One-day event at Belfast’s Banana Block, backed by Bank of Ireland, aims to bring the entire entrepreneurship ecosystem together under one roof.
Catalyst, the start-up and scale-up hub at Northern Ireland Science Park in Belfast and Derry, has announced the launch of SEAM, a new entrepreneurship festival designed to bring founders, investors and business support organisations together for a dedicated day of networking, learning and business growth.
The festival will take place on 17 November 2026 at Banana Block in east Belfast, with Bank of Ireland confirmed as headline partner.
“How a venture is shaped in its earliest months determines whether it can scale”
Organisers expect between 300 and 350 attendees at the event, which will feature a live founder showcase, investor networking opportunities, a marketplace of support organisations and a closing reception.
The name SEAM draws inspiration from Belfast’s industrial and linen-making heritage. Once known as “Linenopolis”, the city built much of its reputation on the linen industry.
The festival will be held in a restored linen spinning mill on the Newtownards Road, with the organisers positioning SEAM as a place where connections are made and businesses can build momentum.
Navigating supports – seamlessly
Fiona Bennington, Director of Entrepreneurship and Scaling at Catalyst, said the event was created to help founders navigate the wide range of support available across Northern Ireland.
“SEAM exists because Northern Ireland has a plethora of diverse support opportunities, but it can be hard to navigate. Putting the whole ecosystem in one room for one day removes that friction for founders.
“How a venture is shaped in its earliest months determines whether it can scale. Northern Ireland has a strong community of entrepreneurs, investors and businesses, but we believe there is real value in bringing that network together in a more focused way. We want SEAM to become an annual moment for founders who are serious about growing their business, and we would encourage anyone interested to apply now.”
The festival is aimed at entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journey. For founders, it offers the chance to showcase their ventures, engage directly with investors and access support from organisations working with early-stage and scaling businesses.
Investors and angel backers will have access to a curated pipeline of Northern Ireland ventures, while support organisations will be able to engage directly with the entrepreneurs they support.
Alongside the festival, Catalyst has opened applications for two founder development tracks that will run in the lead-up to the event.
The Early Stage track is designed for founders who are developing a new business or working on an idea. Ten teams will be selected to present on the main stage during the festival in front of investors, customers, founders and support organisations.
Participants will take part in workshops and preparation sessions before the event, receiving mentoring, funding guidance, pitch coaching and one-to-one business support. Applications for the Early Stage track close on 30 August 2026.
A second Growth track targets founders with established businesses looking to scale. Around 50 entrepreneurs will be selected to participate and will receive introductions to active investors and angel networks, together with dedicated time for investment-focused discussions. Applications for this programme close on 11 September 2026.
Catalyst said both tracks are free to enter, require no application fee and involve no equity stake. Applications opened on 10 August and are available to founders across Northern Ireland. Successful applicants will be selected by the end of September.
Passionate about entrepreneurs
Bank of Ireland’s Head of Business Banking NI, Niall Devlin, said the bank’s support for the festival reflects its commitment to entrepreneurship and business growth.
“At Bank of Ireland, we’re passionate about fostering entrepreneurship and backing the people and businesses driving our economic future. Being ‘Right With You’ means supporting businesses at every stage, helping them navigate challenges, seize opportunities and grow with confidence.
“We’re proud to support SEAM Festival and would encourage founders at all stages to get involved because strong businesses don’t just need great ideas, they need strong relationships, shared expertise and a thriving support network.”
General admission tickets and applications for both founder tracks are now available through the festival website, seamfest.org.
Image at top: Pictured at the launch of SEAM Festival 2026 are Mia Dixon, Entrepreneurship Programme Manager at Catalyst; Niall Devlin, Head of Business Banking NI at Bank of Ireland; and Fiona Bennington, Director of Entrepreneurship and Scaling at Catalyst. The new entrepreneurship festival will take place at Banana Block, Belfast, on 17 November 2026
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