Do you have a great idea for a sustainable business in the North West but don’t know where to start? Then you could turn your brilliant idea into reality with New Frontiers.
The country’s largest entrepreneur development programme is currently looking for new candidates to join the North West programme, which is based between the Innovation Centre at IT Sligo and the CoLab at Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT).
New Frontiers is a three-phase programme which will equip you with the relevant skills you need to establish and run a successful and sustainable company.
These include access to a range of business environments and support services; advice and access to finance as well as extensive networking opportunities.
In addition, you will be offered the opportunity to start and grow your business from the diverse and agile environment of the Innovation Centre at IT Sligo or the CoLab at LYIT.
Key factors for start-up success have been internationally benchmarked and the programme provides these such as finance (Phase 2 – €15,000 in financial support), a mentoring programme with a seasoned entrepreneur, support from a dedicated programme manager and an extensive network of investors and established business experts.
Most importantly the culture of the programme is one of a can do nature, encouraging openness and collaboration in a positive sales and market focused environment.
Application details are available on www.newfrontiersnw.ie.
Dr Michelle Connolly, Programme Manager for the North West, said it was hoping to expand and elevate the programme in 2016.
“Since 2012 we have worked with over 200 start-ups, bringing 50 to investor-ready/market-ready positions. Part of our vision over the next five years is to create a broader reach into communities in the North West,” she says.
“By establishing an office in Leitrim, as well as increasing the reach into west Donegal and down to the border with Mayo, our aim is to help further develop the start-up sector in the region. We also need to address the large geographical spread of the North West to start overcoming that challenge”
She said that New Frontiers was open to a wide range of business sectors with past entpreneurs coming from areas such as food, consumer products, internationally-traded services, engineering, clean-teachnologies, financial and enterprise sotfware.
“We would like to see more applications from female entrepreneurs, spin outs from University/IoT research as well as from overseas entrepreneurs looking to base themselves in the North West of Ireland,” she says.
Website: www.newfrontiersnw.ie.