CollectiveUP takes big leap with the 2-day bootcamp at Start-it @KBC

We’re thrilled to share that around the flourishing journey of CollectiveUP, we have officially kicked off our first major accelerator milestone: the two-day bootcamp of the Start-it @KBC accelerator programme. This moment marks a wonderful convergence of our vision (empowering social digital impact) and the structural power of a top-notch acceleration ecosystem.

Here’s how the days unfolded — full of learning, connection, and sharpening our mission.
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Day 1: Setting the stage & pitching “Grantif.ai”

The bootcamp kicked off with a bang—the opportunity to pitch our newest innovation to a room full of seasoned entrepreneurs and experts. From the very start, the vibe was electric: co-founders, change-makers, fellow impact startups all in one space, ready to push boundaries and scale together. We introduced Grantifai, our AI-powered grant writing companion designed to alleviate the immense administrative burden on non-profits and social enterprises.

We had our first formal pitch of Grantifai, articulating the problem we address (complexity of grant writing, time & resource constraints for impact organisations), our solution (smart-AI companion, ideation to draft), and our ambition (to become the go-to grant support tool for social enterprises and EU-funded projects).

The moment of being in the bootcamp setting sharpened our focus: instead of asking “what we can do”, we asked “what we must do now to scale impact”.

As our CEO, Liliana Carrillo, said:
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“Pitching in this environment was more than just presenting an idea; it was about validating a solution to a real, painful problem. The feedback was immediate, insightful, and will be invaluable as we refine Grantifai to perfectly serve the heroes on the frontlines of social and environmental change.”

Day 2: Business tools & practical frameworks

Ideas need structure. Passion needs a plan. The core of the bootcamp was immersing ourselves in the frameworks that turn visionary concepts into scalable, sustainable ventures. We rolled up our sleeves and dove deep into:

• The Start-it KBC Maturity Matrix: This gave us a clear-eyed view of where we are today and a strategic roadmap for where we need to grow tomorrow, across every function of our organization.
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• We engaged with the Lean Canvas: clarifying our key problem, unique value proposition, customer segments (social organisations, NGOs, EU project-teams), solution, channels, revenue streams and cost structure. The exercise sharpened our narrative around Grantifai and made us laser-focused.
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• We mapped our Assumptions: What are our riskiest hypotheses (e.g., “social-impact organisations will adopt AI-driven grant writing”, “we can automate 60 % of the draft process while keeping high quality”, “we get early traction through EU project partners”)? By identifying these, we can prioritize validation.
  
  
• We built our OKRs (Objectives & Key Results): For example, Objective: “Validate Grantifai pilot with 3 social-impact organisations within 90 days.” Key Results: “Onboard 3 organisations”, “Automate minimum 50% of the draft submission process”, “Receive user-satisfaction rating ≥ 8/10”. This gives us alignment, focus and measurable progress. See Forbes Advisor article if you want to know more: What Is An OKR? Definitions And Examples
  
  

Our support system for the year ahead

The bootcamp's energy was incredible, but the true value of Start-it KBC lies in the long-term, comprehensive support system we now have access to. We are thrilled to announce that we will be guided through this entire year by Ludo Dhelft, an experienced business coach who will provide mentorship, challenge our thinking, and help us navigate the challenges of scaling.

Beyond this one-on-one guidance, we now have access to the largest accelerator network in Belgium, a vibrant community of innovators and potential partners. Furthermore, the program provides access to co-working spaces in main Belgian cities, offering us the flexibility and base we need to connect and collaborate.

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Why it matters for CollectiveUP

As a social digital impact organisation, we always aim to scale not just business metrics but impact. This bootcamp gave us tools that are normally seen in “tech startup” contexts—but we’re adapting them for our domain: grant-writing, social entrepreneurship, digital tools for change.

• The accelerator context pushes us to think beyond local, to think about scalability, repeatable impact, sustainable business models.
  
  
• By embedding our solution (Grantifai) in the accelerator’s ecosystem, we gain access to networks, partners, mentors and infrastructure we otherwise might not have reached.
  
  
• Learning frameworks like Lean Canvas, Assumption Mapping, OKRs helps translate our social mission into strategic milestones and measurable outcomes—which is vital for impact reporting, for funders, for organisational growth.
  
  

What’s next?

We’re entering an exciting phase. Here’s what we’re focused on in the coming weeks in this quarter:

• Pilot onboarding: We’ll reach out to our network of social organisations and EU-project partners to onboard 3 pilot users of Grantifai.
  
  
• Test & validate assumptions: We’ll test the highest-risk assumptions identified in the bootcamp. What works? What needs pivoting?
  
  
• Refine business model: Using the Lean Canvas as a living document, we’ll iterate on value proposition and revenue streams (e.g., subscription model for social orgs, enterprise licence for project consortia).
  
  
• Coach sessions with Ludo: We will establish our monthly checkpoint rhythm, define 90-day key results, and ensure we keep momentum.
  
  
• Leverage the network: Explore co-working hubs, mentor sessions, events with the Start it @KBC community—because collaborating and co-creating with others is exactly the mindset we value.
  
  

Why you should stay tuned

Our participation in the Start-it KBC accelerator is a strategic investment—in our team, our tools, and our long-term capacity to serve you. The lessons learned in just two days have already made us sharper, more strategic, and more prepared than ever.

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As our CEO, Liliana Carrillo says:
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“This journey is not just about our growth; it's about our collective ascent. By strengthening CollectiveUP, we are building a more powerful engine for change, dedicated to ensuring that your organization can focus on what it does best: creating a better future.”

If you care about social innovation, about digital tools that enable purpose-driven organisations, and about how impact organisations can adopt startup growth tactics — this journey is for you. We’ll share insights, learnings, perhaps even failures—because growth isn’t just about wins, it’s about learning fast, iterating rapidly, and scaling sustainably.

We invite you to follow our journey here at CollectiveUP, as we build Grantifai and grow our impact alongside the vibrant ecosystem of Start it @KBC. The best is yet to come — and we’re excited that you’re with us.

Thank you for being part of our community, and stay tuned for more updates. We’re on a mission – and with the right tools, mindset and community, there’s no limit.

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