Supports and resources for young entrepreneurs in Ireland

Barry Walsh casts his eye on supports and resources for aspiring young entrepreneurs in Ireland.

Ireland is emerging as a vibrant hub for youth entrepreneurship, with a growing ecosystem of supports tailored to empower the next generation of innovators.

Whether you’re a student with a bold idea, a researcher seeking commercialisation pathways, or a young changemaker driven by social innovation, there’s a programme designed to help you thrive.

From The B!G Idea’s creative education model and Enterprise Ireland’s prestigious Student Entrepreneur Awards to TU Dublin’s GROWTHhub and Trinity’s LaunchBox accelerator, each initiative offers unique tools to turn ambition into action.

The B!g Idea

The B!G Idea is Ireland’s first all-island creative education initiative, designed to give young people the skills they need to thrive in a world of constant change. Aimed at 15–19-year-olds in Transition Year, Youthreach, and Northern Ireland schools, the free programme equips students with the tools to think differently, solve problems, and make an impact.

Since its launch in 2021, students have tackled urgent challenges such as housing, AI, climate change, poverty, and wellbeing. From September to May, they take part in hybrid, hands-on workshops that blend creativity with real-world problem-solving, guided by educators and supported by hundreds of industry mentors through a multi-award-winning EdTech platform. This model not only opens doors to networks and opportunities many would never otherwise access, it also boosts mentors themselves, who bring back fresh skills and perspectives into their own organisations – amplifying both industry and community impact.

It’s reached over 16,500+ learners across Ireland and Northern Ireland, with a strong focus on disadvantaged communities, The B!G Idea puts equity and inclusion at its core. Every student receives free learning resources, and every idea is valued, with “flearning” (learning through failure) embraced as part of the journey. Backed by industry and education partners – and officially endorsed by Ireland’s National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the OECD – The B!G Idea is building the country’s most inclusive innovation pipeline. Its annual Think B!G Festival showcases student creativity and highlights how the programme is transforming not just education, but the very trajectory of young people’s futures.

Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards

The Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards is a prestigious competition open to full-time registered third-level undergraduate and postgraduate students across Ireland. It provides a unique opportunity for students from any academic discipline to turn their innovative ideas into commercial businesses. Participants submit a two-minute video showcasing their business idea’s commercial and export potential. The top 50 applicants are then shortlisted and invited to submit detailed business plans. Following this, ten projects advance to a final stage where students present their ideas to a panel of judges. The awards ceremony takes place at Technological University Dublin, where winners receive cash prizes, including a top prize of €10,000, along with access to expert mentoring and business support from Enterprise Ireland and other sponsors such as the Local Enterprise Office, Cruickshank, and Grant Thornton.

Recent winners include Ryan Ormonde and Jonathan Hoffman of Saor Water from Technological University Dublin. Their startup offers bespoke aluminium cans as a sustainable alternative to plastic water bottles and already works with high-profile clients like Mercedes-Bens. Saor Water earned the overall prize, €10,000, and mentoring to help scale their business. Additional merit awards with €5,000 prizes were given to other innovative ideas in areas such as respiratory devices and educational technology. The Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards serve as a vital platform for student entrepreneurs to gain funding, practical guidance, and visibility, positioning them for commercial success and growth.

GROWTHhub Student Competitions (only for TU Dublin students)

GROWTHhub Student Competitions are organised by Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) to foster innovation, entrepreneurial skills, and growth thinking among its students. The initiative hosts a range of contests and programmes designed to support students at all levels, from apprentices to PhD candidates, across all disciplines. Competitions include TU Dublin’s own Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Bolton Trust TU Dublin Student Enterprise Competition, among others. These competitions provide a platform for students to pitch their ideas, receive mentorship, and access resources that help transform innovative concepts into viable business ventures.

In addition to the competitions, GROWTHhub offers ongoing support through Enterprise Idea and Pitch Clinics, providing students personalised feedback and advice to refine their business ideas and presentation skills. It also facilitates access to spaces equipped with technology for video pitching and connects students to a broad network of entrepreneurs and industry experts. Funded by the Higher Education Authority’s Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3, GROWTHhub aims to embed entrepreneurial mindsets across the university environment and strengthen collaboration between education and enterprise. This comprehensive approach positions TU Dublin students to successfully launch and grow startups, contributing positively to the local and national economy.

Previous winners include

• Ciara Walsh, a BSc Marketing student, co-founded JustTip
• Ellen Gaffney, founder of Beag Bakery

IDEATE Ireland

The competition invites undergraduates, postgraduates, recent graduates (within two years), and researchers to submit innovative business ideas with global scalability potential. Selected participants enter a 10-week intensive mentoring and support programme, where they receive expert guidance on business development, market research, and investment readiness. The initiative aims to accelerate early-stage ventures, providing participants with skills, resources, and networks critical for turning ideas into thriving international businesses.

The competition includes a prize fund of €20,000, distributed among winners, offering financial support alongside invaluable mentoring. Past winners, such as NuPitch from Ulster University, have benefited from the programme’s comprehensive support to develop technology solutions that optimise workflow processes in various industries. IDEATE Ireland is backed by Key Capital and fosters a collaborative entrepreneurial ecosystem, connecting student founders with venture capitalists, successful entrepreneurs, and industry experts. The programme’s structured workshops and pitch opportunities are designed to equip student entrepreneurs with practical experience, enhancing their chances of long-term success post-competition.

IGNITE

IGNITE is an internationally award-winning business incubation programme based at University College Cork (UCC), designed to support recent graduates in transforming innovative ideas into scalable, impactful start-ups. Open to graduates from any third-level institution in Ireland, IGNITE offers full-time support for those committed to developing commercially or socially driven ventures. Founded in 2011, the programme is a collaborative initiative between UCC, Cork City and County Councils, and the Local Enterprise Offices of Cork City, South Cork, and North & West Cork.

Participants benefit from expert mentoring, tailored workshops, networking opportunities, and access to UCC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The programme fosters a dynamic environment where founders receive guidance on business planning, market validation, funding strategies, and investor readiness—without giving up equity. IGNITE has supported over 175 start-ups and 200 founders, with alumni including AnaBio Technologies, LegitFit, TrustAp, Neurobell, and Zirkulu.

IGNITE’s mission is to empower graduate entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses that contribute to economic, environmental, and social progress. Its proven track record and strong community support make it a cornerstone of Ireland’s start-up landscape, helping founders turn good ideas into great businesses.

ivenTUre

ivenTUre is a summer accelerator programme run by Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) designed to help student startups grow and develop entrepreneurial skills. The programme typically runs over three weeks with in-person sessions held on campus, where participants learn key business and innovation skills such as turning an idea into a viable business, creative thinking, problem solving, pitching, and networking. The accelerator provides students with co-working spaces, practical workshops, master classes, and opportunities to pitch their ideas to panels of industry experts. It is open to all full-time and part-time students at TU Dublin, across any discipline or level, including PhD candidates, welcoming a wide range of business ideas and startups from various sectors like fashion, fitness, childcare, software, and products.

Completion of ivenTUre awards students a TU Dublin Digital Badge in New Venture Design, enhancing their CVs with recognised entrepreneurial credentials. The programme is funded by the Higher Education Authority’s Human Capital Initiative and supported by TU Dublin’s Enterprise Engagement Service and GROWTHhub. The structured schedule includes three weeks focusing on ideation and problem validation, prototype development and market fit, and pitch preparation culminating in a graduation and grand final event.

Previous winners include:

• PediDex – A tracking pen and digital platform designed to support fine motor skill development in children.
• Drippy – An innovative period pad design that prevents leaks, aiming to increase user confidence and comfort

Junior Entrepreneurs Programme

Junior Entrepreneurs Programme (JEP) is an entrepreneurial education programme designed for primary school children, running over 12 to 16 weeks during the school year. The programme nurtures creativity, independence, and problem-solving skills among students of all abilities. Guided by their teachers and inspired by local entrepreneurs, children discover their strengths as individuals and team members by creating, investing in, and producing their own product or service from scratch. The process culminates in a school-hosted JEP Showcase Day where students sell their products and enjoy the profits. The programme seamlessly integrates with the primary school curriculum, supporting literacy, numeracy, presentation, technology, and teamwork skills in an engaging, practical format.

It began in 2010 and ever since JEP has engaged more than 120,000 students across The Republic of Ireland. It provides teachers with a comprehensive classroom kit, online instructional resources, and ongoing support. The programme has been academically approved and developed in collaboration with Mary Immaculate College, endorsed by Ireland’s Department of Education, and delivered in partnership with Enterprise Ireland. JEP’s impact extends beyond entrepreneurial skills, fostering confidence, self-awareness, and an appreciation of individual talents.

LaunchBox Accelerator

LaunchBox is Trinity College Dublin’s flagship student accelerator programme designed to support undergraduate and postgraduate students in turning their innovative business ideas into viable startups. The programme runs in two phases: an eight-week term-time course focused on ideation, customer development, business strategy, and pitching, followed by a summer residency offering free co-working space in the heart of Dublin’s Silicon Docks for 12 weeks. This residency includes tailored mentorship, expert-led workshops covering marketing, finance, investor pitching, and access to a broad network of investors, alumni, and entrepreneurs. LaunchBox nurtures a collaborative and supportive startup ecosystem where students can gain practical entrepreneurial skills and take their ideas to the next stage.

Previous LaunchBox participants who have achieved significant success include Artomatix, an AI-driven media creation company sold for over €60 million; Protex AI, which has participated in the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator; and FoodCloud, a social enterprise that has redistributed over 15 million kilograms of food to communities in need. Other alumni startups like Bounce Insights, Equine MediRecord, and Promotion Rewards have raised substantial funding and expanded globally.

New Frontiers

Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme is the national entrepreneur development initiative designed to support early-stage startup founders across Ireland in turning innovative business ideas into viable, scalable companies. The programme is delivered at 18 locations nationwide and is structured in three phases: Phase 1 helps founders validate their idea through part-time evening or weekend sessions; Phase 2 is an intensive six-month full-time development programme offering mentoring, training, incubation space, and a tax-free stipend of up to €15,000; Phase 3 provides ongoing support to help startups grow their customer base and prepare for further funding. New Frontiers is particularly suited to first-time founders seeking to build skills, confidence, and connections in Ireland’s startup ecosystem without giving away equity in their business.

Participants in New Frontiers benefit from expert guidance in business areas such as financial management, market research, business process development, and sales training. The programme offers access to incubation facilities including the Rubicon Centre and Media Cube, and facilitates networking with investors, mentors, and other entrepreneurs. Successful alumni include startups that have grown significantly, creating jobs and attracting investment. New Frontiers’s reputation as a comprehensive and supportive foundational programme makes it a key pillar of Ireland’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, helping founders from concept to investor readiness while fostering employment and economic growth.

NFTE Youth Entrepreneur Awards

The Foróige NFTE Youth Entrepreneur Awards celebrate young entrepreneurs aged 12 to 18 who participate in the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) programme across Ireland. This transformative initiative supports youth, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, in developing business ideas and vital life skills such as confidence, teamwork, problem-solving, and financial literacy. The programme includes real-world business experience where participants create and trade their products, receive seed grants, connect with mentors, and present business plans to judges at regional and national competitions.

Recent winners at the 2025 NFTE awards held at Croke Park include Eva-Marie Whelan and Katie Hobson-Shaw from Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny, who won the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award for their natural beauty business, Bee Lush. The Best Innovation Award went to Carla Mc Donnell for Vax Chill, a cooling solution for livestock vaccines, while the Best Social Enterprise Award was won by Andrew Ardeleanu and Jason Heraty for Sensory Nature Crafts, providing calming craft kits focused on mental health and sensory development. These awards highlight not only the business success of young entrepreneurs but their creativity, resilience, and social impact across communities nationwide. Over 6,100 young people from 24 counties participated in 2025, supported by hundreds of educators and volunteers, reaffirming NFTE’s role in unlocking youth potential through enterprise.

NovaUCD

NovaUCD, the hub of innovation and start-up activities at University College Dublin has been

recognised as one of Europe’s leading start-up hubs by the Financial Times and Statista for the last two-years in a row and is the only university-based hub in Ireland to be included in the rankings. Since opening in 2003, NovaUCD has built a strong track record in nurturing entrepreneurs and early-stage ventures, providing support from the initial feasibility phase through to business growth and global scaling. The programme offers a purpose-built incubation facility equipped with offices, labs, and desk space tailored for high-tech start-ups aiming for international expansion. NovaUCD also delivers a comprehensive business support system comprising expert advice, workshops, seminars, and access to an extensive network of researchers, investors, and business leaders. This connected community fosters collaboration and shared learning, enhancing the start-up and entrepreneurial journey for client companies.

Additionally, NovaUCD runs multiple accelerator programmes designed to help early-stage ventures and research-driven enterprises to grow, scale, create jobs and succeed at home and internationally. These include the UCD VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme for start-ups emerging from UCD research, the AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme, the AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme, and the NovaUCD Student Enterprise Competition focused on student entrepreneurship. NovaUCD also contributes to national initiatives such as the ESA Space Solutions Centre Ireland consortium and in partners with IADT Media Cube on an Enterprise Ireland-funded New Frontiers Programme. Communication and networking are actively supported through NovaUCD’s team, social media channels, and regular eZines and events, ensuring continuous engagement and support for its community of entrepreneurs.

Open Incubator

Open Incubator is Ireland’s national platform dedicated to supporting student entrepreneurship and innovation across university campuses nationwide. It provides a ecosystem where students, educators, and researchers can connect, learn, and bring their ideas to life. The platform offers tools such as an Idea Builder, mentorship access, step-by-step playbooks, and innovation challenges to help students develop and scale their business ideas with practical guidance. Supported by Irish universities and the Human Capital Initiative, Open Incubator aims to demystify entrepreneurship and foster a collaborative national network for student innovators.

The Open Incubator facilitates participation in real-world innovation challenges, mentorship programs, and workshops on design thinking, storytelling, and entrepreneurial skills. It focuses on developing essential competencies such as spotting opportunities, creativity, mobilizing resources, and navigating uncertainty. Testimonials from participants highlight the impact of the platform in transforming vague ideas into actionable startup projects, providing valuable insights and connections that foster confidence and growth. Open Incubator continuously evolves to expand access and support across Ireland’s student entrepreneurial community, embedding entrepreneurship as a learned skill and promoting sustained venture development for university-based innovators.

Patch

Patch is a seven-week summer accelerator programme designed to nurture young entrepreneurs aged 16 to 21 across Ireland. Founded in 2018 by Tom McCarthy and now led by managing director Jack O’Regan Kenny, Patch supports talented young people from diverse backgrounds to grow their business ideas through mentorship, workshops, and access to a dynamic entrepreneurial community. The programme is philanthropically funded and backed by notable partners like Stripe, Dogpatch Labs, and the NDRC. Its mission is to empower the next generation of innovators by providing world-class support, resources, and guidance to help participants transform early-stage ideas into impactful ventures.

Patch’s inclusive approach fosters an inspiring environment where participants work on projects prioritising social impact, healthcare innovation, and sustainability. The programme includes experiential learning opportunities such as visits to leading tech firms and workshops on AI, venture capital, and finance. Past alumni include successful entrepreneurs like Mícheal McLaughlan, co-founder of Agtech firm CropSafe, and Diana Hrisovescu, recipient of a $100,000 fellowship grant for accessible government forms software. The programme culminates in a Demo Day, allowing participants to pitch their progress. Patch’s supportive ecosystem cultivates creativity, confidence, and leadership, establishing it as a premier accelerator for Ireland’s young entrepreneurial talent.

Portal TCD

Trinity College Dublin’s Portal is the university’s dedicated hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and enterprise development. It supports students, researchers, and startups through a broad range of programmes and initiatives designed to foster creativity, innovation, and business growth. Portal offers education programmes, entrepreneurship training, industry partnerships, and access to physical and virtual spaces for collaboration and events. It aims to empower students and the wider university community to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and skills necessary to succeed in the global marketplace.

Portal also hosts the Trinity Entrepreneurial Society (TES), providing networking, funding opportunities, pitch competitions such as TES Dragons’ Den, and talks from successful entrepreneurs. It collaborates with industry partners, supports consultancy projects, and runs bootcamps and masterclasses as part of its comprehensive approach to building an entrepreneurial ecosystem within Trinity College Dublin and beyond.

Pitch Perfect

Pitch Perfect is a start-up pitch competition hosted by TU Dublin Grangegorman. The event is designed for early-stage start-ups linked to TU Dublin, including current students, recent graduates, or registered start-ups based in the Dublin city region. The competition offers a platform for entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas live in front of a large audience and an elite panel of judges including industry leaders and venture capitalists. Winners receive significant prizes, which include a €5,000 cash award and 12 months of free office space at one of TU Dublin’s campuses for the first prize, while runners-up receive €250 and three months of free hot desk usage.

Run as part of Local Enterprise Week, TU Dublin, in association with the four Dublin area Local Enterprise Offices (Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, South Dublin) and Enterprise Ireland’ s New Frontiers, This year’s finalists included:

• Ciara Nic Aoidh, Co-Founder, SensED
• Declan Corcoran, Founder, LeaseDocs
• Linda Chanders, Founder, SuniRE
• Emma Lynch, Co-Founder and CEO, Q2Med
• Samantha Forrest, Founder, Fussy Food Plates
• Alex Harris, Co-Founder, CogniStream

Self-Employment for Persons with Disabilities Programme (TU Dublin)

The Self-Employment for Persons with Disabilities Programme at TU Dublin is an online, 12-week entrepreneurship course designed to support people with disabilities who wish to start their own business. The programme is open to anyone who self-identifies as having a disability and has a clear business idea they want to develop into a sustainable enterprise. It is not suitable for those who have already started a business or are simply curious about entrepreneurship. Offered through TU Dublin’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework, the course combines interactive online sessions, guest speakers, individual business mentoring, and use of innovative tools to help participants evaluate their ideas, create business plans, and develop skills in finance, marketing, customer engagement, and legal matters.

The programme is sponsored by AIB and co-founded with the Open Doors Initiative, with support from organisations including Towards Work and Pobal. This funding enables the course to be offered free of charge to successful applicants from across the island of Ireland, promoting inclusion and accessibility. The initiative addresses the significant barriers faced by people with disabilities in self-employment and entrepreneurship, aiming to empower them with confidence, skills, and networks to succeed. By fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment, the programme helps participants explore self-employment as a viable and fulfilling career path

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland – Ideas Academy

The Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Ideas Academy is a three-month programme designed to empower emerging social entrepreneurs to turn their innovative ideas into action by providing them with structured training, peer support, and networking opportunities. Participants benefit from a blend of online and in-person workshops that focus on refining their understanding of specific social problems, validating solutions, developing action plans for piloting, and building storytelling and pitching skills. The programme also includes five key in-person events, ongoing mentorship from SEI alumni, and the chance to apply for seed funding at the end of the process, helping individuals address pressing issues such as mental health, education, the environment, and social inequality across Ireland.

Ideas Academy graduates have gone on to launch impactful projects in various sectors.

Notable past participants and alumni include The Together Academy (focused on education and employment for people with additional needs), FASD Ireland (supporting families living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), Spéire Nua (mental health support), Education for Sustainability, Conscious Connections (Karina Murray), and Beyond Survival (Clare Egan). Alumni often return to mentor new cohorts, sharing practical advice and inspiration to empower incoming changemakers in their social innovation journeys

Start-up Cafe (TU Dublin)

The Startup Café at TU Dublin is a monthly, informal coffee morning held on the last Thursday of each month at the Greenway Hub, Grangegorman campus. It is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs to gather, connect, and develop their business ideas in a relaxed and supportive environment. Each session features a guest entrepreneur who shares their journey from early idea to launch and leads a workshop to help attendees refine their own business concepts. Participants also have the opportunity to pitch their ideas in an open-mic session and receive valuable feedback.

The Start-up Café provides a unique chance to network with like-minded individuals, gain insights from experienced founders, and participate in practical exercises to improve business ideas and pitching skills. The event encourages collaboration and innovation while fostering a community of support for early-stage entrepreneurs. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended to secure a spot at these engaging sessions focused on inspiring and empowering new business ventures.

START Competition

The START Competition is an intensive six to eight-week entrepreneurship programme designed to empower early-stage student startups from third-level institutions across Ireland. It guides selected teams through a structured process of refining their business models, developing their value propositions, and building actionable roadmaps to scale their innovations. Participants benefit from mentoring by industry experts, workshops on customer discovery, market sizing, and pitching skills, and gain exposure to entrepreneurial networks and venture capitalists. The programme culminates in a high-profile showcase event where teams present their refined ideas to a panel of judges from business, academia, and venture capital who evaluate their potential for commercial success and impact.

Previous winners of the START Competition have included startups across diverse sectors such as healthcare, sustainability, and technology. The competition emphasises global scalability and commercial viability, attracting teams with a focus on cutting-edge solutions and social impact. All finalists receive access to co-working spaces, expert feedback, and alumni networks to support their growth beyond the competition. This well-regarded programme has helped launch Ireland’s next generation of impactful entrepreneurs and continues to be a key pillar of Ireland’s startup ecosystem.

Student Enterprise Programme (SEP)

The Student Enterprise Programme is Ireland’s largest and most successful student enterprise initiative, engaging over 26,000 second-level students annually. Run by the Network of Local Enterprise Offices, the programme allows students from first to sixth year to set up and run their own businesses, gaining hands-on experience in entrepreneurship over an eight-month academic cycle. Students learn all aspects of real business life, including generating ideas, marketing, sales, and business planning, culminating in regional finals and a national final held each May. Winners in junior, intermediate, and senior categories compete for the ‘Student Enterprise of the Year’ award, fostering a vibrant enterprise culture among Ireland’s youth.

The programme not only develops business acumen but also cultivates lifelong entrepreneurial attributes and a mindset geared towards innovation and enterprise. Past participants include student teams like “TANdyHand” from St. Wolstons Community School, who created a novel self-tanning product and connected with industry leaders during their journey. The programme, in place since 2003, has seen over 400,000 students take part, and is fully funded by the Irish government through Enterprise Ireland, delivered across 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide

Techstars Weekend Dublin

Techstars Startup Weekend Dublin is an immersive 54-hour event designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs and changemakers transform their ideas into action. Hosted in various venues and online, and featuring themes such as social innovation, tech for good, and women-led startups, the event brings together participants from diverse backgrounds—including developers, designers, marketers, and business enthusiasts—who pitch ideas, form teams, and create minimum viable products. Throughout the weekend, teams receive mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs, attend practical workshops, and benefit from networking, all while building solutions for real-world problems in areas like sustainability, education, and social impact.

Recent Dublin editions have highlighted the UN Sustainable Development Goals and encouraged inclusive participation, with free or discounted tickets available for refugees and students. Partners such as Google for Startups, Brex, Deel, and local supporters like Enterprise Ireland, TechFoundHer, and The Guinness Enterprise Centre provide resources, prizes, and ongoing opportunities. Winners receive prizes and support to continue their entrepreneurial journey and many participants have stayed active in the Irish startup ecosystem after the event.

The same organisers also run Catalyst Noir, which is a global initiative founded in Ireland, designed to support and empower aspiring black or underrepresented women tech founders in Ireland and worldwide. This program aims to bridge the gap in entrepreneurship and create an inclusive tech ecosystem by providing participants with the resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities needed to turn their innovative ideas into successful tech ventures. Through a structured capacity-building approach, the initiative fosters a collaborative environment where women can refine their business ideas, gain industry insights, and develop solutions that leverage technology for impactful change. The first edition of the Online StartUp Bootcamp programme took place in February 2025, bringing together ambitious women from Ireland, Africa, Europe, and the USA who are building tech for good startups. Thanks and see you at the startup weekend!

Tech Found Her

TechFoundHer is a purpose-driven organisation dedicated to unlocking the potential of women to start and lead tech companies that benefit society, the economy, and the wider world. Founded Máirín Murray, TechFoundHer is a collaborative network that builds tech competence, advocates for entrepreneur equality, and connects impact-focused women tech founders with peers, champions, and supporters—creating a vibrant community across Ireland and globally. The organisation’s programmes, such as the one-day Bootcamp and the flagship TechFoundHer Summit, highlight the achievements of women-led ventures and provide practical resources for aspiring tech innovators.

A cornerstone initiative, the Innovation Labs 1 programme, is an eight-week accelerator for women with ambitious tech product ideas who may lack technical expertise. Supported by InterTradeIreland, Enterprise Ireland, and Invest Northern Ireland, the Labs offer hands-on workshops, mentoring, and access to investor and sponsor networks. Recent summit events showcased founders such as Caraldine Nolan (NutraVerse), Clodagh Ryan (CRAOI), and winners of the 2025 Breakthrough Awards, including Shelley Cowan (Travel Ease), Victoria Finlay (MenoPal), and Claire Brannigan (Skinakin), who credited TechFoundHer with building their skills, confidence, and visibility as impactful tech leaders

TrailblazHer

The TrailblazHER First Steps Programme, offered in multiple locations throughout Ireland, it is a free initiative designed to empower women in the Dublin region who are considering self-employment or starting a business, especially those with no prior entrepreneurial experience or those returning to the workforce. The programme is split into two steps: Step 1 consists of three-hour information sessions held at various Dublin locations, providing an introduction to entrepreneurship and helping participants decide if they want to proceed to Step 2. Step 2 is a more in-depth programme of six half-day workshops, guiding participants through every stage of business development, from idea generation to planning and running a business. These workshops also provide access to mentors, role models, co-working spaces, and TU Dublin’s Enterprise team support. Both steps are open to women aged 18 or over living in or near Dublin, with no business idea required to participate.

The programme aims to increase the number of women-led businesses in Ireland, where currently only 19% of businesses are owned by women. It provides tailored support, free of charge, with all course materials supplied thanks to sponsorship from TrailblazHER The programme is made possible by TrailblazHER partners including Intel, ESB, Jones Engineering, Fidelity Investments, Workday, PwC and Enterprise Mobility. Upon completion, participants receive certification from TU Dublin, including a digital badge for those who complete Step 2. The initiative also fosters networking opportunities among participants and connects them with a wider enterprise ecosystem, paving the way for sustainable entrepreneurship and gender equality in business. For further information or to register your interest for the programme please do so through this form

Universaldesign.ie

UniversalDesign.ie is the website of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD), a dedicated body under Ireland’s National Disability Authority. Established in 2007, CEUD promotes the principle of universal access, to enable the design of environments, products, services, and digital systems that can be accessed, understood, and used by everyone regardless of age, size, ability, or disability. The Centre is dedicated to enabling people in Ireland to participate in a society that takes account of human difference and allows them to interact with their environment to the best of their ability.

CEUD actively develops guidelines, research, and training to embed Universal Design practice nationally, working with professional bodies, education institutions, and government stakeholders. It leads initiatives like the Universal Design Grand Challenge, a student competition promoting Universal Design awareness in higher education. The Centre also participates in shaping national and European accessibility policies, including contributing to standards related to the European Accessibility Act (EAA).

Young Social Innovators

Young Social Innovators (YSI) is an Irish non-profit organisation founded in 2001 that empowers young people aged 13-18 to use their talents, passion, and creativity to develop innovative solutions to social challenges affecting their communities and environment. YSI runs an engaging, team-based social innovation programme where students identify social issues they care about, create action projects, and implement positive change aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The programme emphasises youth voice, leadership, and active citizenship through education, training, and social entrepreneurship.

Over the past two decades, YSI has engaged over 55,000 young people across Ireland in projects spanning justice, human rights, health, community, and environmental protection.

The annual cycle culminates in regional Speak Outs and a national Showcase event attended by thousands, where young teams present their projects and receive recognition and feedback. YSI also leads initiatives like Ignite Community for marginalised youth and competes in global youth innovation events. The organisation is supported by extensive partnerships and funding, including European programmes, with a strong focus on enabling youth-led innovation to create lasting social impact.

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