Start it Fund

The program itself doesn't change in any way

The program remains open to everyone and participation in the accelerator stays entirely equity-free and free of charge.Funding is always optional. Founders can decide for themselves whether they want to accept it.

Only for startups of our one-year accelerator programs

The Start it Fund is available exclusively to startups that participate in Start it @KBC, Start it @CBC, Start it Hardware and Start it Fashion. For those who are selected, early-stage funding becomes available as of the Spring 2026 cohort.

Starting with 5 startups per cohort

That's roughly 1% of all applicants. They represent the strongest performers of their cohort that are fundraising at that moment. This recognition significantly helps them to attract media attention, talent, other investors and strategic partners.

We invest at the end of the program, not at the beginning

Unlike most accelerators, Start it @KBC invests at the end of the program, giving founders time to demonstrate real progress instead of being judged on early, superficial signals. Our experience with more than 3.000 founders shows that future success correlates far more with learning speed, execution speed and resilience than with any label. This gives every founder, including those often underestimated elsewhere, a fair chance to secure investment based on proven performance.

What selected startups receive

Startups that are selected receive an investment that typically averages around €300,000 and can go up to €450,000 depending on their needs and maturity.  The investment takes the form of a founder-friendly convertible loan, including a valuation cap that is tailored to the startup.

In addition to funding, selectedstartups receive an extra year of intensive support. They join a dedicated track with additionalcoaching, officespace and focusedsessions with the other selected startups. Furthermore, we connect them with a curated group of alumni founders who have built highly successful companies, and in many cases, exited those companies.

Up to €5M later-stage funding

Beyond the initial early-stage ticket, both the startups that received this first investment and other strong performers within our entire community can access later-stage financing through KBC Securities. With later-stage funding starting from €500K up to €5 million. We become a long-term partner in scaling the most exceptional companies, combining corporate finance expertise, M&A support and potential guidance toward an IPO.

We stay true to our "Pay-it-forward" DNA

Startups that accept the funding contribute to the pay-it-forward effect, a principle that's deeply embedded in Start it @KBC's DNA. A part of the profit of the fund flows back to the accelerator to support future generations of startups, another part will be used to fund even more startups.