Grant name: Innovatieve starterssteun
Funding organization: VLAIO (Flemish Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship)
Primary objective: Support small enterprises younger than 2 years to develop innovative projects with a pioneering role in their market or sector
Funding type: Financial subsidy combined with expert guidance and business case advice
Grant amount: Fixed €50,000 subsidy
Grant frequency: Continuous application with 5 fixed evaluation periods per year
Significance: Key support for early-stage innovative startups in Flanders
Small enterprises (startups) with legal personality
Startups younger than 2 years at application time
Enterprises with a pioneering innovative project
Beneficiaries include startups with potential for economic growth and societal impact
Eligible organization types: Small enterprises (kmo) with legal personality, including non-profit organizations with economic activity
Enterprise must be younger than 2 years at application submission
Must have a registered establishment in the Flemish Region (Vlaamse Gewest)
Must meet European definition of a small enterprise: fewer than 50 employees and turnover or balance sheet total ≤ €10 million
Self-sufficiency criterion applies: includes participations over 25% and linked enterprises over 50% ownership
Minimum equity plus subordinated loans of €5,000 required, proven by notarized deed, annual accounts, or certified provisional accounts
Enterprises in formation are eligible but subsidy is conditional on effective establishment
No prior acquisition of other enterprises or activities exceeding 10% of turnover (with exceptions)
No double funding allowed for overlapping costs
Maximum one grant per enterprise, maximum two applications
Applicants must submit a shareholder and age block diagram to verify eligibility
Small enterprises as per EU definition
Competent team and network required to carry the project
Entrepreneurs must take sufficient personal financial risk (skin in the game)
Projects must have a pioneering role in their market or sector
Supports three types of pioneering innovation: new products/services/processes, first application of technology or scientific insight, or first application of a new business model in the market
Projects must involve research and development beyond combining existing solutions
Minimum effort equivalent to one person-year or €70,000 in costs
Project duration between 6 and 12 months
Deliverables include proof of business and/or proof of concept (proof of business mandatory if no prior proof of concept)
Expected impact includes at least 5 full-time equivalent jobs by year 5 post-project, significant economic growth potential, and positive societal impact
Only enterprises with an establishment in the Flemish Region (Vlaamse Gewest) are eligible
No sectoral restrictions explicitly stated; examples include cleantech, IoT, medtech, manufacturing, agrofood, design, and space technology
Project must involve iterative research, building, and testing
Team and network must be capable of carrying the entrepreneurial project
Expert guidance and business case advice provided by VLAIO and partners
Proof of business and/or proof of concept required as deliverables
Fixed subsidy amount of €50,000
Estimated eligible costs must be at least €70,000, including internal personnel costs valued at €70,000 per full-time equivalent per year
Subsidy paid in two installments: €25,000 at decision or establishment, €25,000 at project closure
No double funding allowed for costs covered by other VLAIO subsidies during project period
Subsidy exempt from corporate income tax under R&D support rules
Financial reporting and compliance required as per VLAIO regulations
Continuous application submission possible
Five fixed evaluation periods in 2025: weeks of 10-14 Feb, 31 Mar-4 Apr, 2-6 Jun, 23-29 Sep, 1-5 Dec
Applicants invited to pitch during evaluation periods; pitches last up to 15 minutes plus 30 minutes Q&A
Project duration between 6 and 12 months
Project start date earliest is first day of month after application and establishment
Progress monitoring and reporting required
Extensions and post-grant expectations not explicitly detailed
Must comply with European SME definitions and group rules
No acquisition or concentration exceeding specified turnover thresholds
Declaration on honor regarding no double funding for project costs
Confidentiality of application ensured by VLAIO
Compliance with Flemish regional regulations and permits implied
Ethical standards and data protection compliance expected but not detailed
Initial contact with a selected VLAIO partner for candidate selection and application preparation
Partners include Agoria, Sirris, Imec.istart, Voka, UNIZO, Start-it @KBC, Birdhouse, Flanders’ Space, Flanders DC, Flanders’ FOOD, LRM, and VLAIO bedrijfsadviseurs
Selected candidates receive access to online submission portal
Application includes completed templates: innovative starterssteun application and shareholder/age block diagram
Pitch before jury required with PowerPoint presentation submitted one day prior
Pitch sessions held physically in Brussels, Ghent, or Leuven
Confidential handling of applications guaranteed
Supporting documents and templates available on VLAIO website
Focus on pioneering innovation with significant uncertainty and challenge
Evaluation based on five criteria: pioneering role, uncertainties and approach, team and network, own risk, and impact and potential
Ranking of applications per evaluation period with budget allocation to highest scoring projects
Requirement for entrepreneurs to take personal financial risk
Cross-cutting themes include economic growth and positive societal impact
Innovation must go beyond existing solutions and involve R&D
Applicants must demonstrate potential for at least 5 full-time jobs by year 5
No allowance for projects only working on proof of concept without proof of business
Grant has been operational since at least 2024 with continuous application
Examples of funded projects include eco-friendly concrete, circular economy solutions, personalized nutrition advice, and mental health technology
Applicants with prior VLAIO subsidies may face negative evaluation if project is too advanced
Maximum one grant per enterprise to encourage broad distribution
Funding trends show fixed grant amount with expert support
Evaluation includes pitch and scoring system