A startup campus is a specialized coworking space catering exclusively to - you guessed it - startups. This environment guarantees working among like-minded individuals who are also building ambitious, early-stage companies.

In addition to physical workspace, a startup campus offers experienced community management, tailored services, and a series of inspiring and helpful workshops.

The office layout of our campus is based on research - we interviewed more than 40 early-stage tech startups, asking them about their indivdual and team needs.

In addition, the Wintercircus community management and other team members have a track record of working closely with startups. This results in relevant formats with elite practioners, an open pay-it-forward culture and an impactful network worth the connection.

The Wintercircus Startup Campus is specifically designed for early-stage tech companies. Our mission is to cultivate a community where like-minded startups can thrive by sharing knowledge, experience and support.

While we strive to be inclusive, our focus is on fostering a collaborative environment primarily for those in the early stages of tech entrepreneurship. To fully benefit from our unique community, being an early-stage tech company is essential. This implies that the development and implementation of your own advanced tech solution is the core component of your value proposition towards clients, investors and other stakeholders. Read about the criteria on this page.

The Wintercircus Startup Campus is only open to early-stage startups that are building innovative products. We select the most promising and impactful startups based on a variety of criteria. (see above)

You can apply here.

If all application requirements are met, Wintercircus will invite you for an interview and - in a final stage - a jury pitch. Jurors will use the defined criteria to score all startups.

Apart from the strictly formal requirements, our aim is to welcome a variety of tech startups from different domains and industries.

Wintercircus is conviently located in the centre of the city. You can easily get to us by bike, car or public transport.

Wintercircus guarantees there will be no noise disturbance from events during working hours. Or, more specifically, on weekdays from 8am to 6pm.

At Wintercircus, we offer the following memberships:

• Private Offices: Tailored for teams of 5 to 15 members, these (limited) private offices provide a dedicated, enclosed space for startups and teams to collaborate and grow in a space they can call their own. Startups pay the monthly office price.
• Team Desks: Dedicated & clustered desks designed for teams, ensuring your group has its own consistent workspace within our shared areas. Ideal for teams seeking a stable and dedicated work area in a collaborative environment. Startups pay monthly desk fees.
• Flex Desks: For individuals seeking flexibility, our flex desks in the open workspace are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Perfect for freelancers, solo entrepreneurs or anyone who needs a workspace without the commitment of a permanent desk.

For Private Offices and Team Desks, we work with year-to-year contracts, which can be terminated with a 3-month notice. Flex Desks can be rented per month.

• High speed & reliable internet
• Coffee, tea & filtered water
• Meeting room time (all membership plans include free meeting rooms)
• Access to the Wintercircus network
• Exclusive events at our space for all of our members to attend

The Startup Campus is accessible 24/7 for campus members.

Yes, after your online application has been positively reviewed, you're welcome to visit our Startup Campus and check its facilities. Take into account though that the final step is to convince our experienced jury during a live pitch.

There are no hidden costs or additional expenses for the use of the meeting rooms, call booths or informal meeting spots. Not included in the fees: printing, tailored mailing or connectivity services, the use of specific event or workshop spaces, etc.

We only ask for a 2-month deposit to be paid upfront for Private Offices.

You can absolutely bring clients or partners in for a meeting! We do ask that you book a meeting room if you plan on meeting longer than 30 minutes. Also, after office hours, you have to attend to your visitors yourself.

Facilities include flex or private (team) desks, private offices, meeting rooms, phone booths, informal meeting zones, event spaces, (free) coffee corners & filtered water, a kitchen with cafeteria (fridges, microwave-ovens), bars & restaurants and several recreational areas.

Yes, we offer amenities like high-speed internet, printing services, cleaning of the office & community spaces, plants & care, mail handling and access to the Wintercircus network via the campus management.

Flex Desks are limited and dispersed throughout the building. They can be rented per month and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Wintercircus focusses primarily on Team Desks (or dedicated desks for startup teams looking for a designated desk in a communal working space) and Private Offices (for startup teams looking for more privacy while still being part of the Startup Campus).

No, a range of campus exclusive meeting rooms are included in your campus fee. You will have to formally book these meeting rooms, though. Also at your disposal at no cost: plenty of informal breakout rooms, one-on-one meeting zones and call booths.

The Auditorium (+1)

A premium presentation room for 100 people with adjacent foyer and view of the Arena.

Expo Spaces (0)

Two large multi-purpose spaces, suitable for workshops (130 people), lectures or small-scale parties.

Workshop Rooms (-1)

Three spacious workshop rooms for approx. 25 people.

Boardroom (+4)

A luxurious meeting space that seats 25, located in the rooftop restaurant. Perfect in combination with lunch or dinner!

Yes, Team Desk and Private Office startups enjoy a 25% discount on our standard event space prices.

We do for Team Desks and Private Offices, not for Flex Desks or event organizers. Between 8am and 6pm, our reception will receive and store your mail in a dedicated room. After 6pm, the room will be locked (and therefore inaccessible).

Due to limited accessibility & safekeeping Wintercircus cannot provide a package handling service, we recommend using the Bpost parcel module in ‘Gent Zuid’ shopping mall.

Wintercircus offers excellent in-house catering services and guided tours. We also have a list of trusted event partners and an answer to all (or definitely most) of your hospitality questions.

Yes, but with prior approval from Wintercircus. Also, you are responsible (and liable) for all administrative actions regarding the registration and removal of the registered office at Wintercircus. Removal needs to be completed 30 days after the termination of your campus agreement.

We always try to accommodate our startups' growth within our spaces. There is, however, a limit: the maximum amount of seats per startup is 15. So when applying, take into account how you will organize your team in case of high growth, or how you will manage your team attendance at Wintercircus, whether in our communal workspace or our limited number of Private Offices.

Yes, we have a campus guideline that every member needs to understand, sign and respect. This guideline ensure a productive, respectful and clean environment. It's available on our website or at the campus reception.

The Startup Campus is our House of Performance, with a 'top gun' quality label we will grow in the years to come. We will showcase and expect optimism, pride and maximum participation, and an eagerness to get the job done.

Wintercircus strongly believes in paying it forward and helping out our campus startups, providing them with knowledge and expertise, etc. We expect the same attitude of our campus teams towards each other ... and Wintercircus.

Team Wintercircus loves animals. Yet, all pets, including dogs, are prohibited on campus in consideration of maintaining a healthy, clean, and comfortable environment that meets all residents' expectations. We interviewed plenty of startup delegates, and feelings were very mixed. As such, we want to prevent any inconvenience or discomfort that may arise from allergies, fears, or other concerns.