imec.istart.

Details

• URL: https://www.imecistart.com
• What it is: imec’s pre-seed accelerator (open accelerator programme) for tech startups
• Since: 2011 (300+ investments / companies worldwide)
• Active in: Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain & Germany
• Funding (core): €100,000 pre-seed via a convertible loan + in-kind support (with the possibility of additional funding up to €300,000 in later rounds)
• Support (what you get): personal coaching (day-to-day sparring partner), workshops/mentors, founder community, international network connections, support towards becoming “investor-ready”
• Who it’s for (high level): startups with a tech product + working proof of concept + a complementary founding team
• Ranking: #1 accelerator “World Top Business Accelerator – Linked to University” (UBI Global)
• Contact: Interested in the imec.istart programme? Feel free to book a meeting directly with Arantxa Wille, who scouts startups, via their booking link.

Upcoming calls (Belgium)

imec.istart works with one-month calls. For Belgium, the apply page lists the following calls:

• Spring 2027: open from 1 to 30 January 2027 (midnight)
• Summer 2027: open from 1 to 31 May 2027 (midnight)

You can sign up on the apply page to be notified when a call opens, and you can download the application template now to review the questions in advance.

Info session

• There is currently no new live info session announced. You can rewatch the recording of the latest info session via the Belgium page.
• That session covers, among other things: whether your startup is eligible, how the €100k investment deal works (without “upfront equity”), what support you can expect, and how the application and selection process works.
• Prefer a personal conversation? Book a meeting via the booking link under Contact above.
• More info: website — Belgium page

Programme benefits (according to imec.istart)

• €100,000 funding via a convertible loan + in-kind support
• Possibility of additional funding up to €300,000 in later rounds
• Personal coaching with a day-to-day sparring partner, complemented by workshop experts and mentors
• Tech community of 500+ like-minded digital tech entrepreneurs
• International network to scale internationally
• Backed by imec (connection to a globally recognised R&D and innovation hub)

What milestones does the programme help you reach?

imec.istart emphasises that the programme helps startups reach milestones such as:

• Product-ready: towards a fully working solution
• Market-ready: align the product with target customers + refine market and strategy roadmap
• Growth-ready: build skills and know-how to scale
• Investor-ready: define your funding mix and pitch to investors with a sharpened pitch

Selection profile (short)

imec.istart states they are mainly looking for startups with:

• a tech product
• a working proof of concept
• a complementary founding team

Long-term support

According to the site, imec.istart and its alumni network continue to support founders after the programme (“in it for the long run”).