Access to Finance Expert

Imec; Antwerpen; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

imec.istart seeks an Access to Finance Expert who combines strong financial expertise with a deep understanding of the investment landscape. You will coach founders on finance and fundraising, helping them build robust financial plans, understand financing needs, and prepare for fundraising.

You will develop and manage relationships with investors, connect startups with the right partners, and organize fundraising events to support the portfolio.

Qualifications

• Experience in startup finance, venture capital, fundraising, investment or a related field.
• Understanding startup financial models, cash-flow management, financing needs and fundraising processes.
• Understanding how investors assess opportunities and what makes a company investment-ready.
• Experience working with entrepreneurs, investors, or preferably both.
• Existing network in the European investment ecosystem and motivation to expand it internationally.
• Ability to translate financial complexity into pragmatic, actionable advice for founders.
• Comfortable challenging entrepreneurs while remaining a trusted sparring partner.
• Excellent relationship-building and connecting people.
• Combination of analytical thinking with a hands-on, entrepreneurial mindset.

Responsibilities

• Coach founders on finance and fundraising, acting as sparring partner on financial topics.
• Help startups build and challenge financial plans, cash-flow forecasts, and financing needs.
• Coach founders on financial metrics, cash management, budgeting and reporting.
• Advise on financing mix, strategy, timing, process and investor readiness.
• Prepare founders for investor conversations, negotiations and due diligence.
• Share best practices around investment terms and financing structures.
• Deliver workshops and practical sessions on finance topics.
• Build, maintain and expand a network of investors in Belgium and internationally.
• Identify relevant investors by stage, sector and financing needs.
• Facilitate introductions between founders and investors.

Skills

Financial expertise

Investor relations

Fundraising

Startup experience

Networking

Tools

Financial modeling

Cash-flow forecasting

Job description

Access to Finance Expert

You combine strong financial expertise with an excellent understanding of the investment landscape. You work hands‑on with founders in our portfolio, helping them build robust financial plans, understand their financing needs, determine the right funding mix and prepare for fundraising.
At the same time, you develop and manage our relationships with investors, ensuring that we understand what they are looking for and can connect the right startups with the right investors at the right moment.

About imec.istart

Founded in Belgium in 2011, imec.istart was one of Europe’s first startup accelerators. Over the past decade, we’ve grown into an international accelerator and early‑stage investor currently active in The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Germany and Bulgaria. Today, we support 380+ startups and scaleups through a strong network of partners and experts.
At imec.istart, we back bold tech startups and their founder teams from day one — with capital, coaching, profound expertise and connections — to globally scale what matters. Our vision is to be Europe’s most trusted long‑term partner for early‑stage tech startups — helping them scale globally, innovate fearlessly, and shape a better future. In short: Funding startups first, supporting them always!
Imec’s headquarters are in Leuven. The main hubs of the imec.istart team are Antwerp ("The Beacon") and Ghent (Wintercircus) in Belgium.
Read more about imec.istart on https://www.imecistart.com/en.

What you will do

• Coach founders on finance & fundraising
  
  • Act as a trusted sparring partner for founders on financial and fundraising topics.
  • Help startups build and challenge their financial plans, cash‑flow forecasts and financing needs.
  • Coach founders on financial metrics, cash management, budgeting and financial reporting.
  • Help founders determine the right financing mix for their company and growth stage.
  • Advise founders on fundraising strategy, timing, process and investor readiness.
  • Challenge fundraising assumptions and help founders build a compelling investment case.
  • Prepare founders for investor conversations, negotiations and due diligence.
  • Share best practices around investment terms and financing structures.
  • Deliver workshops and practical sessions on finance and fundraising topics.
• Build & manage investor relations
  • Build, maintain and expand a strong network of relevant investors in Belgium and internationally.
  • Develop a deep understanding of investor strategies, investment criteria, sector interests, stages and ticket sizes.
  • Act as a trusted point of contact for investors interested in the imec.istart portfolio.
  • Identify the most relevant investors for portfolio companies based on their stage, sector and financing needs.
  • Facilitate targeted introductions between founders and investors.
  • Maintain regular contact with investors to understand their evolving investment focus and appetite.
  • Proactively identify new investors and financing partners who can add value to our portfolio.
  • Help position imec.istart as a trusted source of high‑quality technology deal flow.
• Create fundraising opportunities for the portfolio
  
  • Organise and contribute to investor events, matchmaking initiatives and other opportunities that bring founders and investors together.
  • Monitor fundraising needs and activities across the portfolio and proactively identify opportunities to support founders.
  • Connect founders not only with equity investors, but with the broader financing ecosystem where relevant.
  • Contribute to the continuous development of imec.istart’s finance and fundraising offering.

What we do for you

In exchange for your talent, passion, and expertise, you will be part of a multicultural and high‑tech company, where challenges and opportunities are within reach. Our flexible, progressive, and informal work environment offers you a range of opportunities to take initiative and demonstrate your sense of responsibility. This is your opportunity to contribute to technology that will shape the society of tomorrow. imec supports and guides you in this mission, not only with words but with deeds. Through imec.academy, 'our corporate university,' we actively invest in further developing our employees and ensuring your technical and personal growth.
Your valuable contribution and that of your colleagues makes imec a top player in its domain. Your energy and effort are therefore appreciated in an attractive market‑based salary supplemented with numerous benefits, as befits a global player.

Who you are

You are someone who combines financial expertise, an investor mindset and a genuine passion for helping entrepreneurs succeed.
Ideally, you:

• Have relevant experience in startup finance, venture capital, fundraising, investment or a related field.
• Understand startup financial models, cash‑flow management, financing needs and fundraising processes.
• Understand how investors assess opportunities and what makes a company investment‑ready.
• Have experience working with entrepreneurs, investors, or preferably both.
• Have an existing network in the European investment ecosystem and are motivated to expand it internationally.
• Can translate financial complexity into pragmatic, actionable advice for founders.
• Are comfortable challenging entrepreneurs while remaining a trusted and constructive sparring partner.
• Are an excellent relationship builder and enjoy connecting people.
• Combine analytical thinking with a hands‑on, entrepreneurial mindset.
• Are comfortable working with many different companies, sectors and financing situations simultaneously in an international context.

IMEC and its affiliates will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. IMEC will consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes submitted by vendors such as search firms, staffing agencies, professional recruiters, fee‑based referral services and recruiting agencies (hereafter “Agency”) to have been referred by the Agency free of charge. IMEC will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have a prior written agreement with IMEC, validated by its HR department, in place regarding a specific job opening and allowing to submit resumes.