UStart

UStart Belgium operates as a key facilitator of student entrepreneurship within Belgium's academic landscape. The organization originated in 2013 from a collaborative effort by students from prominent Belgian business schools, including Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, the Louvain School of Management, and ICHEC Brussels Management School. This initiative was formalized into the UStart brand in January 2015, establishing a network of student entrepreneurship clubs.

The organization's mission is to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among students by providing them with essential tools, experience, and a professional network. UStart's operational structure is built upon three core pillars designed to support aspiring student entrepreneurs. The first pillar, "Formation," features the Startup Race, an eight-month introductory program where student-led projects are developed. The second, "Information," is actualized through the 'Road to Knowledge'—a series of local conferences and talks aimed at demystifying the startup world and inspiring students. The third pillar, "Echange" (Exchange), focuses on networking through its 'Bridge to New Horizons' events, which include walking dinners and entrepreneurship trips to connect students with the broader Belgian and international startup ecosystems.

UStart targets students across major universities in Brussels and Wallonia, with ongoing expansion into Flanders. It functions as a non-profit entity, providing its programs and resources, such as a 'Student Entrepreneurship Guide,' often for free to foster widespread access. By organizing events and creating content like the '#ROOTS | The Roots of Entrepreneurship' series, UStart aims to be the primary community for student entrepreneurs in the nation. Keywords: student entrepreneurship, Belgium startups, university entrepreneurship programs, student-run organization, entrepreneurship education, startup community, student ventures, youth entrepreneurship, academic startups, Startup Race, student networking, entrepreneurship support, Brussels student startups, Wallonia student ventures