From the theatre to founding Heya
Before founding Heya, Mélanie Lefebvre spent ten years working in a theatre, in front-of-house, public relations and communication. Working alongside artists and teams, she came to a clear conclusion: cultural professionals lack a simple tool to gain visibility, meet and collaborate.
Heya grew out of that reality on the ground: the Belgian platform that makes it easier for artists and cultural professionals to connect. A useful tool, built around the realities of the sector, and not just another social network.
Pitching Heya at Be Impact and KIKK Festival
This month, Mélanie presented Heya at two key events: Be Impact, then KIKK Festival. In front of juries and audiences from the worlds of innovation, impact and culture, she had a few minutes to tell the project’s story, convince and answer questions.
Demanding exercises, but invaluable ones. Each pitch put Heya in front of fresh eyes, sharpened its message and confirmed that the platform meets a real need.
Supported by RAISE HER
Growing a platform like Heya takes resources, which means finding funding. It’s a world with its own codes, far removed from the cultural sector. To find her way, Mélanie is supported by Raise Her, the latest programme created by the non-profit High Her, dedicated to female start-up founders.
The bootcamp launch marked the start of invaluable support: structuring the search for funding, knowing who to approach and how to present the project, and successfully raising funds, in other words convincing investors to back Heya’s development. Mélanie is part of a cohort of women with very diverse backgrounds and projects, each building her own company. A space for learning, but also for sharing and mutual support.
A growing community
Since the beta launched on 9 April 2026, 385 people have joined the platform. Their feedback shapes the tool’s development every day. And beyond the screen, the Heya Sessions, our multidisciplinary art evenings, keep creating real connections between artists and audiences.
What’s next?
Next step: finding investors to develop the monetisable version of Heya. The ambition remains the same: to make Heya an interconnected directory where artists and cultural professionals find each other, meet and collaborate. At the heart of the project lies one core value: equity. Giving everyone the same chance to be seen, whatever their background, discipline or network, with accessibility and diversity in mind.
Thank you to Be Impact, KIKK Festival and RAISE HER for their trust, and to the whole Heya community for their support. This adventure is yours too.
Want to join the adventure? Sign up on Heya and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn so you don’t miss what comes next.