Capital-E, a new venture fund closely related to the Belgian research centre for nanotechnology and nano-electronics IMEC, today announces a first capitalization of 35.5 million €. Capital-E aims at two to three investment projects a year in micro- and nanoelectronics startups in various sectors. Gilbert Declerck, CEO of IMEC (image right), announces: „Capital-E allows for a fast, efficient and well-founded transition from a great idea towards a successful company.“
The fund wants to become the European reference in its domain. Last year the Belgian research centre took the initiative to launch a new venture capital fund, called Capital-E. Next to IMEC’s contribution, Capital-E secured additional investments from various Belgian players, including the Arkimedes fund of the Flemish government. In its domain, Capital-E is Belgium’s largest fund that is also prepared to finance ’seed‘ initiatives. The management of the fund wants to become the reference in Europe in its domain.
On the short term, the focus is mainly on Flanders, but will gradually shift towards the whole of Western Europe. Before the end of 2006, Capital-E expects to announce a second close as well with Non-Belgian investors, bringing the total capital to 50 million €. Capital-E specifically looks at ‚early-stage‘ micro-electronics companies in a variety of sectors. A total of ten to fifteen projects are projected to be financed within the next five years. Capital-E will not only focus on IMEC spin-offs, but targets any microelectronics startup in various sectors such as healthcare, biotechnology and others.
The fund is positioned in several ways. First of all because of the privileged operational link with IMEC, a globally renowned research centre that has set up more than twenty successful spin-offs over the years. Besides this, Capital-E has a right of first refusal on IMEC spin-off incubation projects.
EPP EUROPE 400
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