The leading accelerator for tech startups

We believe in you. So we invest in you.

AUTUMN CALL 2023 WILL OPEN ON

THE IMEC.ISTART PROGRAM IS RECOGNISED AS THE WORLDS #1 UNIVERSITY-LINKED BUSINESS ACCELERATOR

We are thrilled to announce UBI Global has named imec.istart the winner in the category ‘World Top Business Accelerator – Linked to University’. The ranking is based on the UBI Global World Benchmark Study, the world’s largest screening of (university) incubators and accelerators. In the past three editions (in 2015, 2017 and 2019), imec.istart was already in the top 5.

Of course, the entire imec.istart.nl team is committed to remain the tip of the spear of university-linked business accelerators!

GET IN TOUCH

Got questions? Want to meet up? Just contact one of our coaches or immediately book an appointment.

BOOK A MEETING

Tim de Kraker

Venture acceleration manager

Lea Milovich

Venture acceleration manager

Peter Langela

Venture acceleration manager

Bart Nelissen

Venture acceleration manager

THE #1 ACCELERATOR TO MAKE GLOBAL IMPACT WITH YOUR TECH STARTUP

The world’s no business accelerator and the most entrepreneurial university of the Netherlands have joined forces. imec.istart.nl offers tech startups pre-seed funding (between 100.000 and up to 250.000 euro per startup) and tailored support to succeed and grow globally. We support and partner with the most ambitious pre-seed startups – often as their first investor. imec.istart.nl launched in 2021, but the program can count on many years of experience of both the imec.istart acceleration program in Belgium, and the business support of university incubator Novel-T. imec.istart.nl is supported by our funding partners imec, VDL Group, Oost NL, University of Twente, Cronos Groep, Simac, Somerset Capital Partners, RVO, TNO, Verhaert, and Otterbrabant through the Seed Capital loan. OnePlanet, Medtronic, Nexperia, Pfizer, PontesNL, Demcon and Radboud University are our program partners.

Are you a Belgium startup? Please visit the Belgian website imecistart.com

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM BROCHURE


REACHING YOUR NEXT MILESTONES

Our program helps you to reach essential milestones to build a successful business.

PRODUCT-READY

Reach a fully functioning solution

MARKET-READY

Align your product to your target customers and refine your market and strategy roadmap.

GROWTH-READY

Acquire the necessary skills and know how to scale your business and plow through the inevitable growing pains.

INVESTOR-READY

Define your perfect funding mix and convince our investor network with your polished pitch.

OUR SELECTION PROCESS

THIS IS WHAT THE PROCESS FOR OUR CALLS LOOKS LIKE AFTER YOU FINISH YOUR APPLICATION.

WHEN CAN YOU JOIN OUR PROGRAM?

Every year we launch 2 open calls with launch their launch and deadlines on the following dates:

SPRING CALL:

Opens 1st of April 00:00, closes 1st of May 11:59

This event has passed.

AUTUMN CALL:

Opens 1st of October 00:00, closes 1st of November 11:59

We will soon announce more info.

Want to know more? Join our info session, bootcamp or Q&A 👇🏻

We will announce the info sessions, bootcamps and Q&A’s in the near future

 

THESE ENTREPRENEURS PRECEEDED YOU

HOW CAN IMEC.ISTART.NL GROW YOUR TECH STARTUP?

Get a better impression of imec.istart.nl and our accelerator program. Venture Accelerator Managers Lea Milovich and Tim de Kraker tell you everything you need to know. Rewatch this online info session and find out how imec.istart.nl can give your tech startup the best chances at success.

We will announce the info sessions in the near future

Leading incubators are joining forces as founders of imec.istart.nl.

Founding partners

Our partners

Proud to have these strong fund and promgram partners.