Jean-Jacques Degroof

Jean-Jacques Degroof, a Belgian academic, investor, and philanthropist, studies entrepreneurship and innovation. An internationally recognized expert in his field, Degroof has taught at universities in Europe and the United States and conducted research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jean-Jacques Degroof also heads a charitable foundation and has actively involved himself in angel investing.

After he earned a Master’s in Labor Studies from the Catholic University of the Louvain in Belgium, Degroof spent a decade working in the banking and finance industry. In 1993, he earned a Master of Science in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He remained at MIT for doctoral studies in Management and conducted post-doctoral research through an affiliation with the MIT Industrial Performance Center.

Jean-Jacques Degroof’s research has earned him international recognition. In 2007, his paper “Spinning off New Ventures from Academic Institutions in Areas with Weak Entrepreneurial Infrastructures” was one of the Social Science Research Network’s top 10 downloads. This recognition [?]demonstrates the influence Degroof and his research have had on academics around the world. He has also lectured and taught courses at universities such as the University of Louvain, the Vlerick School of Management, and the University of Liege in Belgium; and the Ecole des Mines and the Audencia Management School in Nantes, France.

Jean-Jacques Degroof has used his academic and investment talents to advance civic and charitable efforts. Through his report “Les Determinants de la Croissance des Spin-offs Universitaires,” he advised the regional government of Wallonia in Belgium. He has served as a founding member of the Boston-based Hub Angel Group. As President of the Asbl Jean Degroof–Marcel Van Massenhove Foundation, he oversees financial and day-to-day operations of the charitable organization.