AI Inspiration & Strategic Partnership

AI doesn't begin with tools,
it begins with the right questions.

MindSparks is the independent sparring partner who steps into the boardroom and puts the questions on the table that shape the direction of your AI strategy. Because technology follows vision, never the other way around.

Contact us → Discover our approach
The problem

Implementation without philosophy

Companies start with tools and training long before the fundamental questions have been asked. What role may AI play towards employees, clients and suppliers? Pioneer or follower? How do we weigh security against speed? Those questions get left untouched, with predictable consequences.

Adoption is exploding 81%

of Belgian SMEs use AI today. A jump from 8% in 2024 to 81% in 2026.

Exact SME Barometer 2026 · UNIZO
But without a compass 51%

of those same SMEs don’t know how to deploy AI strategically in day-to-day operations.

Exact SME Barometer 2026 · UNIZO
The question is not whether we use AI. The question is whether we know what we want from it.
In numbers

The Belgian reality, evidenced

Six numbers that sharpen the paradox of AI adoption.

58.8%

Flemish companies use AI

of Flemish companies use at least one AI technology today. Nearly double compared to 2023.

UGent AI Barometer 2025
72.5%

Knowledge gap blocks progress

cite the lack of knowledge, skills and experience as the largest barrier to AI adoption.

UGent AI Barometer 2025
4×

The SME gap

Nearly 1 in 2 large Belgian companies use AI. Among SMEs it’s four times lower. Those who move now close the gap.

Agoria 2025
80%

Investment without return

of organisations see no tangible impact on bottom-line results from generative AI.

McKinsey State of AI 2025
5%

Future-built realise value

of companies actually realise AI value at scale. 60% remain laggards with minimal return.

BCG Value Gap 2025
37%

Surface-level use

of organisations still use AI superficially, without any real change to existing processes.

Deloitte State of AI 2026
We can delegate thinking. Understanding, we cannot.
Dominiek Henckaerts
Dominiek Henckaerts
Who we are

Meet Dominiek

Dominiek Henckaerts is the voice behind MindSparks. Twelve years of entrepreneurial experience in IT training through Multimedi, a background in economics, and the philosophical depth he develops in his book De Mens in de Machine (The Human in the Machine).

That rare combination of practice, technology and philosophy is what he brings into every boardroom where he is the sparring partner.

“The human takes the philosopher’s seat. AI executes. Sometimes the human does the work, even when AI could.” Dominiek Henckaerts
What we do

Inspire | Guide | Educate

Three pillars that together cover the entire journey, from initial awareness to structural anchoring. Each pillar stands on its own. The real impact appears when an organisation moves through all three.

01
Inspire

Making AI tangible for leaders

This is the heart of MindSparks. Dominiek brings AI to life for decision-makers. Not with technical jargon, but with strategic insight and a clear narrative.

  • Keynotes and talks at events and corporate days
  • Interactive workshops for management teams
  • Vision sessions for executive committees
  • One-on-one conversations with business leaders
02
Guide

Strategic sparring and partnership

After inspiration, the real work begins. MindSparks steps in as your sparring partner. Not as a consultancy that delivers a report and leaves, but as a thinking partner who joins you in the boardroom and helps put the hard questions on the table.

  • Reflect | philosophical sparring with leadership
  • Understand | AI Maturity Scan and process mapping
  • Plan | roadmap, Lean Stack and pilot plan
  • Realise | pilot, coaching and scaling
03
Educate

Training and knowledge transfer

When a Guide track shows that teams need specific skills, we fill that gap directly through Multimedi. Not a separate training programme, but targeted knowledge transfer embedded in the strategic framing.

  • AI training tailored to the maturity level
  • Hands-on training on the chosen Lean Stack tools
  • Ambassador programme: key people as internal AI coaches
Our approach

Four principles, seven phases

Four principles form our foundation. A journey of seven phases brings it to life.

📈

The 20/80 Rule

Successful companies spend 20% on tools and 80% on the foundations: philosophy, people, processes and data quality.

🔍

Process-First

Map workflows and find bottlenecks first. Choose tools later. We look for repetition, volume and structured output.

⚙

Lean Stack

Smartly integrate affordable, proven tools rather than build custom mega-systems. We spar with you on which tools genuinely fit your organisation. Vendor-independent, because we sell nothing.

🚀

Pilot-to-Platform

Controlled 4- to 8-week pilots with measurable KPIs. Successful pilots scale into an integrated knowledge graph.

Two building blocks that make the difference
🧰

What is a Lean Stack?

A combination of affordable, proven tools connected through integration layers. Microsoft Copilot, Claude or ChatGPT as the AI layer. Power Automate, Copilot Studio, Zapier or Make as the connective tissue. SharePoint, Notion or Airtable as the data foundation. Off-the-shelf instead of custom build.

Why it works for SMEs: for those already on Microsoft 365, Copilot is a natural route. For those seeking more flexibility, a vendor-independent combination works just as well. We help you decide which stack genuinely fits your organisation.

🔗

What is MCP?

MCP stands for Model Context Protocol, an open standard that lets AI models securely connect to your own systems. Think of it as the USB-C for AI: one plug that lets AI talk to your email, calendar, CRM or accounting software.

Why it matters: no more expensive custom integrations. For SMEs it means AI can finally work with your data, not just general knowledge. A foundation that still works two years from now.

The journey in 7 phases
1
Inspire

Keynote that opens eyes.

2
Reflect

Philosophical sparring with leadership.

3
Understand

AI Maturity Scan and process mapping.

4
Plan

Roadmap built on the 20/80 rule.

5
Pilot

4 to 8 weeks with real data.

6
Coach

Aligning leadership, coaching teams.

7
Scale

Pilot-to-Platform: structural advantage.

De Mens in de Machine — Dominiek Henckaerts
Be the first to know

De Mens in de Machine

Ten philosophers, one question: how do we live with AI? Dominiek's book brings their thinking together into a thoughtful framework for entrepreneurs and leaders who refuse to treat AI as a gadget, but as a decision with fundamental consequences.

  • The key insights in writing — free
  • The podcast with the book's content — free
  • First in line when the book is released
Sign me up →

No spam. One short form, and you'll receive everything as soon as it's ready.

Why MindSparks

What sets us apart

⚖

Honest & Independent

No vendor partnerships, no commissions. We only advise what genuinely adds value — even if that means AI is not the answer right now.

📚

Philosophical depth

Dominiek's book De Mens in de Machine forms the intellectual foundation. That depth translates into sharper questions and more considered answers.

✨

Boutique with depth

A select group of clients we work with deeply. Quality over quantity, impact over revenue.

Who we work with

We work with a select group of clients

MindSparks aims for quality over quantity. We don't seek every client — we seek the organisations where our approach truly resonates. For each engagement we look for five qualities.

01

Belief in AI

The conviction that AI implementation will be critical to the future and survival of organisations.

02

Open mind

Willingness to question your own assumptions and let other perspectives in.

03

Broad outlook

The openness to approach AI broadly and translate it into sustainable policy, not as a one-off experiment.

04

Methodology fit

Business leaders and organisations where our approach — inspiration, introspection, synthesis, implementation and care for the human — resonates.

05

Investment readiness

The willingness to free up an appropriate budget for thoughtful AI implementation.

Also

For speakers, conferences and business clubs

Industry associations and event organisers looking for inspiring AI speakers with a thoughtful narrative and a methodology that works.

Contact us

Let's start with a conversation

Tell us briefly who you are and what you are looking for. Dominiek will get in touch personally.

or email directly to