imec.istart is recognized as a world-leading accelerator for tech startups, as demonstrated through our consistently high rankings by UBI Global. We are delighted that our success has been achieved through a highly founder-centric acceleration program, and through our investment funds.
Even though no environmental or social characteristics are promoted by imec.istart Fund NV in accordance with article 8 of Regulation (EU) no. 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector (“SFDR”) and imec.istart Fund NV does not have sustainable investments as its purpose in accordance with article 9 of the SFDR, we do believe that, in order to make good investments, ESG has always been intrinsic of our way of working, as part of our drive towards making positive impact.
While imec.istart does take ESG risk and negative impact into account as part of its holistic evaluation of a startup project application, we do not formally integrate an assessment of sustainability risks in our decision-making process for imec.istart Fund NV.
Startups operating at such an early stage where we typically engage with them may not yet have a comprehensive view, nor the necessary data on their impact nor on any material unintended consequences their business may have, nor does imec.istart Fund NV have the organizational capacity to perform a sophisticated due diligence or detailed analysis on the startup’s behalf of its (potential) risks.
We are aware that our investment decisions, as well as our portfolio entities’ activities may have an impact on ESG factors. However, for the purpose of article 4 of the SFDR, imec.istart Fund NV does not consider formally the adverse impacts of our investment decisions on all ESG factors.
Startups operating at such an early stage where we typically engage with them may not yet have a comprehensive view, nor the necessary data on their impact nor on any material unintended consequences their business may have, nor does imec.istart Fund NV have the organizational capacity to perform a sophisticated due diligence or detailed analysis on the startup’s behalf of its (potential) principal adverse impacts.
At a portfolio level, we note – but do not quantifiably measure, nor do we foresee having the capacity to accurately measure anytime soon – that principal adverse impacts mainly relate to energy and resource use, data processing and storage, workforce management and protection, and corporate governance.
imec.istart Fund NV does not have an obligation to have a formal remuneration policy in accordance with article 40 and following of the Belgian law of 19 April 2014 on alternative entities for collective investments and their managers. As imec.istart Fund NV does not have a formal remuneration policy, there are no sustainability risks to be considered in that context.