Imec.istart is going places: a new look for a growing European network

Fifteen years ago, imec.istart started in Belgium. Today, we’re building bridges across Europe. With a growing network spanning six countries, imec.istart is connecting founders to the capital, expertise and opportunities they need to scale beyond borders. And as our footprint grows, our identity is moving with us.

From Belgium to Europe

Imec.istart started in Belgium, but the story is increasingly European.

Today, we runs programs in the Netherlands and Italy, with Spain, Germany and Bulgaria joining the network. That brings our footprint to six European countries, built together with strong local partners.

Why? Because founders think beyond borders from the start. When they enter a new market, they should not have to rebuild their network from scratch. Capital, expertise, industry connections and local knowledge should already be within reach.

 "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," says Sven De Cleyn, Program Director at imec.istart.

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One network, many roots

Going European does not mean copy-pasting one model across borders. It means connecting strong local ecosystems and making it easier for founders to move between them.

Each market is built with strong regional partners: Novel-T in the Netherlands, Pariter Partners in Italy, Additio Capital, Eurecat and Mobile World Capital in Spain, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Skilled Crafts and Tourism Baden-Württemberg in Germany, and C3BG in Bulgaria.

Regional programs and funds stay rooted in their own markets, while sharing imec.istart’s methodology, coaching and international investor network.

Together, the regional funds already represent more than €160 million in investment capacity, with the ambition to grow beyond €250 million by 2027.

The bigger idea is simple: Europe already has strong startup ecosystems. We want to build better bridges between them.

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A new look for where we're going next

Our footprint has changed, and it felt like the right moment for our identity to move with us. The new imec.istart brand reflects where we are today: still close to founders from day one, but increasingly connected across borders.

At the heart of the new identity is the paper plane, a symbol of deliberate first moves, clear direction and the ambition to go further.

And with it comes a line that captures how we want founders to experience imec.istart:

Start strong. Scale smarter.

Strong support from day one, with the right expertise, capital and connections to make every next move count.

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Fifteen years in, building what comes next

Since 2011, imec.istart has backed more than 380 startups, which have gone on to raise over €1.25 billion in follow-on funding.