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Helpper strengthens the FTI Alliance: connecting care and community 

In a world where the pressure on caregivers continues to grow, Helpper offers a refreshing, people-powered solution.

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As a leading platform in the sharing economy, Helpper connects people who want to help with those who need support – offering a scalable way to ease the pressure on informal caregivers and prevent burnout.

 

A modern take on community care 

Helpper doesn’t provide medical care. Instead, it fills the gap between professional services and everyday needs, like picking up prescriptions, helping in the garden, or simply offering company. “The idea was born from personal experience,” says Leslie Vlerick, CEO of Helpper. “When the founder’s father was diagnosed with ALS, the medical care was covered, but the non-medical support was hard to organize, even with four adult children. That’s when we realized: there has to be a better way.” 

 

Through Helpper’s platform and app, people with a help request can easily connect with screened, local helppers. These helppers receive a modest compensation under Belgium’s sharing economy framework, making it a win-win: affordable support for those in need, and a meaningful side income for those who want to contribute. 

 

Relieving pressure, restoring balance 

The partnership with FTI is rooted in a shared ambition: preventing burnout by supporting people who juggle work and caregiving responsibilities. While FTI focuses on using technology to detect mental overload early via the Elli initiative, Helpper offers a practical solution, making everyday help more accessible, flexible, and local. 

 

“By offloading some of the non-medical care tasks, people regain breathing space,” says Leslie. “That space is essential to maintaining a healthy work-life balance and preventing long-term stress or absenteeism.” 

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    Leslie Vlerick, CEO of Helpper: “It’s about creating real, local networks again – something we’ve lost a bit in modern life."

Where technology meets community 

Helpper, founded in 2017, has already helped over 3,500 individuals across Flanders and Brussels. Many of the helppers are motivated by more than just the financial incentive. “We see beautiful stories emerge: friendships, long-term connections, even people going on holiday together,” Leslie shares. 

 

The platform is designed to be easy and respectful of privacy. Helpers can indicate their availability and preferred tasks, and users can choose who they want to reach out to. “It’s about creating real, local networks again – something we’ve lost a bit in modern life.” 

 

Frank Hamerlinck, CEO of FTI, emphasizes the value of this partnership: “Helpper brings a deeply human dimension to our innovation ecosystem. Their model shows that technology and community can go hand in hand to create real, lasting impact. At FTI, we want to help shape the healthcare of the future—more preventive, more connected, and more human. This partnership is a perfect example of that ambition” 

 

“We’ll continue shaping the partnership over the coming months, but just as our platform aims to create win-win situations, I see potential to support others through our insights – such as GDPR-compliant, aggregated data on help request trends or peak support times. This kind of information can offer valuable input for future wellbeing strategies,” Leslie concludes.