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New Frontiers Accelerate – residential founder programme

Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers Accelerate is a brand new residential programme for busy would-be founders. It allows you to validate your idea and see if entrepreneurship is for you, working in a supportive environment alongside likeminded professionals from a wide range of backgrounds.

If you have a business idea with the potential to scale but you cannot yet commit to our full-time six-month programme, Accelerate is for you! Over three immersive weekends, you will build your business model, create a market entry plan, and then prepare for funding. The programme culminates with a demo day (also held at the weekend), where you will pitch to key players from the start-up ecosystem.

As well as the tools, resources, and knowledge you will gain during the residential weekends, you will receive wrap-around supports such as a dedicated programme manager, one-to-one mentoring, and webinars.

Successful applicants can expect:

High-impact support and intensive personal development.
A chance to work on your resilience and leadership skills.
Coaching and mentoring between residential weekends.
Workshops and masterclasses with experienced entrepreneurs.
An online community of peers for learning, sharing, and collaborating.

Places are limited and application does not imply acceptance. See below for more details.

EI New Frontiers Residential Accelerate programme map

How are participants chosen?

Applications to New Frontiers Accelerate start with our application form, where you will provide details about your background, business idea, progress so far, and expectations of the programme. You may then be invited to our Pre-Accelerator Selection Day, held on 18th May.

During Pre-Accelerator Selection Day, you will focus on your idea and map out the business concept, customer and market validation to date, and product-market fit. This day is used to thoroughly evaluate potential candidates through a number of methods including observation, engagement, discovery, impact, and participation.

To see if you are a good fit and start the application process, see below.

New Frontiers Accelerate: programme detail

Residential One: Building the business model

📆 Friday 28th, Saturday 29th, and Sunday 30th June 2024

This instensive weekend will bring founders through personal development as an entrepreneurial leader, building resilience, coaching, and goal setting. We will also cover market and proposition development from research through to market validation.

Residential Two: Market entry plan

📆 Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September 2024

The second weekend is used to focus on strategic business planning – from setting your strategic business direction through to engaging in the planning process for your business. We will also cover market and customer identification, building our your sales process and strategy, and working on sales presentation skills.

Residential Three: Planning, resourcing & funding

📆 Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October 2024

This jam-packed weekend will cover crucial business areas like marketing, content creation, branding, communications, financial planning, budgeting and forecasting, accessing funding, and investor pitching and presentation.

Demo Day: Presenting your business

📆 Saturday 30th November 2024

The end-of-programme business showcase is your opportunity to pitch to key players from the start-up ecosystem.

Programme cost

Accelerate is a completely free founder support programme fully funded by Enterprise Ireland. We cover the cost of programme, mentorship, food, and accommodation for programme participants.

Programme venue

Killashee Hotel, Killashee, Naas, Co. Kildare – a 4-star hotel just 2 km from Naas.

Additional programme benefits

  • One-to-one coaching with your Programme Manager.
  • Mentoring sessions between programme weekends.
  • Actionable content, tools, and resources for planning your next steps.
  • Guest talks, workshops, and masterclasses with entrepreneurs.
  • Online peer-to-peer community.

Download the PDF

To read more about the programme, download our PDF.

Ready to step out of your day-to-day and immerse yourself in this inspiring, invigorating experience?

Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers Accelerate is delivered by the same team that has already supported thousands of founders in a wide range of sectors.

Applications close at noon on 3rd May 2024.

Apply now

Issues or questions? Email the Accelerate team.

How to apply to New Frontiers Accelerate

Places are limited, so application is a competitive process of two parts – a comprehensive application form and the pre-accelerator selection day. You must meet the general eligibility conditions for New Frontiers.

Do you fit the profile for Accelerate?

  • You are a seasoned professional with at least 10 years’ experience in your field.
  • You have a high-potential (scalable and exportable) business idea that is still in its early stages.
  • You have the passion to succeed and a willingness to learn.
  • You are dedicated to developing your idea and will work hard.
  • You cannot commit to our full-time programme.

Other conditions and information

  • Acceptance onto the Pre-Accelerator Selection Day does not imply acceptance to the programme proper. The cohort will be determined during a selection process between this day and the programme.
  • You should only apply if you can make every single session of the programme.
  • Unlike our full-time Phase 2 programme, New Frontiers Accelerate is a stipend-free programme. However, the programme is fully funded by Enterprise Ireland including the programme itself, mentorship, food, and accommodation.
  • This pilot Accelerate programme is delivered by TU Dublin.

“The New Frontiers programme helped me to understand what investors are looking for within a business plan. Phase 2 allowed me to test my assumptions and make the necessary changes within a supportive environment. Everyone wants you and your business to succeed.”

Ivan Tuohy, Great Visitor Experiences

“The programme gave me fabulous networking and learning opportunities, I actually met our now CTO and co-founder during Phase 2 at the Synergy Centre two years ago. We’ve received invaluable help and advice from experienced mentors and also was able to avail of the Market Research Centre who gave us access to several detailed reports on our industry and its trends.”

Sonia Neary, Wellola

“For me, the purpose of joining New Frontiers was not only to develop our investor-ready skillset but also to improve my personal business skills, network and exposure to the start-up community in Ireland. The programme gave me the confidence I needed and also showed us the support available from Local Enterprise Office and Enterprise Ireland to grow our business.”

Derya Sousa, Kianda Technologies

“New Frontiers brought clarity, focus and a real solid sense check on whether my idea for Frankli had the potential to be a viable, scalable business. The detailed business plan output from the programme laid a solid foundation from which we continue to execute today.”

Noel Dykes, Frankli Communication Technologies

“New Frontiers facilitated the growth of TeachKloud in just under 6 months. TeachKloud went from an idea to a viable business with the training and support offered through New Frontiers. The peer to peer support is also invaluable. Having New Frontiers based in the Rubicon is a key feature of the programme as participants have access to the full Rubicon Team in addition to the other supports available on the Cork Campus.”

Wendy Oke, TeachKloud

“New Frontiers is a place where you can shape your idea into a business with a group of peers and prepare your business plan for scrutiny from venture capitalists. It’s been instrumental in establishing a solid base for our continued success and the contacts we made during the programme will of course always be useful for advice and guidance going forward.”

David Whelan, Immersive VR Education