WestBIC Attends Final Start’Ship Project Meeting in Antwerp

WestBIC is an Enterprise Ireland partner providing hands-on startup support, funding readiness and investment preparation for early-stage founders in the west of Ireland.

Earlier in October, WestBIC travelled to Antwerp, Belgium for the final meeting of the Start’Ship partnership, an Erasmus+ project we’ve been proud to contribute to over the past two years.

As the partner focused on communications and dissemination, we’ve worked alongside organisations from Belgium, Italy, France, Latvia, and Portugal to strengthen support for student entrepreneurship across Europe, and we’re bringing valuable insights back to Ireland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

What We Learned from Antwerp’s Ecosystem
Hosted by AP Hogeschool Antwerpen, the meeting included a visit to TakeOff Antwerp, an initiative that’s achieved something remarkable: growing student entrepreneurship participation from 50 students a decade ago to over 1,300 today. This makes Antwerp the hub of student entrepreneurship activity in Flanders.

What struck us most was their ecosystem approach. Rather than operating in silos, Antwerp has created a unified framework connecting universities, the city council, chamber of commerce, and dedicated student support services. It’s a model that offers real lessons for how we support early-stage founders in Ireland — collaboration and coordination matter as much as individual programme quality.

Connecting European Knowledge to Irish Entrepreneurs
Throughout the Start’Ship project, our communications work has focused on sharing insights, resources, and best practices across borders. We’ve seen firsthand how student entrepreneurs face similar challenges whether they’re in Galway, Genoa, or Antwerp: accessing funding, building networks, and transitioning from academic ideas to viable businesses.

The tools and frameworks developed through Start’Ship — from curriculum resources to mentorship models — create pathways for young people to develop entrepreneurial skills early. For WestBIC, this aligns directly with our mission to support entrepreneurs from concept to commercialisation. The earlier we can engage with entrepreneurial talent, the stronger our regional ecosystem becomes.

Why Student Entrepreneurship Matters for the West of Ireland
During the Antwerp meeting, Isabelle De Ridder, Director of the Antwerp University Association, shared how institutional commitment and cross-sector collaboration drove their growth. It reinforced something we see in our own work: entrepreneurship isn’t just about business creation. It’s about developing problem-solving skills, resilience, and innovation mindsets that benefit individuals and communities regardless of whether every participant launches a company.

Engaging students and young entrepreneurs early builds a pipeline of talent that can choose to grow businesses here rather than elsewhere. It’s about creating opportunities and showing young people that entrepreneurship is accessible and achievable in their own communities.

The Start’Ship Legacy
As the project concludes in February 2026, we’re grateful for the partnerships we’ve built and the knowledge we’ve exchanged. The connections between European regions, the shared learning, and the resources created through Start’Ship will continue supporting student entrepreneurs long after the formal project ends.

Our role in communications and dissemination means we’ve had the privilege of amplifying stories, connecting partners, and ensuring insights reach the people who need them. It’s been rewarding work, and we’re committed to continuing this knowledge-sharing approach across all our EU projects and entrepreneurial programmes.

Thank you to AP Hogeschool Antwerpen for hosting an excellent final meeting, and to all our Start’Ship partners for three years of meaningful collaboration.

Learn more about Start’Ship: https://www.startship-project.eu/