Meet the BE Summer 2026 cohort
Every cohort offers a glimpse of where the world is heading. It's one of the reasons we genuinely love every selection round. This summer, nine startups rose to the top of a record 140 applications, tackling some of today's toughest challenges and tomorrow's biggest opportunities.
Meet the imec.istart Belgium Summer 2026 cohort.
Meet the startups!
ALIA (PropTech): helps real estate agencies activate untapped opportunities in their existing client base through automated WhatsApp conversations, no extra lead generation budget required.
CAVEN (Business Services): delivers AI meeting intelligence for legal and financial teams, recording, transcribing, and summarizing every conversation, fully GDPR-compliant and with sensitive data never leaving the EU.
CONSTELLATE PROTEOMICS (HealthTech): builds advanced analytical instruments that make antibody drug development faster and more affordable, from the very first step in the process.
CUSTORIX (Security): develops compact systems that detect and neutralize autonomous drones, purpose-built to protect critical infrastructure, defense sites, and public spaces.
HELLOTRIANGLE (Business Services): turns natural language into reusable workflows for 3D modelling and simulation, helping engineers move faster and share results instantly.
HOOBLER (PropTech): lets Belgian homeowners sell their property independently for a flat fee with AI taking care of the listing, buyer matching, and admin.
MONYTR (Construction): centralizes machine data across an entire fleet into one platform and automates the journey from alert to work order, shifting maintenance from reactive to preventive.
ORIOSTIM (HealthTech): develops an ergonomic wearable that relieves pain through nerve stimulation, designed for safety and comfort in everyday life.
SMASHVISION (SportsTech): uses computer vision to automatically track players, ball, and actions in real time, giving volleyball coaches instant, actionable insights into performance, strategy, and physical load.
Trends & Observations
Built for someone, not for everyone
A meeting copilot for legal teams. A simulation engine for engineers. A performance tracker for volleyball coaches. A seller's sidekick for homeowners. Four wildly different use cases, one shared thesis: stop building AI for everyone, start building it for someone. This cohort isn't betting on broader AI, but sharper AI.
Unlocking value that's already there
This cohort favors efficiency over expansion. Alia helps agencies convert leads already sitting in their database. Monytr keeps machinery running longer by catching problems early. Hoobler cuts out the middleman so homeowners can sell their own homes. The opportunity isn't always new. Sometimes it's hidden in plain sight.
Applied deep tech with a real-world deadline
Constellate Proteomics and OrioStim aren't chasing trends, they're applying hard science to problems with real human cost: slow drug development, and chronic pain that healthcare has lived with for decades. These aren't moonshots. They're overdue problems, finally getting the science they deserve.
Invisible by design
Caven sits inside legal meetings. HelloTriangle runs underneath engineering workflows. Monytr lives in the background of a construction site. None of them are built to be noticed, and that's the point. The deeper a tool gets embedded in a daily workflow, the harder it is to rip out. Invisible isn't a weakness, it's a moat.
Looking ahead
Over the coming months, these nine teams will work closely with the imec.istart team to sharpen their product, refine their go-to-market strategy, and prepare for their next stage of growth.
Think your startup belongs in the next cohort?
Join imec.istart and gain access to pre-seed funding starting at €100K, expert coaching, access to imec's technology and global network, valuable investor connections, and a community of founders who understand the challenges of building a tech startup.
Imec.istart Belgium runs three open calls each year:
- Spring Open Call – apply by January 31
- Summer Open Call – apply by May 31
- Autumn Open Call – apply by September 30
Register now for our upcoming online info session webinar about our program.
