From innovation to impact: Frederick Pouders starts as CEO of In4Care Services bv
With Frederick , In4Care Services bv gets a CEO who brings experience from healthcare, entrepreneurship and innovation. His ambition is clear: not only to help develop innovations, but also to make them effective in practice. Together with In4Care Community vzw, we will continue to build a strong In4Care group and ecosystem in which innovation does not stop at an idea, but flows through to real impact.
“Bringing structure without stifling innovation”
You built a healthcare group of multiple facilities with Aldea Services. How does that experience help you at In4Care Services bv?
At Aldea I learned what it means to get several facilities operational and support them at the same time, each with its own dynamics, but all within one course. That requires process thinking, clear frameworks and above all: listening carefully to what is going on on the shop floor.
At In4Care Services bv, I see similar challenges, but with innovation projects. Each project has its own development phase and market potential. My role is to bring structure without stifling, so that innovations do not get stuck in the pilot phase, but take the step to sustainable market introduction.
This within the two pillars in which the In4Care group operates, namely the current healthcare system (getting healthy) and the (new) healthcare system within which we focus primarily on prevention and lifestyle (staying healthy).
You talk about pilot phase and market introduction. How do you see that?
Healthcare innovation too often suffers from “pilotitis”: technology that works but never really reaches the market. That’s because for too long people have been thinking only in terms of technology, and not enough in terms of use, value and scalability.
Within the In4Care group, I see a clear flow. Care discovery within In4Care Community vzw lays a strong foundation by detecting, piloting and validating innovations. In4Care Services bv builds on that to effectively land and scale up those innovations. Therein lies the key: thinking about value, applicability and scalability from the beginning.
No innovation without a business case.
“Eco before Ego”
Scalability and ecosystem are terms you often hear. What do you want to do differently in that?
Eco before ego. No one can do this alone. Innovation in healthcare requires collaboration between technology partners, healthcare organizations, policy makers and end users. It comes down to everyone doing what they are good at, within a clear framework. Not wanting to do everything yourself, but building something that works together.
That also means daring to let go when a partner has a better solution. Together you are stronger. Data helps with that. The better we can demonstrate that something works, the easier it becomes to convince other parties. My role is to strengthen existing collaborations and build new partnerships that complement each other.
You also gained experience with Watcherr. What do you take from that?
That timing is crucial. There is always a tension between development and market introduction. When do you keep investing in technology, and when do you shift to adoption and sales? That balance is essential. At In4Care Services bv, I want to help projects make that transition at the right time, with the right support.
What do you want to achieve in 2026 with In4Care Services bv?
There are three clear priorities.
- A market-proof-of-concept for the Health Kiosk, not only technically working but also effectively deployed, distributed in Flanders and to be found at e.g. local governments, pharmacies, department stores, fitness centers, mutual insurance companies with demonstrable results.
- The continued rollout of Health Arenas in Flanders.
- In addition, I want to consolidate partnerships: from loose collaborations to lasting relationships with clear agreements.
This will require and build out a strong operational team with experience in healthcare, sales and support of start-ups et al companies.
What do you expect from working with Nico De fauw, CEO of In4Care Community vzw?
That we complement each other. Nico carries the community and innovation incubation, I pull the market launch and scalability. We need to find a good rhythm: what is coming out of the community, what is ready for further development, and where are the opportunities?
It is important to me that we strengthen each other in what we are each good at, and together build an even stronger In4Care group and a story that rings true – both in content and in practice.
What attracts you to the mission of In4Care Services bv?
That we bridge the gap between innovation and impact. Great ideas abound in healthcare. What is often missing is guidance to really put them to work in practice with their own economic capacity. In4Care Services bv is that link. That actual impact attracts me.
What can our members be sure to know about you that they won’t immediately find on LinkedIn?
That I come from the elderly care background. That I have been on the floor, among my teams and in front of our residents.
I started as a physical therapist, in an industry in full transition, with frequent subsidy and legislative changes. At the same time, I saw how the expectations of residents and their surroundings evolved, often faster than what the framework allowed.
I found the emergence of the quality decree particularly fascinating because the legislature was once again looking for the person behind the resident.
Elder care is not about one pathology, but about people in a stage of life. I take that broad view with me. Care for me is not just about illness, but about how people live.
And even there, it always remains a search for balance.
What energizes you after a busy work week?
My family. There I can really recharge and take a break. It helps me put things in perspective and look back with fresh eyes. I feel strongly supported by my family, and that gives me the space to fully engage in my work.
One word that typifies you?
Doer: listening, setting direction, deciding and doing. For me, the power is in moving forward and adjusting where necessary.
“You don’t have to have invented the wheel to be a good driver.”
Finally, some quick picks.
| Excel or gut feeling? | Gut feeling, supported by excel. |
| First speaker or last word? | Last word, but engaging the conversation. |
| Prototype or business plan first? | Business plan. A good idea without a plan remains just a good idea. |
| Meeting or phone call? | Phone. Direct approach, but with note. |
| Build or optimize? | Optimize. You don’t have to have invented the wheel to be a good driver. |
