If you’re sitting on a business idea that has gained some early traction but needs serious momentum to scale, you’re probably wondering what comes next. Accelerators exist precisely for this moment. Once you’ve moved past the idea stage, you need a combination of capital, expertise, and connections to reach commercial viability.
The accelerator model took off after Y Combinator launched in 2005. While the US initially led in this area, Europe, and Ireland in particular, has developed its own robust startup ecosystem.
What’s the difference between an incubator and an accelerator?
Incubators support very early-stage ventures, often still at the concept stage, by providing workspace, mentoring, and the time to develop (sometimes for years). They’re for founders still figuring out product-market fit.
Accelerators typically work with companies that are already trading. They have customers (paying or trial), a functioning product, and a team in place. In exchange for equity (typically 5% to10% in Ireland) accelerators provide investment, intensive mentoring, and structured programmes lasting three to six months. Most culminate in a demo day where you pitch to investors.
Getting into an accelerator
Competition varies considerably. Y Combinator accepts roughly 1% of applicants globally. European accelerator programmes typically sit around 2% to 7%, and although there is no official reporting here in Ireland, anecdotal evidence suggests that acceptance rates for regional programmes can reach 30% to 40% depending on the sector and location.
If you’re thinking of applying to an accelerator, you’ll need:
- A capable team, covering technical, commercial, and domain expertise. You don’t need lots of employees, but gaps in critical areas will be questioned.
- Demonstrable traction like users, revenue, partnerships, or validated demand. Accelerators want to see what you’ve already achieved rather than projections of what you plan to do.
- Financial runway that allows you to commit fully for 3 to 6 months without distraction.
- Coachability and the willingness to have your assumptions challenged and pivot quickly when evidence demands it.
Requirements vary by programme, but these fundamentals apply across Irish accelerators.
World-class accelerators available in Ireland
Some of the leading generalist accelerators in Ireland are:
Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers
Location: 18 locations nationwide
Enterprise Ireland’s flagship programme for early-stage founders, New Frontiers takes no equity. Phase 1 is part-time over 8-10 weeks, for validating business ideas whilst you’re still employed. Phase 2 is a six-month full-time commitment with a €15,000 tax-free allowance. The whole support package is valued at over €40,000 and includes mentoring, training, and workspace at your local innovation centre.
The programme covers financial management, market validation, business modelling, product development, marketing, and sales. You’ll connect with Enterprise Ireland advisers, Local Enterprise Offices, and other founders going through the same process. Over 500 participants join New Frontiers each year, many going on to receive investment from Local Enterprise Offices or Enterprise Ireland.
TL;DR: New Frontiers is great if you’re new to business or switching careers, have an innovative idea with export potential, and want structured founder support without giving away equity. The 18 locations mean there’s likely one near you.
NDRC
Location: Dublin (Dogpatch Labs, CHQ Building)
This accelerator invests €100,000 per startup using a founder-friendly SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) with a 20% discount. The six-month programme operates on a rolling basis so there are no fixed cohort and no application deadlines. The mid-point is a closed-door demo day for investors and potential customers, with the second half of the programme focuses on support for seed fundraising. Learn more in our blog all about NDRC programmes.
NDRC provides 12 months free workspace at Dogpatch Labs, access to software perks, and connections to top-tier VCs including Act Venture Capital, Atlantic Bridge, and Frontline. NDRC is great if you’re building globally scalable tech and will be ready to raise a seed round quickly.
- N.B. The NDRC comes to an end later this year and will be replaced by the Enterprise Ireland National Accelerator Platform, which we will cover once details are published.
Dogpatch Labs
Location: Dublin Digital Docklands (CHQ Building)
A startup hub and ‘platform for innovation’, Dogpatch boasts a community of 800+ community and alumni startups. A focal point for the ecosystem, Dogpatch manages NDRC and runs several other programmes including Founders (which pairs engineers and domain experts to build startups from scratch) and the 2050 Accelerator (launchpad for ground-breaking solutions in sustainability). Alumni include tech unicorn Intercom.
Dogpatch works with partners like Google, Microsoft, HubSpot, and Salesforce. The space itself is 40,000 square feet across three levels in a 200-year-old building and includes hotdesks, private offices, meeting rooms, and an event area.
TL;DR: Dogpatch is great if you need workspace, community connections, and access to Ireland’s tech/ sustainability ecosystems. They run a wide variety of programme and their leadership team has real-world entrepreneurial and startup experience.
Furthr (formerly Dublin BIC)
Location: Dublin (Guinness Enterprise Centre)
Founded in 1988, Furthr has been supporting Irish entrepreneurs for over 36 years. Their consultants guide founders through securing both public funding (like Enterprise Ireland’s Pre-Seed Start Fund and HPSU) and private funding (angel and VC). Furthr has worked with over 6,000 companies and supported clients to raise €200 million in direct funding.
The Furthr Foundry accelerator runs for 12 weeks in-person. It’s for startups aiming to secure seed funding and includes six months free office space at the Guinness Enterprise Centre, business consultants, access to legal and IP experts, and connections to angel investors and VCs.
TL;DR: Furthr is great if you’re navigating Enterprise Ireland’s funding landscape or need hands-on help preparing applications for HPSU or Pre-Seed Start Fund (they work directly with Enterprise Ireland Client Advisers).
Regional Business Innovation Centres (BICs)
Locations: AxisBIC (Cork, Kerry, Clare, Limerick), WestBIC (West, Northwest, Midlands), Propelor BIC (Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford)
Ireland’s four Business Innovation Centres – AxisBIC, Furthr, Propelor BIC, and WestBIC – have been supporting entrepreneurs for over decades. All BICs work directly with Enterprise Ireland on investor readiness programmes, with a particular focus on preparing companies for High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) investment and the Pre-Seed Start Fund.
All four BICs deliver the national Prep4Seed programme twice yearly in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland. It’s a 12-week intensive investor-ready programme blending masterclasses with hands-on one-to-one consulting, intense pitch preparation, and networking with the Irish investment community. To date, 76 startups have participated.
AxisBIC, covering the south and mid-west, is particularly active. Their annual Entrepreneur Experience brings 24 emerging entrepreneurs together with 24 established business leaders for 24 hours of intensive mentoring in Ballymaloe. They also run the Venture Academy, focused on getting companies pitch-ready. Next Wave is a 10-week accelerator for women founders, allowing participants to validate their ideas, refine compelling narratives, and build momentum toward investor readiness through structured learning, mentorship, and peer connection.
WestBIC participates in collaborative projects and provides a bespoke consultancy service, delivering tailored advice and hands-on support through a combination of programmes, detailed one-to-one mentorship and events. As well as PSSF funding application support and investor readiness support, they help with business model development, financial modelling, and scaling strategies.
Propelor BIC also delivers PreSeed+, a focused six-week accelerator for early-stage teams to validate the market, map the roadmap, and build financial plans through targeted workshops and one-to-one sessions. Their annual Big Pitch event sees rising startups compete for cash prizes whilst being mentored by experienced entrepreneurs.
TL;DR: Regional BICs are great if you’re outside Dublin and need guidance navigating Enterprise Ireland funding and want one-to-one business consultancy tailored to your stage.
LaunchBox (Trinity College Dublin)
Location: Dublin
Trinity’s student accelerator runs in two phases. Phase 1 is a 12-week term-time programme with evening sessions and Phase 2 is a summer residency offering 12 weeks of co-working space for teams ready to work full-time on their idea. It includes structured workshops, mentorship, networking, and community. It takes no equity and you retain all IP.
LaunchBox is open to teams of two to three people (sometimes more), with at least one current Trinity student required. If applying to Phase 2, it’s worth noting that priority is given to teams that completed Phase 1.
TL;DR: LaunchBox is great if you’re a Trinity student with an idea at any stage (even just a concept) and want structured support, investor access, and a founder community to test whether it works as a business.
Sector-specific accelerators available in Ireland
If you work in a particular niche or sector, there may be an accelerator that can offer you specific support. Some sector-specific accelerators include:
AgTechUCD
Location: UCD Lyons Farm, County Kildare
Most accelerators give you desk space and mentors. AgTechUCD gives you a 250-hectare working farm. The 12-week programme operates from Ireland’s only on-farm workspace hub, which means you can test products in actual field conditions – cattle sheds, pastures, processing facilities – rather than presenting theoretical solutions to farmers who’ve heard it all before.
The programme targets agtech, foodtech, equine, and vettech startups. Winners receive €10,000, but the practical value is field testing, access to UCD’s food processing labs, mentors, and investors who understand the realities of building an agritech startup. There’s also a four-week pre-accelerator for validating ideas through customer discovery before committing to the full programme.
TL;DR: AgTechUCD is great if your solution needs proving on an actual farm, not just in a pitch deck.
Accelerate Green
Location: Boora, County Offaly (with events across Ireland)
Run by Bord na Móna in conjunction with Resolve Partners, Accelerate Green offers two programmes: GROW for early-stage enterprises and SMEs looking to scale, and START for budding entrepreneurs and earlier-stage businesses. Both programmes equip founders in climate action and sustainability with the skills to scale here and abroad. The programme culminates in an annual conference where participants showcase to stakeholders and investors.
This accelerator focuses on creating a collaborative environment for businesses to work together, learn from each other, and grow their businesses to the next level. Rather than lean into competition, Accelerate Green brings participants together in two-day, residential sessions that include businesses workshops, networking events, and visits to exemplar companies in the industry.
TL;DR: Accelerate green is great if you’re developing climate tech, carbon reduction, sustainable solutions, or pivoting an existing business towards sustainability. It’s particularly relevant for businesses seeking a route-to-market through Bord na Móna’s network.
Hatch Blue – BIM Aquatech Innovation Studio
Location: Killorglin, County Kerry
The Innovation Studio is a 6-day intensive programme supporting early-stage aquatech companies through expert mentoring, investor readiness training, and technical development. Run by global aquaculture accelerator Hatch Blue in partnership with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM, Ireland’s seafood development agency), the studio focuses on early-stage tech, fintech, and AI startups with ideas in aquaculture innovation.
Participants are matched with dedicated mentors and given access to Hatch Blue’s network of aquaculture and investment experts. For founders seeking more substantial support, Hatch Blue’s main CREST accelerator is a hybrid 12-month programme with rolling applications, offering investment in the form of a $75,000 SAFE and on-site workshops in Hawaii (with industry trips in Bergen and Singapore).
TL;DR: The Innovation Studio is great if you’re at early-stage and want sector-specific expertise and global connections. It’s particularly suited to those entering aquaculture from adjacent industries or commercialising technology beyond research institutions.
Is this the right time for an accelerator?
Accelerators are dynamic environments that feed creativity, and many participants find the experience of working alongside other founders just as valuable as the structured supports on offer. Accelerators compress time, building expertise, networks, and capital in months rather than years. For founders with early traction who are ready to move fast, they provide the framework to test whether your business can scale and the connections to make it happen.
The trade-off is equity and intensity, because you exchange a slice of ownership for speed and de-risking. Whether that’s worthwhile depends entirely on where you are: if you’re stuck at a plateau without clear next steps, an accelerator can unstick you. If you’re already growing and have access to the resources you need, you might not need one. The question isn’t ‘should I apply to an accelerator?’ but ‘what specific problem would an accelerator solve for my business right now?’ If you can answer that clearly, you’ll know whether to apply and which one to choose.
