Sven De Cleyn

Sven De Cleyn is the Managing Director at imec.istart, an early-stage deep tech accelerator based in Leuven, Flanders, Belgium. Appointed to this position in early 2022 after serving as Program Director from 2014 to 2021, he oversees acceleration programs that have supported more than 500 startup companies. Under his leadership, over 100 portfolio companies have collectively raised in excess of €1 billion in total funding across sectors including artificial intelligence, hardware, sustainability, and healthtech. Holding an MBA from Vlerick Business School, De Cleyn frequently bridges the gap between academic research and entrepreneurship, collaborating with institutions like KU Leuven and Ghent University. He recently expanded the accelerator's operations to new international hubs, including Eindhoven in 2024, and spoke at Techstars Startup Week Europe. His current focus remains on early-stage venture building and commercializing deep tech innovations.