Imec.xpand Raises €117 Million to Invest in Ideas

Imec.xpand, an independent early-stage and growth fund that was initiated by imec, announced the closing of its first fund at EUR 117 million in committed capital. The amount raised exceeds the initial target of €100 million and positions imec.xpand as a player in the deep tech venture capital ecosystem.
 
Imec.xpand is an early stage and growth fund with an approach to turn hardware driven nanotechnology innovation into successful global companies. The fund targets ambitious tech start-ups for whom imec knowledge, expertise and infrastructure can play a determining role in their success.
 
The fund is managed by Peter Vanbekbergen, Frank Bulens, Cyril Vančura and Tom Vanhoutte, who each bring entrepreneurial, venture capital and/or business expertise to the table. The combination of this independent management, corporate as well as financially driven investors, universities and imec, who are all committed to contribute to the success of the fund, sets imec.xpand apart from other venture capital initiatives.
 
The fund was launched in 2017 with the support of imec and the Flemish government. Since then, imec.xpand attracted international strategic and institutional investors like Samsung Electronics, BNP Paribas Fortis, Applied Materials, SK Hynix, Philips, the Brabant development company BOM, KBC Insurance, the Belgian federal investment company SFPI-FPIM and several high net worth individuals and universities. Belfius Insurance, the Flemish investment company PMV and KPN Ventures joined most recently.