KBC Group is investing 100 million euros in the Belgian start-up ecosystem through Start it @KBC, its long-running accelerator program.
The investment includes the launch of a new early-stage fund – the Start it Fund – designed to provide capital and support to the top-performing start-ups emerging from the accelerator.
Founded in 2014, Start it @KBC mentors more than 150 scalable young companies each year and has supported over 1,900 start-ups to date. With the new fund, selected founders will receive average seed investments of around 300,000 euros, with the possibility of higher amounts depending on their stage and needs. Start-ups remain free to accept or decline the funding.
KBC Group CEO Johan Thijs highlights the long-term vision: “With this new fund, we can now guide founders from idea to IPO, combining capital, expertise and an international network.”
The very best start-ups will also gain access to follow-on funding of up to 5 million euros through KBC Securities, which will provide additional venture capital expertise, growth financing solutions, and even IPO guidance.
Start it @KBC emphasizes a data-driven, founder-focused selection model, built on insights from more than 1,900 start-ups coached over the past decade. This approach, the accelerator says, allows it to spot strong teams that traditional investors may overlook.
Since 2014, Start it @KBC alumni have raised more than 1.1 billion euros and created over 12,000 jobs. The ecosystem boasts strong survival rates – 73 percent after 5 years, well above international averages – and includes notable scale-ups such as Aikido Security, Loop Earplugs, Keyrock and CrazyGames.
READ ALSO: How a Belgian cybersecurity start-up scored a record venture capital deal
