Startup scouting & Matchmaking
Find startups that move your business forward
We connect you with tech startups and turn the right match into pilots, partnerships or investments.
Ways to work with us
Startup scouting & matchmaking
Find startups that match your innovation needs. We handle scouting and matchmaking, saving you time.
Program partnerships
Connect with startups and peers at our events to explore collaborations and discover the latest tech trends.
Portfolio companies
350+
Startup survival rate
81%
€ follow-up funding
1B+
€ portfolio revenue
240M+
European hubs
6
Find startups for
your innovation challenges
We guide you from the first scouting brief to a working partnership.
Challenge definition
Together, we turn your innovation question into a clear scouting brief.
Startup scouting
We search for startups and scaleups in your field, locally and internationally.
Screening
We assess each startup against your brief and contact the most relevant teams.
Curated matchmaking
You meet a curated shortlist of startups and explore where your interests align.
Collaboration support
We help you turn the right match into a pilot or partnership.
From challenge to collaboration
Define the challenge you want to solve.
We turn your innovation question into a clear scouting brief.
Discover solutions worth exploring.
We search for relevant startups and scale-ups in your field.
Find the strongest fit for your business.
We assess potential matches against your brief.
Meet the teams behind the solutions.
Meet shortlisted teams and discuss opportunities to work together.
Turn a promising connection into a next step.
We help you shape a potential pilot or partnership.
Connect with startups, explore what’s next.
Get closer to our startup community and discover the innovation potential of early-stage tech ventures.
Startup deal flow
Get access to our startup deal flow and discover emerging tech ventures.
Pitch Days
Attend our Pitch Days and meet founders presenting their startups.
Investor Days
Join our Investor Days to connect with startups and investors.
Startup and peer connections
Meet relevant imec.istart startups and alumni companies, and network with fellow partners at our events.
Tech industry insightst
Discover the latest tech industry trends and explore what they could mean for your business.
Find your next
pre-seed investment
Get early access to our deal flow, meet founders who match your investment focus, and join our Pitch Days and Investor Days.
For investment funds and VCs
This partnership is exclusively for investment funds and venture capital firms.
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Invest in early-stage tech
through our funds
Access a portfolio of selected startups and benefit from imec’s technical insights and an experienced team that assesses their potential and supports their growth.
Voices from the network
"Thanks to its unique combination of accelerator and fund, imec.istart attracts entrepreneurs who think big and want to tackle complex problems. As a partner, we can help these founders with their branding and website, and we also learn a great deal ourselves from the coaches who are key players in the European tech landscape."
Simon Pertz, Thomas Smolders
Founders - Hartstikke
“Imec.istart gives us direct access to founders at the stage where funding choices matter most. The team knows its portfolio companies well and connects us with the startups where subsidies and non-dilutive financing can make a difference. At the pitching andinvestor days we also meet the investors backing these companies, which widensour own network and lets us align non-dilutive funding with their equity rounds."
Marcel van den Hudding
General Director - Dynova
"Supporting startups is part of how we think about entrepreneurship at Deloitte. We know that building a business takes more than a great idea. It takes the right people, expertise and connections. Our partnership with imec.istart is a great example of how we bring this philosophy to life. We truly value the collaboration and the opportunity to help ambitious founders navigate challenges, accelerate growth and turn their ideas into successful businesses."
Henri-Simon Vande Vyver
Senior Managing Associate - Deloitte
Let's talk
Tell us about your innovation challenge, investment focus or partnership idea,
and we’ll get back to you.
