team — imec.istart future fund

team two partners · four principles

Kris Vandenberk

managing partner

I'm drawn to teams who combine deep domain expertise with a true builder mentality: people who grind through hard problems, have clarity of vision, and know how to sell it.

linkedin kris.vandenberk@imecistartfuturefund.com

My background spans software engineering, consulting, product development, and venture capital. I started as an R&D engineer at Siemens, moved through consulting roles at PwC and Accenture, led product development at Mastercard, then spent several years in venture at PMV, where I invested in and served on boards of companies including CoScale (New Relic), PieSync (HubSpot), Teamleader (Visma), THEO Technologies (Dolby), and Waylay (Vertiv).

At imec.istart future fund, I invest in early-stage founders building at the intersection of software, AI, and frontier tech. I'm an active board member and sparring partner on product, strategy, finance and hiring; helping founders navigate decisions and connect to the right people and capital.

Ruth Janssens

managing partner

I love to work with founders who take on hard problems, move fast, and know how to turn vision into execution.

linkedin ruth.janssens@imecistartfuturefund.com

As a former startup founder, I bring first-hand experience of the realities behind building a company, from navigating uncertainty and pressure to making the countless trade-offs that shape a business. It allows me to truly empathize and act as a pragmatic, hands-on partner.

In 2016, I was recognized as one of the most promising female entrepreneurs, reflecting my drive to build and create from the ground up.

I focus on go-to-market strategy, building the right teams, and unlocking growth through partnerships. I work closely with founders to sharpen their positioning, find early traction, and make the key hires that define a company's trajectory.

I'm particularly energized by early-stage companies, where the path is still being defined and every decision matters. As a sparring partner, I combine strategic clarity with a bias for action, helping founders move forward with confidence and focus.

Kris Vandenberk

Ruth Janssens

Alumni-first, not alumni-only.

Lead or co-lead, move fast.

Prepare you for what's next.

Honest feedback over false comfort.

Straight to the people who decide.