF efficiently manages financial assets. This tri-country setup stays flexible, compliant and aligned with OECD and EU standards.
- Luxembourg SOPARFI FAQs
- SOPARFI 2025: Tax and Key Points
- Modernization of the SPF Regime
- SOPARFI or SPF? Choose by Objective
- SOPARFI for Private Equity
- Register Your Company in California
Learn more about the Belgian market
Belgium remains a strategic entry point into the European Union for entrepreneurs and investors. With its central location, multilingual workforce, strong financial system and open economy, it’s a preferred destination for setting up companies and managing cross-border structures. Explore these Damalion insights to understand business, taxation and company formation in Belgium:
- Register Your Limited Liability Company in Belgium (SRL/BV)
- Register Your Company in Belgium — Step by Step
- Understand Corporate Income Tax in Belgium
- Belgium Company Formation — Jurisdiction Overview
- Guide to Creating an LLC (SRL/BV) in Belgium
Which cities and districts should you target for meetings?
Go where your prospects already cluster. In San Francisco: SoMa (B2B software, platforms), Mission Bay (biotech/med-tech), Financial District (banks, VC), Embarcadero (HQs). In Los Angeles: Burbank/Culver City (studios), Santa Monica/Venice (SaaS/consumer), Downtown (banks, family offices). Back in Belgium, sync follow-ups with regional hubs (Brussels-Capital, Flanders, Wallonia).
| City | Population (approx.) | Key business districts | Growth sectors |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | ~815,000 (city) | SoMa, Financial District, Mission Bay, Embarcadero | AI, SaaS, fintech, biotech, climate tech |
| Los Angeles | ~3.8M (city) | Burbank, Culver City, Santa Monica, Downtown | Media/entertainment, sports tech, e-commerce, mobility |
| Luxembourg City | ~134,000 | Kirchberg, Gare, Cloche d’Or | Holding, funds, private banking, fintech |
Which market trends should you watch during the mission?
California corporates want tangible solutions now: responsible AI, carbon-footprint reduction, integrated cybersecurity, industrial automation and practical digital health. Belgian teams shine here — your edge is delivering fast, clean and compliant.
- Applied AI for productivity, quality and data security.
- Climate tech in storage, sensors and energy management.
- Med-tech/biotech in diagnostics, imaging and clinical data.
- Fintech/compliance for KYC/AML, B2B payments and treasury.
Real estate and soft-landing: where to set up without missteps?
For a light footprint, pick flexible offices near transit (BART/Muni in SF, Metro in LA). Developers and investors are converting offices to mixed uses (lab/biotech in Mission Bay, studios/production in LA). That opens opportunities for negotiated rents and pop-up “innovation labs”.
How-to: the key steps to turn the mission into results
Run this simple, actionable plan before, during and after your trip.
- Define three short, quantified value propositions.
- Prioritize 20 target accounts (clients/partners) with names and roles.
- Book eight 30-minute slots close to event venues.
- Prepare an eight-slide deck and a five-minute demo.
- Structure investment via SOPARFI/SPF according to your needs.
- Open a California entity or appoint a registered agent if required.
- Lock a follow-up schedule at D+7, D+21 and D+60 with offers and pilots.
Who should you contact to accelerate now?
Need structuring + banking + governance? Our team introduces you to help you start your business in San Francisco. Please contact your Damalion expert now.
FAQ – Economic mission in San Francisco and Luxembourg structuring
- Why is the mission led by Princess Astrid useful?
Because it brings California decision-makers and Belgian companies together for high-value meetings, panels and targeted B2B. - Which Belgian sectors are best positioned?
B2B software, applied AI, climate tech, med-tech/biotech, fintech, engineering. - Do I need to create a U.S. entity?
Yes if you invoice locally or hire; an LLC or C-Corp is standard. - Where should I place my office in San Francisco?
SoMa or the Financial District for B2B, Mission Bay for biotech. - Is a SOPARFI suitable for fundraising?
Yes, it facilitates onboarding investors and managing shareholdings. - What is an SPF used for?
Managing private financial assets efficiently within a clear framework. - How do I protect intellectual property?
Register trademarks and patents, sign NDAs and frame technology transfers. - What are common mistakes?
Arriving without a follow-up plan, without a clear offer, without local partners. - Do California family offices invest in Europe?
Yes, especially with proof of traction and a solid governance framework. - Can I open a bank account quickly?
Yes, with complete KYC/AML and a clear structure. - What about public grants?
Helpful to kick-start, but market demand and clients drive success. - How long to sign a first pilot?
Between 4 and 12 weeks if the value proposition is sharp and prioritized. - Should I raise funds before the mission?
Not mandatory, but a bridge or SAFE can speed up testing. - How to manage cross-border taxation?
Anticipate with a Luxembourg holding and dedicated advice. - Who can support me end-to-end?
Damalion: Luxembourg structuring, banks, resident directors and U.S. links.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor | External links are ownership of their respective owners and do not imply any economic link or interest with Damalion corporation.
10 best things to do in San Francisco during a 24 hours business trip!
- Embarcadero & Ferry Building — quick coffee and Bay views.
- Moscone Center — meetings and trade shows.
- Mission Bay — biotech vibes (UCSF).
- Salesforce Tower lobby — B2B rendezvous near transit.
- Pier 39 — fast break between meetings.
- SFMOMA — 45 minutes of design inspiration.
- Golden Gate Bridge — photo-op and fresh air.
- Chinatown — quick lunch, networking.
- Caltrain to Palo Alto — jump to Silicon Valley if schedule allows.
- SF Chamber of Commerce — local business resources.
10 Best Hotels in San Francisco, USA
Short on time? Book one of these proven business-friendly stays with fast access to SoMa, the Financial District, and Embarcadero.
- Fairmont San Francisco (Nob Hill)
- Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero
- The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
- The St. Regis San Francisco (SoMa)
- Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel
- 1 Hotel San Francisco (Embarcadero)
- San Francisco Proper Hotel (Market Street)
- Hotel Drisco (Pacific Heights)
- Argonaut Hotel (Fisherman’s Wharf)
- The Clift Royal Sonesta (Union Square)
