Have a bright idea and buckets of ambition? EI’s New Frontiers early-stage founders programme is the smart place to start

It’s open to people from all walks of life, with popular innovation areas this year including health and wellbeing, sports apps and wearables, and artificial intelligence innovations across many sectors.

The national programme for early-stage founders, New Frontiers is the only programme that brings entrepreneurs on the journey from having their idea to getting their first customer and even preparing to secure funding.

The programme runs through Technological Universities (TUs) and Institutes of Technology (IoTs) around the country, and intakes happen at different points throughout the year.

Quite a few of the programmes are recruiting at the moment through NewFrontiers.ie, so it’s a smart time to check out what’s on offer.

New Frontiers runs over three phases, with a support package valued at more than €40,000 for businesses that complete all three.

Typically, about 500 people complete the first phase each year. This is run online and helps participants to work out if their business idea is valid.

Each year, about 170 people go on to phase 2, a six-month full-time development and mentorship programmes, which includes a tax-free stipend of €15,000 for each eligible participant. This enables them to dedicate themselves to developing their innovative product or service.

Since Enterprise Ireland took over the running of New Frontiers in 2012, more than 5,000 people have come through the programme, with 1,800 completing Phase 2.

Each year a further 34 or so people continue to Phase 3, which involves an additional three months of mentoring and other support, along with an additional stipend of €7,500.

Thriving businesses that have emerged from New Frontiers include Greyscout, an online brand protection start-up, the founder of which, John Killian, came through the programme at TUS Athlone in 2017. It has secured a total of €4.5m in investment.

Cork start-up Teleatherapy was also born of New Frontiers – its founder Clare Meskill did the programme at MTU Cork in 2021.

New Frontiers runs over three phases, with a support package valued at more than €40,000 for businesses that complete all three

Her firm has raised €700,000 in pre-seed funding to bring its speech therapy platform to more people with Parkinson’s disease.

Moreover, about 45pc of entrepreneurs that have secured funding through Enterprise Ireland’s Pre-Seed Start Fund have previously come through the New Frontiers programme, with many others getting funding from the Local Enterprise Offices.

First and foremost, New Frontiers connects founders with the start-up community already active in incubation centres in Ireland’s TUs and IoTs. It also gives them access to research facilities and academic expertise, and to both Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Office experts.

Phase 2 participants also get to attend a national networking event, where they can meet others taking part, along with alumni and potential funders.

Furthermore, the programme is not just about building the participant’s business, but it’s also about building their confidence.

For example, they learn the language of venture capital and investment, so those who complete the programme have the language they need to try to secure funding.

For more information visit newfrontiers.ie

Paula Carroll is National Programme Manager, New Frontiers, Enterprise Ireland