SE'nSE Call for projects

The SE’nSE call for projects closes on 16 August 2026.

The call for projects is national (open only to Belgian start-ups) and conducted entirely in English (application form and presentation to the jury).

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Philosophy

The SE’nSE call for projects is aimed at entrepreneurs developing start-ups with a significant positive environmental impact.

By supporting start-ups in their launch phase, the SE’nSE call for projects creates a crucial leverage effect to convince other investors of the potential positive environmental impact and the team’s entrepreneurial capabilities.

Find out more

Calendar

Launch of the call for projects: 26 May 2026
Application deadline: 16 August 2026, midnight
Announcement of candidates invited to present their project to the jury, based on the jury’s assessment: end of September
Pitch in English to the jury: 8 October 2026 in Brussels
Future Generations Summit (mandatory attendance): 3 December 2026. Showcasing of the Foundation’s winners.

Application form & rules

Eligibility criteria

Only candidates who meet these conditions are eligible. Applications that do not meet these criteria will not be forwarded to the panel for assessment.

must have a significant (potential) positive impact on the environment;
must be a start-up in its early stages, meaning that the company must have been established less than three years ago;
must be based in Belgium;
must demonstrate potential recurring sources of revenue that will cover at least its cash flow requirements, including loan repayment;
must demonstrate significant changes to the project if it has previously applied in a previous edition

must plan to work full-time on the project (it cannot be a side project) and be (jointly) responsible for the day-to-day management of the business;
must speak English, as the application form and the oral presentation to the panel are in English;

The loan from the Foundation for Future Generations must contribute to the project’s success. This means that the estimated financial requirements for carrying out the project must be between €100,000 and €1,000,000 over the next two years.

The funds granted by SE'nSE form part of a fundraising initiative. The amount awarded to a successful start-up will only be released once it can provide evidence of co-funding that will enable it to achieve its objectives.

The main selection criteria taken into account by the jury are: the positive impact on the environment, the quality and soundness of the business plan and the team, and the sustainability of the business.
The eligibility and selection criteria are set out in the rules.

Funding amounts and benefits

Through seed capital in the form of a subordinated loan of up to €50,000, the SE’nSE Fund helps start-ups bridge a crucial gap between initial funding (friends, family & fools) and more substantial sources of investment.

In addition to the funding, entrepreneurs benefit from:

constructive feedback from a panel of experts and impact investors,
access to a vast network focused on sustainable entrepreneurship,
increased visibility amongst key players in the ecosystem.

The SE’nSE Fund thus acts as a seal of approval, bolstering the credibility and environmental impact of the start-ups it supports.

Every year in December, the winners are showcased at our event: the Future Generations Summit.

Although the start-ups receiving support may decide to use the loaned capital for as long as necessary, the SE’nSE Fund’s mechanism is designed to encourage them to repay the loan quickly. The money repaid to the Fund can then be invested in new businesses.

A subordinated loan is a form of credit in which the lender takes the highest level of risk: they are the last to be repaid. Banks regard this type of loan as quasi-equity, which helps them to grant financing. Compared to equity, it has the advantage of not being dilutive, either in terms of profit or voting rights. For these reasons, it is usually more expensive than a standard loan.

The loan carries a zero interest rate for the first 18 months. An annual interest rate of 5% is then applied for the following 18 months. In subsequent years, interest is charged at an annual rate of 10%.