Backed by over €160 million in regional investment capacity, the Belgian accelerator imec.istart is extending its operations into Spain, Germany and Bulgaria. This expansion brings the organization's startup acceleration programmes and investment activities to a total of six European countries, complementing its current footprint in Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy.
The initiative operates through a growing ecosystem of independently managed regional investment funds, currently valued at more than €160 million and projected to surpass €250 million by 2027. The underlying vision is straightforward: when founders move into new markets, they should encounter ready-made access to capital, expertise and networks rather than having to establish these resources from the ground up.
Since its establishment in 2011, imec.istart has nurtured fast-scaling companies including Octave, DataCamp and Payflip. The organization merges seed-stage capital with intensive mentoring and direct connections to investors and industry stakeholders, with a specific focus on digital and applied deep tech entrepreneurs.
Contemporary founders increasingly build products intended for international audiences from the outset, yet they encounter distinct regulatory frameworks, investment landscapes and commercial practices as soon as they enter a different country.
It's not another fund Europe is missing. It's a way through the fragmented rules, capital and expertise that still separate every national market. The moment a founder sets foot in a new market, they should already have capital, expertise and networks waiting for them, not have to build it all over again from scratch.
Sven De Cleyn, Program Director at imec.istart
One network, many roots
Rather than deploying a standardized model across all territories, each regional programme is developed collaboratively with established local partners. These include Novel-T in the Netherlands, Additio Capital, Eurecat and Mobile World Capital in Spain, and Pariter Partners in Italy. Each regional fund maintains independent management and local customization while drawing on imec.istart's shared methodology, coaching framework and international investor connections.
The collective network of regional funds currently commands more than €160 million in investment capacity, with plans to expand this figure beyond €250 million by 2027.
Over its thirteen-year history, imec.istart has backed more than 380 startups. Companies within its portfolio have subsequently secured over €1.25 billion in additional funding from external investors.
Source: Tech.eu
