What do you get when you bring together real estate, architecture, art, and entrepreneurship? For David Fonteyne and Philippe De Backer, the answer was Found & Baker. In 2017, the two entrepreneurs founded a real estate agency in Bruges with a clear ambition: not just to enter the real estate market, but to carve out their own niche within the luxury segment. Today, Found & Baker has grown into a real estate brand with offices in various regions of Belgium. Behind this growth are two entrepreneurs with different backgrounds but a striking number of shared interests.

From Bruges To A Luxury Realty Brand

Found & Baker was founded in Bruges in March 2017. The company began with a focus on luxury residential real estate. It specializes in unique residential properties such as villas, castles, mansions, and exclusive new-construction projects. 

In the early years, the company focused heavily on West Flanders, but it subsequently expanded its geographic presence. Today, Found & Baker operates from offices in Bruges, Sint-Martens-Latem, Brussels, Hasselt, and Antwerp, among other locations.

It is interesting to note that the company was originally founded with David Fonteyne’s Hills Invest and Philippe De Backer’s Berlaur as shareholders. The initial capital amounted to €100,000. 

This growth is in line with a broader market positioning. Found & Baker doesn’t just sell homes; the company strives to create a certain lifestyle and experience centered around real estate. On its website, it describes itself as a luxury real estate agency and showcases unique properties. The company even uses the slogan “The real estate agency with the most beautiful properties.”

That image is also reinforced by the way Found & Baker presents itself. Architecture, interior design, design, art, and lifestyle feature prominently in its communications. The company also publishes its own luxury magazine, which comes out twice a year with a circulation of 40,000 copies.

David Fonteyne: Real Estate As A Combination Of Buildings And People

One of the two founders is David Fonteyne, who currently serves as CEO of Found & Baker. His background is closely tied to entrepreneurship and real estate. He is involved with the company through Hills Invest; public corporate records list Hills Invest as a director, with Fonteyne as its permanent representative.

But anyone who looks at Fonteyne’s perspective on real estate will notice that he doesn’t approach the profession solely in terms of bricks and numbers. On the Found & Baker website, he emphasizes that, in his view, real estate is as much about people as it is about buildings. For him, a successful negotiation begins with transparency and should ultimately leave all parties feeling satisfied.

That human touch seems to be an important part of the company culture. After all, high-end real estate isn’t just about finding four walls and a roof. Buyers are often looking for a specific setting, architecture, history, and lifestyle. Sellers, on the other hand, want their property to be presented in the right way.

Philippe De Backer: From Interior Design To Real Estate

The second founder is Philippe De Backer. His professional background differs from Fonteyne’s. According to Found & Baker, De Backer trained as an interior architect but subsequently made the switch to the real estate sector. The company states that he has now been active in the sector for about twenty years.

That combination of interior design and real estate is interesting. After all, selling a luxury home requires more than just knowledge of the real estate market. It also involves understanding proportions, materials, architecture, light, interior design, and the way a home is experienced.

De Backer describes his own approach as personal and flexible. In his view, no two real estate cases are the same, and each client requires a specific approach. He believes that listening to clients’ stories and guiding them in the right direction based on his experience are key.

Two Entrepreneurs, One Vision

Perhaps that is a key element of Found & Baker’s success story: Fonteyne and De Backer come from different professional backgrounds, but share a clear interest in aesthetics.

In an interview marking Found & Baker’s fifth anniversary, the two founders spoke at length about their shared passion for art, architecture, and design. Fonteyne explained that his love for art was instilled in him from an early age and that his family were avid art collectors. The two described their shared interest in architecture, design, and art as a key reason why Found & Baker was ultimately founded.

That also explains why the brand feels more like a real estate lifestyle brand than a traditional real estate agency. The home is the product, but the presentation, photography, stories, architecture, and overall experience are an important part of the brand identity.

From Real Estate Agency To Brand

Found & Baker’s development thus illustrates an interesting evolution within the real estate sector. Whereas a traditional real estate agent primarily acts as an intermediary between buyer and seller, Found & Baker seeks to link real estate to a broader identity.

Furthermore, the company has not remained confined to its original base in Bruges. Its current offices in Bruges, Sint-Martens-Latem, Brussels, Hasselt, and Antwerp demonstrate how the brand has expanded its presence in various Belgian real estate markets.

Behind that expansion, the two original founders remain a visible presence. David Fonteyne and Philippe De Backer are still listed today as directors and as the faces of the company.

An Entrepreneurial Story That Goes Beyond Real Estate

Ultimately, the story of Found & Baker is also the story of two entrepreneurs who wanted to approach an existing industry from the perspective of their own interests. Fonteyne brings a strong focus on entrepreneurship, real estate, and the human side of negotiation. De Backer combines his experience in real estate with a background in interior architecture and a keen interest in aesthetics.

Together they are building a brand since 2017 that tries to represent real estate as a certain way of living. Van Brugge tot Brussel en van historische panden tot hedendaagse architectuur: Found & Baker heeft zijn plaats gezocht in het hogere segment van de Belgische vastgoedmarkt.

And maybe that is de core of their business: not only selling real estate, but the story, the architecture and the lifestyle associated with it.