Terence Hong (Adjuno), Claire Burge (ThoughtBox) and Gary Leyden, lead mentor, NDRC's LaunchPad
Attracting European and global tech talent, NDRC’s LaunchPad works closely with participants to guide them to the right investors.
LaunchPad opened its fourth programme in early September, with 15 high potential start-ups participating over 12 weeks.
To date, 30 start-up companies have taken part in NDRC’s Irish start-up accelerator, with 30pc of participating companies securing follow-on investment so far.
Recently ranked as the sixth best accelerator programme in Europe, attracting European and global tech talent is one of LaunchPad’s strategic aims and this current programme includes Canadian team ‘Adjuno’.
“It’s an intensive 12 weeks, whereby we work closely with participants to validate the commercial potential of their ideas, get them to product-market fit quickly, produce a clear plan to scale their businesses and get them in front of the right investors,” explains Gary Leyden, LaunchPad’s lead mentor.
“We had a 100pc increase in applications to this fourth programme earlier this summer and have in place a great mix of national and international teams with a wide variety of strong digital ideas, from health to gaming.”
All start-ups taking part in LaunchPad receive access to a hands-on mentoring programme, weekly workshops and networking opportunities with industry experts, and investment of up to €20,000.
The teams then work towards a product or service launch, and a pitch to a panel of interested investors and successful entrepreneurs at the ‘LaunchPad Lift Off’ event, which will take place at the end of the 12 weeks.
