Website event banner Start it Hardware 2026

We are 100% no strings attached

We don't ask for shares, money or special privileges. The only thing we want is motivation and engagement!

We are the largest startup ecosystem in Europe

Made up of hundreds of startups, scaleups, mentors & experts. As a founder your network gets a significant boost, and together we all have more impact.

We’re here to help driven, business-minded founders grow their business and move beyond borders. Expand your network and your expertise to reach for your dreams.

Good to know:

We are 100% no strings attached: we don't ask for shares, money or special privileges. The only thing we want is motivation and engagement!
We are the largest startup ecosystem in Belgium, made up of hundreds of startups, scaleups, mentors & experts. As a founder your network gets a significant boost, and together we all have more impact.

Accelerator Programs

Start it @KBC

Ready to boost your growth? Start it @KBC helps motivated, business-minded founders realise their dreams by fast-tracking their growth and moving beyond borders.

1 year
24h/month time investment required
65 selected participants
FREE

Start it @CBC

Start it @CBC supports entrepreneurs in Wallonia in their passions, goals and business. We help startups and scale-ups in all sectors grow faster with expert guidance and an international network.

1 year
24 h/month time investment required
10 selected participants
FREE

Start it Hardware

Powered by Leuven MindGate. Start it Hardware is a specialised program added on top of the existing Start it @KBC program, tailored to the specific needs of hardware startups and scale-ups: matchmaking, prototyping spaces, manufacturers, suppliers, investors and more.

1 year
24 h/month time investment required
FREE

Start it Fashion

Start it Fashion is a program designed to help pre-startups, advanced startups and scale-ups navigate the fashion industry. It complements the existing acceleration programs of Start it Accelerate. Powered by Stad Antwepen.

1 year
24 h/month time investment required
8 selected participants
FREE

UP! Unleash Your Potential

A 15-month accelerator with specialized coaching, technical training, business workshops and investor connections for women entrepreneurs in tech.

In collaboration with Le Techspace.

15 months
Technical training in AI, blockchain, cybersecurity
Monthly personalized coaching sessions
Final pitch event with professional investors

Scale it Agro

A 9-month track with expert advice, commercial introductions, fundraising support and deep sector insights. Scaling your business in agritech, agrifinance, or sustainable agriculture?

9 months
8 Masterclasses
3 monthly touch points

Short courses & Opportunities

Sales programma voor founders - 2 jonge founders aan het overleggen

Sales Sprint

The #1 Sales Sprint for startups and scale-ups. A unique opportunity for entrepreneurs who want to give their turnover a huge boost by increasing the quantity and quality of their sales. Go home with a concrete action plan guaranteed to bring real results.

6 weeks
15 selected participants
550,- (excl. VAT)
Dutch only!

Thrive

Thrive is an inspiring program to accelerate the success of female founders and drive their businesses to new heights. Explore your power, discover your leadership impact and activate your network with this program from women to women.

12 weeks
8 full days
15 selected participants
750,- (excl. VAT)

Fashion & Lifestyle FinMix

Fashion turns heads, finance opens doors.

A short financial fashion track to get your startup ready for funding.
Limited spots, co-funded by The City of Antwerp.

1 FinMix kick-off day for all participants
Personalised financial coaching for 8 selected startups
Expert financial report for 8 selected startups
FREE

Startups of Tomorrow

Discover the Startups of Tomorrow. These 17 startups pitch during Love Tomorrow at the Magical Grounds in Boom.

SDG driven startups
17 winners

Post coaching offer

Personal coaching program for founders to overcome (leadership) challenges and help them grow personally.

One-on-one sessions with ICF-certified coaches
Addresses focus, self-doubt, stress, and work-life balance
Exclusive to Start it @KBC alumni
Hybrid format (online or in-person)

Part of The Growth Collective

We’ve teamed up with NOA and imec.istart, as the 3 largest business accelerators in Flanders, to give startups and founders and scale-ups the best possible shot at success.
With support from VLAIO, we’re combining our strengths to offer complementary programmes, tailored tracks, and targeted events for innovative growth companies.
Together, our communities represent over 80% of the startup and scale-up ecosystem in Flanders and we’re here to help you grow.

Learn More

Testimonials

We're founder centric and value the support of the startup community for growth

Catherine Schmit - Founder & CEO of Hapiklan

Pieterjan Verhaeghen - Co-founder & CEO at Bolt

Start it @KBC

Start it @KBC fast-tracks your growth as a startup and as an entrepreneur. All you need to bring is your motivation and desire to make a positive impact on the world. We provide you with mentors and partners to guide you, personalized coaching to help you through your growing pains, a huge network to tap into, and so much more. You’ll bolster your market validation, business development, sales and fundraising strategies. After a one-year journey designed to bring you closer to your ambitions, you’ll stay part of the community long-term.

Learn more Pre-register for Fall!

Start it @CBC

Belgium’s largest startup ecosystem is now supporting courageous entrepreneurs in Wallonia. We help startups and scale-ups in all sectors grow faster with expert guidance and an international network. Building on the achievements of Start it @KBC, we are now meeting Wallonian startups where they are to create more opportunities for growth. We come armed with partners and expertise adapted to Wallonia’s unique business landscape. Wallonian entrepreneurs can count on our knowledge and professionalism to do some serious scaling and increase their chances of success.

Start it Fashion & Creative - powered by Stad Antwerpen

With Start it Fashion & Creative, we want to help pre startups, more advanced startups and scale-ups navigate the fashion industry. We also welcome recent graduates or experienced employees with a corporate background who want to take the leap into entrepreneurship. The accelerator provides a complementary route to the existing acceleration programs of Start it Accelerate, tailored to the specific needs of fashion and creative startups.

Learn more

Meet our community

When you join our accelerator, you gain a community. Build your business on our extensive network of entrepreneurs and tap into infinite experience and know-how.