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imec.istart goes evergreen

Flemish Government and private partners convert imec.istart’s pre-seed fund into evergreen fund

Program news - 15 Jul 2020

In 2017, the imec.istart Fund was established thanks to the Flemish Government, imec, ING, BNP Paribas Fortis, Telenet and Cronos Groep. With a starting capital of 12.5 million EUR, the fund could guarantee pre-seed funding for our selected startups until 2022.     

The Flemish Government and our strong private partners have now agreed to convert imec.istart Fund into an ‘evergreen’ fund, allowing us to support new startups in the long term. An extra 14.4 million EUR will consequently be injected into the fund.  

The initial pre-seed funding by imec.istart has an important leverage effect on attracting follow-up funding. Today, our startups have attracted more than 256 million EUR follow-up funding. This means that every euro invested by the imec.istart Fund generates 24 EUR funding through other sources. The initial investment and thorough support enable young startups to grow from a solid base. By giving the imec.istart Fund the evergreen status, the capital that returns form exits can be reinvested in the new generation of startups. 

Sven De Cleyn, manager of the imec.istart program and fund, explains the importance of the long term vision: “The results of our program prove that a long term investment in promising young technology startups pays off. Even in these difficult times, our startups continue to deliver satisfying results. Not a single portfolio company was urged to stop its activities due to the COVID-19 crisis, and a fair number still succeeds to grow and attract new resources by risk capital investors and banks. We are very pleased that the Flemish Government, as well as our private partners, underline the ambition to continue our way of working. By converting the imec.istart Fund into an evergreen fund, we can continue to help  new startups in becoming healthy, ambitious scale-ups.” 

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Autumn 2024 cohort

Meet the imec.istart Autumn 2024 cohort

Program news

New blood incoming! Let’s welcome six startups ready to shake things up. With access to funding, technology, expert mentorship, and a close-knit network that feels like family, these tech trailblazers are primed to turn bold ideas into reality. Let’s see what they’ll make happen! 

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imec.istart Autumn 2024 Open Call Statistics

Program news

On October 1st, we wrapped up our imec.istart Autumn 2024 open call. This moment marks more than just another round of applications—it’s a unique glimpse into the latest trends and ideas driving change in early-stage entrepreneurship. Our team has meticulously reviewed each submission, and we’re thrilled to welcome a new cohort of tech trailblazers to the imec.istart family. So, let’s dive in and take a first look at the remarkable submissions we’ve received!

The Growth Collective

Imec.istart, Start it @ KBC & NOA join forces to form The Growth Collective

Program news

Belgium’s startup scene is about to get a serious upgrade. Three major players—Start it @KBC, NOA (formerly Netwerk Ondernemen), and imec.istart—are teaming up to create ‘The Growth Collective’. This powerhouse collaboration combines their unique strengths to give startups and scaleups the best possible support. This initiative, prompted by VLAIO, aims to blend the top features of each program to better guide start-ups on their journey to success. Don’t worry, though—each organization will still continue their individual support programs.