Start it @kbc opens new premises in the heart of Brussels
First wave of pitches scheduled for Brussels
Tuesday, August 11, 2015 — On 15 September, Start it @kbc will, in collaboration with KBC Brussels and Betagroup – the largest tech community in Belgium with over 8 000 members – be opening the doors at its fifth site, this time in the middle of the European district in Brussels. At this new location in the capital, start-up businesses will be provided not only with free office space, but also with coaching, training and networking capabilities in a stimulating international setting.
Start it @kbc, an early stage incubator, is a platform for start-up businesses with innovative ideas that is designed to help them realise their dream in an informative and stimulating environment. Since its launch in 2013, Start it @kbc has opened offices in Antwerp, Ghent, Hasselt and Leuven. It now houses around 180 start-ups, which makes it the largest incubator in Belgium.
On 15 September, the newest Start it @kbc offices will open their doors at Wetenschapsstraat 23, in the heart of Brussels. This occasion will also herald the start of the first session of Start it @kbc pitches in Brussels, when start-ups active in Hi-Tech, Fin-Tech, sales, design, entertainment, etc. will be able to present their innovative ideas to a professional jury.
New wave of pitches
'We are searching in the typical international landscape of Brussels for start-up businesses with innovative ideas. We'll take a close look at each and every project and pick out the most innovative and promising ones. The selected entrepreneurs will then be given the opportunity to pitch their ideas live in front of our jury on 15 September. The winners will be handed the keys to their brand-new office suites in Brussels on the same day and join the Start it network, with its capacity to inspire. They'll be able to swap experiences with our other start-ups and receive tailored coaching from our experts. It's our way of helping them realise their dreams as entrepreneurs,' explains Patrick Van Loij, the driving force behind Start it @kbc in Brussels.
If you have a bright idea and want to get your own business off the ground, make sure you are in the first wave of Start it @kbc pitches in Brussels. Present your dream project and submit your pitch by no later than 5 September 2015 via www.startit.be.
Wave of Start it @kbc pitches in Brussels:
- 5 August: starting date for submitting pitches
- 5 September: closing date for submitting pitches
- 15 September: pitch final and grand opening of Start it @kbc in Brussels
Opening party
During the opening celebrations on 15 September, the lucky winners to be housed at the new Start it offices in Brussels will be announced. The Start it community, senior entrepreneurs and influencers will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the new premises and to network with other interested parties.
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Pitch
4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Announcement of winners, handover of keys and press opportunity
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Pause
7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Keynote speech by Bruno Wattenbergh
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. Opening party & networking event
___________________________________________
About Start it @kbc
Start it @kbc is an early stage incubator whose mission is to support and promote fledgling entrepreneurship in Belgium. Since November 2013, an ever-increasing number of innovative start-ups with a scalable idea have found their way to start it @ KBC. The incubator now has permanent premises in Antwerp, Ghent, Hasselt, Leuven and Brussels, and another office is scheduled to open in Kortrijk in 2015. Thanks to a unique partnership between Accenture, Flanders DC, Cronos, iMinds, Mobile Vikings, KBC and local knowledge institutions, passionate entrepreneurs can count not only on free office space, but also on coaching, training, networking facilities and having a lot of fun. In addition, local academic partners in each city enrich the network with their talent. This powerful community is also constantly growing through the addition of experts, mentors and new start-ups. Start-ups can enrol at startit.be where they submit their idea for later evaluation by experts. Selected start-ups will be invited for a pitch session and will find out if they have been successful that same evening.
For more information, go to www.startit.be.
About KBC Brussels
KBC Brussels is the joint brand of the former KBC and CBC networks in our capital. Damien Van Renterghem, CEO of KBC Brussels, comments: 'KBC Brussels is aimed specifically at clients and prospects living or working in Brussels. Our headquarters in the centre of Brussels are a perfect reflection of our Brussels, European, cosmopolitan and multi-cultural embeddedness. Moreover, the dynamic character of Brussels is meat and drink to us. Born out of the bank-insurer KBC, we are a true start-up, ready to breathe new life into the financial sector of the Brussels Region.'
About Betagroup
Created in 2008, BetaGroup is a non-profit organization and a community which aims to connect entrepreneurs and startups from the tech/web industry.
With more than 8.200 members, BetaGroup gathers passionate people about internet, new technology, e-marketing and online media. From students to investors, through developers, graphic designers or e-marketers, BetaGroup provides a platform to startups and entrepreneurs who want to:
- Present their products and services and get feedback from the community;
- Raise money through BetaInvest, the match-making platform between start-ups and investors;
- Develop business and technological partnerships with start-ups in Belgium and abroad;
- Attract new prospects thanks to the BetaGroup Corporate program.
www.startit.be/