Gauthier Van Malderen

An edtech entrepreneur from Belgium, Gauthier Van Malderen is disrupting the traditional academic publishing industry. He is the Founder and CEO of Perlego, the world’s first digital, subscription-based service for textbooks. Inspired by popular online streaming services, Perlego is a “Spotify for books,” offering a library of over one million e-textbooks, plus additional learning resources. The affordable alternative to traditional textbooks breaks down barriers to education for students and also supports the publishing industry’s digital transition.

 

Van Malderen has previously founded several other innovative businesses, including Iconic Matter, a marketing company for university-branded merchandise, and The Teenage Tourist, a social platform for students to exchange travel tips.

 

A champion of entrepreneurial ventures beyond his own, Van Malderen continues to support the Belgian early-stage tech ecosystem through investment, knowledge sharing, and mentorship as a member of Syndicate One, a group of experienced start-up stakeholders. He was also the 2024 Belgian representative of European Young Leaders, a new generation of leaders recognized by Friends of Europe as individuals with the ability to inspire action and generate change.

 

He is viewed as a visionary Belgian entrepreneur who has transformed personal frustration around access to educational materials into Perlego—a thriving, globally scaled edtech venture reshaping access to academic content.

 

With major investments, AI innovation, and a mission-driven mindset, he is leading the way toward a more accessible, sustainable future for education.