Average Rob Seeks Fan Loans for Fries Chain Expansion
Belgian content creator Average Rob is turning to his fans for financial backing, launching a crowdlending campaign to raise between €500,000 and €1 million for the expansion of his fries chain La Patate. The unconventional financing approach, set to open on the Winwinner platform on September 9, offers investors a 5.5 percent gross annual interest rate — but financial experts are warning of significant risks.
The Campaign
La Patate, which currently operates two locations in Antwerp and Leuven, aims to fund a rapid expansion across Belgium. A third outlet in Ostend is scheduled to open by the autumn school break, with two more locations in the pipeline. The company’s long-term ambition is to operate more than 20 locations across Belgium within four years, according to VRT NWS.
The campaign offers two loan types: a standard subordinated loan with a 5.5 percent gross annual interest rate over four years (minimum investment of €500), and a Winwinlening — a Flemish government-backed loan with a 4.5 percent gross annual interest rate over five years (minimum investment of €2,500, up to €75,000) that includes a 30 percent government guarantee. Investors also receive a “Frequent Fryer” card entitling them to one free portion of fries per week for a year.
“I have been knighted into the Order of the Golden Fry Bag, but you don’t build a castle alone,” Average Rob said in the campaign announcement. “There is still plenty of room at our round table. This is the first concept where I can actively involve my community.”
Ambitious Growth Plans
La Patate BV was founded in 2025 with €500,000 in starting capital and has already secured more than €1 million in bank financing from KBC for its first three locations. The company expects revenue of €1.8 million in its first extended fiscal year (2026), with a negative EBITDA of -€0.1 million, reflecting startup costs. Projections for 2027 show revenue of €7.8 million and EBITDA of €0.8 million as six additional locations open.
The chain is backed by an experienced investor group, including tech entrepreneurs Gilles Mattelin and Jorn Vanysacker, hospitality group MTM, and Green Park Investment Partners — an investment firm led by former Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs bankers that holds the largest financial stake at 42.9 percent, as reported by Made in.
The first La Patate location opened on the De Keyserlei in Antwerp on May 8, followed by a second in Leuven’s Tiensestraat on August 14, where long queues of fans braved 36-degree heat for a taste of the brand’s classic Belgian fries fried in beef fat.
Expert Warnings
Financial expert Pascal Paepen is cautioning potential investors about the risks inherent in this type of crowdlending. “You must not forget that the hospitality sector, after construction, tops the bankruptcy statistics,” Paepen told VRT NWS. He advises against crowdlending in general, noting that the 5.5 percent interest rate itself signals a risky investment.
The Winwinner platform provides extensive risk disclosures: investors can lose part or all of their money if the company goes bankrupt, they are repaid last as subordinated creditors in financial difficulties, and they cannot exit their investment when they wish. The loans carry no collateral, and early repayment is only possible in limited circumstances.
Paepen does acknowledge the appeal of the offering. “A chain of fry shops is something different from the property developers who dominate the crowdlending market,” he said, calling La Patate a “fresh appearance” in the sector. “I am a fan of entrepreneurship and wish Average Rob much success. I also hope it all works out and that lenders ultimately get their money back.”
A Growing Trend
The campaign highlights a broader trend of influencers leveraging their fan communities for business financing. Average Rob, whose real name is Robert Van Impe, previously launched the beer brand Tout Bien and sports events Turbo, building a substantial following across Belgian media. His La Patate concept aims to bring the classic Belgian “frietkot” back to prime city-center locations.
As RetailDetail notes, the chain is positioning itself as a national brand with international ambitions. “Pizza is from Italy, sushi is from Japan. Fries are from Belgium, and the world should know it,” Average Rob said.
What to Watch
The crowdlending campaign opens September 9 and will run for 45 days. Whether Average Rob’s community of fans will translate into investors — and whether the ambitious expansion from three to 21 locations in three years proves sustainable — remains to be seen. The hospitality sector’s high failure rate, combined with the aggressive growth targets, makes this a venture worth watching closely.