Call for Irish start-ups to pitch for Startup Next pre-accelerator

12 Mar 2015

Startup Next, a global pre-accelerator that has helped 20 start-ups gain place in top accelerators such as Techstars and 500 Startups, wants Irish start-ups.

A group of start-up luminaries including Gene Murphy from StartLocal are organising an Irish edition of Startup Next in conjunction with Up Global, the team behind Startup Weekend – with applications closing on 24 March. Interested start-ups can apply here to take part.

Startup Next has taken shape in numerous cities around the world.

In 2014 StartupNext helped over 20 start-ups get into top accelerators like Techstars and 500 Startups.

Eleven other start-ups between them raised US$11.1m in their seed rounds thanks to the programme.

Startup Next is a five-week, mentor-driven pre-acceleration programme that brings established teams together for three hour sessions on one evening each week.

Progressive dealflow potential

After five weeks the start-ups will be prepared to deal with a barrage of tough questions any accelerator or investor will ask about their business.

They also receive referrals to a network of accelerators and seed stage investors that Startup Next has partnered with on providing deal flow.

Start-up Next, an initiative of UP Global, is backed by Techstars, Google for Entrepreneurs and Global Accelerator Network.

Murphy said that following last year’s successful Startup Weekend, one of the largest to take place in Europe, it was felt that it was a tough job for participating start-ups to proceed with their start-ups or other ideas post-Weekend.

“We are currently recruiting until 24 March for applicants who will be shortlisted to the final Startups that will be selected to proceed to the pilot program.

“Hopefully if this is successful we will see more of Startup Next programs begin here to up lift the quality of our Startups in the pre accelerator phase of their journey,” Murphy said.

Rocket balloon image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com