Reflections on an extraordinary year

Christmas is around the corner. This means time to slow down, reconnect, and reflect. 2025 has been a year of change and growth. Strong results, meaningful milestones, and more than a few moments that reminded us why we're so proud of this community. Our startups flourished, our team leveled up, and our ambition expanded beyond borders. In ten years, we believe we'll look back at 2025 as pivotal for imec.istart. 
 

2025 in numbers

Numbers aren't everything, but they reveal the scale we've reached. 
 
Our portfolio companies' collective follow-up funding surpassed €1 billion. This isn't about a single round. It's about sustained belief from investors, partners, and the ecosystem in the founders we support. 
 
We launched multiple high-impact cohorts. Record-breaking submissions to our open calls in Belgium and the Netherlands showed that ambitious founders continue seeing imec.istart as their trusted early partner. 
 
Portfolio highlights included funding rounds for AI-Blox, OnTracx, Mobito, Karomia, Dockflow, OTIV, Touchwaves and Earn-E; strategic acquisitions like Smooved; and exits including PolyPerception, Turbulent, Wobby, and Waylay. Not bad for a year’s work. 
 
But here's the thing: behind every number is a team of founders who took the risk and kept going. Our 1 Billion Kudos party wasn't just about celebrating outcomes. It was about honoring the grit and collaboration that got us there. 
 
Imec.istart does not operate in isolation. As part of imec, one of the world's leading research and innovation hubs, we're plugged into an ecosystem that gives startups access to cutting-edge technology, top talent, and industrial partners. That connection keeps strengthening our reach, credibility, and ability to help founders scale. 

Growing beyond borders 

Our footprint didn't just expand in 2025, our ambition did too. 
 
Imec.istart now operates across Belgium and the Netherlands, has planted flags in Italy, and is gearing up for Spain and Germany. Connecting European startup ecosystems isn't just about geography; it's about multiplying opportunity. By working across borders, we aim to help our portfolio companies move faster, see further, and build businesses that can grow and endure beyond any single economy. 
 
Operating at this scale with deep hands-on support is audacious. But it's a challenge we're ready to tackle together. 

 
Community first

None of this happens without people. Behind imec.istart is a team that continuously learns and adapts. Alongside them are our partners, whose valuable commitment, experience and insights power our mission to accelerate startup growth and coach the next generation of founders.  
 
Imec.istart isn't just a program. It's a community built on trust, collaboration, and common purpose. 
 

Looking forward to 2026 

Next year, imec.istart celebrates its fifteen-year anniversary. What started as an audacious experiment has become a mature, international venturing platform. Yet our mindset remains unchanged: curious, ambitious, and founder-first. 
 
Expectations are high for 2026, but we're confident we'll meet them, together with our startups, investors, partners, and colleagues. We'll continue learning and evolving while staying true to what matters most: helping great founders build impactful companies. 
 
Thank you for being part of this journey.  

 
Wishing you a peaceful break and a 2026 worth celebrating. 
 
Sven De Cleyn, Program Director 
and the entire imec.istart team