Have a few hours to spare? €15,000 financial support available for innovative business start-ups in the south east* through the New Frontiers Programme
Early-stage entrepreneurs from across the south east with three hours a week to spare are invited to apply for the 12-week New Frontiers programme – the deadline for applications has been extended til Friday, 1 September. Applicants apply online at www.wit.ie/newfrontiers.
The programme is run by the SETU School of Business from ArcLabs, the innovation hub based at WIT’s West Campus, Carriganore, Waterford.
New Frontiers Programme Manager at South East Technological University, Eugene Crehan explains the time commitment for Phase 1 is two evening per week, starting from early September.
“The upturn in the economy means more people have good career options – and are less likely to invest time in a start-up idea. Because, Phase 1 of the New Frontiers takes place in the evenings is ideal for working people who want to investigate their start-up idea over a two-month period.”
Phase 1 of the New Frontiers Programme will commence in Waterford at Arc Labs, the innovation hub based on WIT’s West Campus in September 2017 on a part-time basis, with Phase 2 commencing in December 2017. For more information and to make an application see www.wit.ie/newfrontiers
In 2016 €1.5m in Enterprise Ireland funding was announced to support early-stage entrepreneurs over five years across the south east region.
Waterford Institute of Technology in collaboration with the Institute of Technology Carlow and Enterprise Ireland is currently recruiting for its New Frontiers Entrepreneurs Development Programme. This intensive training and support programme provides desk space, mentoring, business master classes, networking plus €15,000 in financial support to accelerate business start-ups across the Southeast region. (*Subject to eligibility)
New Frontiers is for potential entrepreneurs who have a well thought-out innovative business idea or an innovative technology that has the potential to be developed into a scalable high potential start-up company. Applicants should have enthusiasm, confidence and single-mindedness about setting up and running your own business and should be committed to spending time on researching the market potential and launching a new business.
Over an intensive 6 month period, participants will learn how to establish and run a new high growth company.
The New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme has launched a new website and blog, that aims to reach out and attract potential, high-quality applicants to New Frontiers. It shows the benefits of the programme and giving advice to help people thinking of starting their own business. You can find it on www.newfrontiers.ie
About ArcLabs
Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) signed a €2.5m contract with Enterprise Ireland in 2016 which will fund a significant expansion of its incubation facilities in ArcLabs Waterford. The 1,000m2 extension on its Carriganore campus will enable the Institute to double its capacity to support technology start-ups in the South East region.
Established almost 10 years ago ArcLabs is well known nationally and internationally for the unique incubation, research and enterprise support framework it provides to entrepreneurs and technology based start-ups. Home to more than 60 companies since its foundation ArcLabs has been a key driver in the development of an ICT/mobile services cluster which has emerged in the region over the last decade.
The co-location of entrepreneurs and technology based businesses in close proximity to one of Europe’s leading ICT research centres, the Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG), provides a research and innovation hub of more than 250 scientists, engineers and technology professionals on one site. This has proven to be a very powerful model in creating leading global Irish companies such as FeedHenry and NearForm as well as attracting in ICT based international companies into the region. Currently 27 companies are based in ArcLabs Waterford and Kilkenny employing more than 190 staff.