Belgian accelerator imec.istart expands into three more European countries
Its regional funds have more than €160 million in investment capacity, with an ambition to exceed €250 million by 2027.
Belgian accelerator imec.istart is extending its investment activities and start-up programmes to Spain, Germany and Bulgaria. The expansion takes its presence to six European countries, alongside its operations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy.
The organisation works through regional investment funds that are managed independently. It says their combined investment capacity exceeds €160 million and aims to increase that figure beyond €250 million by 2027.
Local partners help develop each programme. They include Novel-T in the Netherlands; Additio Capital, Eurecat and Mobile World Capital in Spain; and Pariter Partners in Italy. The funds retain a local focus while using shared coaching, methods and international investor connections.
Programme director Sven De Cleyn said the network aims to give founders access to funding, expertise and contacts when entering another market, rather than requiring them to establish those resources anew.
Established in 2011, imec.istart provides early-stage investment and coaching for digital and applied deep-tech founders. It says it has supported over 380 start-ups, whose subsequent funding from external investors has exceeded €1.25 billion.
