Grants8 | The most comprehensive grants search on the web

Grant Analysis

Core objective: To provide initial equity investment and comprehensive support to technology-oriented startups in their early stages, helping them accelerate growth and succeed globally.
Target recipients: Technology-focused small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are in their startup phase and tech entrepreneurs.
SECTOR-SPECIFIC: Focused on technology companies developing software or hardware.
Geographic scope: Companies must have their main headquarters in Belgium. Open to national and international startups if their HQ is in Belgium.
Key filtering criteria: Must be a technology-driven startup with a working proof-of-concept and a complementary founding team.
Grant frequency: This is an ongoing accelerator program with recurring application calls throughout the year.

Funding type: Equity investment in exchange for company shares ('aandelenkapitaal').
Initial investment: €100,000 provided at the start of the program.
Potential follow-up funding: The initial investment can later be supplemented up to a maximum of €250,000.
Further financing opportunities: Companies that have successfully completed the imec.istart accelerator program may be eligible for follow-up financing in the (late) seed/Series A phase through the independent imec.istart future fund.
Co-financing: No explicit co-financing or matching fund requirements are stated for this equity investment program.
Eligible/Ineligible costs: Not specified, but equity investments typically offer flexibility in how funds are utilized for business growth.

Organizational Type and Legal Structure

Eligible entities: Technology-oriented starting SMEs ('kmo's') and tech entrepreneurs.
Legal structure: Any company form with tradable shares is eligible. Non-profits ('vzw's') are explicitly excluded.
Organizational maturity: Must be a 'starting' company. For the main accelerator, a proof-of-concept (prototype) is required. Tech starters who do not yet have a proof-of-concept can potentially apply for the 'Launch'-program of imec.istart.

Geographic Requirements

Headquarters: Must have its main headquarters in Belgium. Both national and international startups are eligible to apply if their HQ is in Belgium.

Team Requirements

Team composition: Must consist of a team with at least two complementary profiles.

Technical Requirements

Product: Must have developed a technological product, which can be software or hardware, covering 'deeptech' or 'shallowtech'.
Proof-of-concept: Must be able to present a proof-of-concept (prototype) for the main accelerator program.

Application Procedure

Submission method: Applicants must submit a concise dossier online via the www.imecistart.com website.
Application calls: Applications are accepted during fixed call periods throughout the year.
Deadlines: The specified recurring deadlines for submitting applications are February 1st, June 1st, and October 1st.
Call duration: Each application call is typically open for approximately one month.
Selection process: The evaluation proceeds in two steps, starting with a pre-selection based on submitted documents, followed by a final selection after a pitch round.

Support Offered

Financial support: An initial equity investment of €100,000, with the possibility to increase up to €250,000.
Non-financial support: Includes personal coaching and mentoring, access to an extensive investor and partner network, one year of free office space, and various other financial advantages.
Post-program support: Continuous support is provided through the imec.istart alumni network, and there's a potential for follow-up funding from the imec.istart future fund.

Implementation Timeline & Reporting

Program duration: While not explicitly stated, the provision of one year of free office space suggests a significant initial support period.
Reporting obligations: Specific reporting schedules and requirements are not detailed in the provided information.

The program involves a competitive selection process, meaning not all submitted dossiers will receive support.
Evaluation is conducted in a two-step procedure:
- Pre-selection: Based on the assessment of the submitted dossier.
- Final selection: After a pitch round where applicants present their project.
While specific scoring criteria are not detailed, the strong emphasis on technology-driven products, a working proof-of-concept, and a complementary team indicates these will be key factors in the evaluation.
Successful applicants are expected to show potential to reach important milestones, including becoming 'product-ready', 'market-ready', 'growth-ready', and 'investor-ready', which are implicitly evaluated.

Legal and Organizational Compliance

Legal form: Only corporate entities with tradable shares are eligible. Associations or non-profit organizations ('vzw’s') are not eligible.
Geographic location: The company's main headquarters must be established in Belgium.

Innovation and Technology Focus

Product requirement: The program specifically targets companies with a technological product, which can be either software or hardware, encompassing both 'deeptech' and 'shallowtech'.
Development stage: A working proof-of-concept (prototype) is a mandatory technical requirement for participation in the main accelerator program.
Alternative for early stage: Tech starters without a proof-of-concept may explore the 'Launch'-program offered by imec.istart as a preparatory step.

Unique Aspects and Strategic Opportunities

Network access: Successful applicants gain access to a broad network of investors and partners, which is crucial for subsequent funding rounds and market expansion.
Office space: A notable benefit is the provision of one year of free office space.
Institutional backing: The program is connected to Imec, a strategic research center for nanoelectronics and digital technology, offering strong credibility and potential for technical synergies.
Global ambition: The accelerator is designed to help startups succeed and expand internationally.