What Start Lab ICHEC does

Start Lab ICHEC is a non-profit student entrepreneur incubator founded in 2017 and operated within the ICHEC Group (Groupe ICHEC) in Brussels, Belgium. It serves students and recent graduates under the age of 30 from higher-education institutions in the Brussels-Capital Region who are seeking to launch a first business venture. The program is offered free of charge to participants and is funded by ICHEC, the Brussels-Capital Region government, and partner organizations within the YET (Young Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow) network coordinated by Hub.brussels.

The incubator delivers a structured three-phase incubation pathway — Start-iD (idea structuring), Start-Test (validation), and Start-Fly (market launch) — providing up to 33 months of accompaniment per project. Core service lines include individual coaching (by ICHEC internal coaches and external entrepreneurs-in-residence), action-oriented collective training, expert consultations across legal, financial, marketing, and IP domains, networking activities, an 80m² free coworking space on the ICHEC Anjou campus, and academic recognition for ICHEC students. Selection proceeds through a mandatory Shake&Start weekend and jury process; recent cohorts have accepted around 30 projects from approximately 80 applications.

The business model is a publicly funded managed-services model with no direct revenue from entrepreneurs. Distribution occurs through the ICHEC campus, online information sessions via Microsoft Teams, partner higher-education institutions (ECAM, IHECS, EPHEC), and a multi-channel presence including a newsletter, blog, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and a BXFM podcast. No proprietary technology platform, AI capabilities, or commercial products underpin the offering; the value proposition rests on human mentorship, community, and institutional access rather than software. Since 2017, the program has run 10 cohorts supporting 280+ young entrepreneurs, with an alumni recommendation rate of 86.75% based on a 2025 impact survey.

Name

Start Lab ICHEC

Legal name

Start Lab ICHEC

Website

https://startlab.ichec.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Start Lab ICHEC is a Brussels-based non-profit incubator that provides free, up-to-33-month incubation support — including coaching, training, coworking, and expert advice — to students and graduates under 30 in the Brussels-Capital Region launching their first business.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Internship-to-Apprenticeship & Early Talent Pipeline Programs (EDAMAKAL)

Keywords

• Startup incubation
• Entrepreneur support
• Business coaching
• Youth entrepreneurship
• Innovation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Incubation Services: Free incubation services provided to young entrepreneurs aged under 30. The program is funded by ICHEC, the Brussels-Capital Region government, and partner organizations. No direct revenue is generated from entrepreneurs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Start Lab ICHEC operates a free, three-phase incubation program (Start-iD, Start-Test, Start-Fly) for young entrepreneurs under 30 in the Brussels-Capital Region, providing up to 33 months of support. The offering combines individual coaching, collective training, expert consultations, networking, and free coworking space to help participants launch their business ventures.

Product overview

Start Lab ICHEC is a student and young entrepreneur incubator operated by ICHEC in Brussels. The organization offers a structured 3-phase incubation program (Start-iD, Start-Test, Start-Fly) spanning up to 33 months of support. The program provides comprehensive services including individual coaching (internal ICHEC coaches and external entrepreneurs-in-residence), collective action-oriented training, networking activities, expert consultations, free coworking space, and academic recognition for ICHEC students. The ecosystem supports young entrepreneurs under 30 years old from student status through market launch.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Start-iD — Incubation Phase 1 First phase of the Start Lab ICHEC incubation program allowing project leaders to structure their entrepreneurial desire and develop their idea. Targets aspiring young entrepreneurs under 30 in the Brussels-Capital Region.
• Start-Test — Incubation Phase 2 Second phase of the incubation program providing tools to transition from idea to tested project, validating desirability, feasibility, and viability. Targets entrepreneurs advancing from idea to prototype validation.
• Start-Fly — Incubation Phase 3 Final phase of the incubation program focused on market installation and launch for projects ready to commercialize. Provides up to 24 months of support. Targets entrepreneurs with validated projects entering the market.
• Individual Coaching Individual follow-up support with ICHEC internal coaches and external entrepreneurs-in-residence to guide entrepreneurs and provide perspective on their projects. Available to all incubated entrepreneurs under 30.
• Collective Training (Formation) Action-oriented collective training sessions delivered as part of the 3-phase incubation program, covering topics relevant to early-stage venture development. Targets cohorts of incubated entrepreneurs.
• Coworking Space Free 80m2 coworking space at ICHEC Anjou campus with meeting rooms, brainstorming room, and kitchen, accessible Monday to Saturday via badge. Available to incubated entrepreneurs.
• Networking Activities (Mise en réseau) Networking activities designed to inspire entrepreneurs and connect them with peers, mentors, and the broader Brussels entrepreneurship ecosystem. Targets incubated entrepreneurs and the alumni community.
• Expert Consultations (Expertise) Access to specialist experts for solving specific project problems in areas such as communication, commercial law, financing strategy, social law, IP, international trade, and digital marketing. Available to incubated entrepreneurs.
• Academic Recognition (Reconnaissance académique) Special academic status granted to ICHEC students within the institution recognizing their entrepreneurial activities. Available to ICHEC students participating in the incubation program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86.75% of alumni would recommend the program to others
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hub.brusselscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels business support agency implementing the regional government's entrepreneurship development policy. Start Lab ICHEC collaborates within the Young Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (YET) ecosystem coordinated by Hub.brussels.
• YET (Young Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional initiative of the Brussels-Capital Region government to support young entrepreneurs. Start Lab ICHEC is part of the YET partner network.
• be.brusselscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels regional branding and business development initiative supporting the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• ICHEC Formation ContinuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinuing education arm of ICHEC that provides additional resources and programs for entrepreneurs.
• ICHEC AlumnicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlumni network of ICHEC graduates that connects current incubates with successful entrepreneurs and provides ongoing support.
• BeAngelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian angel investor network. Experts from BeAngels participate in pitch events and provide feedback to incubates.
• ECAMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering school partner that co-organizes the Hack2Start Challenge and refers students to the incubation program.
• Start Lab BrusselsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnother Brussels-based startup incubator. Co-organizes events like Financial Night with Start Lab ICHEC.
• Marie-Lise HeinenminorOthersExpert in International Trade providing consultation on international business development strategies.
• Marie-Isabelle MuningerminorOthersMarketing expert providing consultation on strategic marketing and innovation management.
• Marie FeraucheminorOthersDigital marketing expert specializing in e-commerce, SEO, SEA, and consumer engagement.
• Jacques FolonminorOthersIntellectual property expert providing guidance on IP rights and GDPR compliance.
• Gerard KuypersminorOthersLegal expert specializing in governance and team mediation.
• Eric NysminorOthersBusiness growth expert specializing in finance.
• Daniel BinaméminorOthersSocial law expert providing guidance on company creation and social status.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hub.brussels: Brussels business support agency implementing regional entrepreneurship policy and coordinating the YET network in which Start Lab ICHEC participates. Overlapping mandate at a wider portfolio level.
• YET (Young Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow): Brussels-Capital Region initiative supporting young entrepreneurs through a partner network that includes Start Lab ICHEC. Operates as a wider umbrella program in the same target segment.

Regional players

• BeAngels: Belgian angel investor network providing pitch feedback and investor exposure to Start Lab ICHEC incubates. Comparable in serving the Belgian early-stage ecosystem but focused on capital rather than incubation.
• ECAM: Brussels engineering school and core Start Lab ICHEC partner, co-organizing the Hack2Start Challenge. Comparable as a higher-education institution running entrepreneurship programs for its students.

Direct peers

• Start Lab Brussels: Brussels-based startup incubator targeting young entrepreneurs, co-organizes events (e.g., Financial Night) with Start Lab ICHEC. Closest operational peer in the same regional market.
• Junior Enterprises Belgium: Federation of student-run consulting and entrepreneurship ventures across Belgian higher-education institutions, serving a comparable student-entrepreneur audience and offering practical business experience.

Emerging players

• Enactus Belgium: Global student-leadership and social-entrepreneurship organization active in Belgian universities. Targets a similar student-entrepreneur audience with project-based programs and competitions.
• Antler: Global early-stage startup generator and accelerator. Comparable in providing structured early-stage support to first-time founders, though targeting a broader, international cohort.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StartLabICHEC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC59ceu4WIa-RBtG25nM_lqg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/start-lab-ichec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Start Lab ICHEC