Aspiring Newry tech founders urged to make 2020 the year their start-up takes off | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Aspiring Newry tech founders urged to make 2020 the year their start-up takes off

IgniteNI is searching for innovative early-stage start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs from Newry to join Northern Ireland’s most successful pre-accelerator programme.

IgniteNI is now inviting applications for Propel 2020, an intensive six-month pre-accelerator programme, supported by Invest Northern Ireland.

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Propel takes up to 20 aspiring founders with early-stage ventures and fledgeling business ideas in and helps them shape their products and build their tech start-ups into viable and scalable businesses.

The IgniteNI team will be hosting office hours in Newry in the Canal Court Hotel on Wednesday 9 October.

 

 

This is an opportunity to discuss the application process with the IgniteNI mentors.

Newry entrepreneur Cormac Quinn, CEO of loyalBe, officially launched its app, which is designed to replace traditional loyalty cards.

He told Newry Times, “The team and I couldn’t be more excited by the launch. The Propel programme, as well as Ignite’s follow up Accelerator, have been crucial in helping us test our concept and get to the point of launching our frictionless flagship app.

“For anyone out there with a start-up or innovative business idea, I would not hesitate to recommend they apply to take part in Propel.”

 

 

IgniteNI is looking for exciting early-stage tech or knowledge economy companies that are in development or have only just launched, as well as people working in existing tech jobs who are keen to make their side project or business idea a reality. 

The companies who secure a place on the programme, which starts in January, each receive a £15,000 grant, 12 months free co-working space at Ormeau Baths, one of the UK’s top co-working spaces and the opportunity to meet more than 300 experienced mentors, founders and investors.

During the programme teams get the opportunity to explore other markets, attend weekly workshops with experts, pitch to top investors and access a network of over 500 Ignite alumni founders who between them have raised more than $100m.

 

 

Teams that excel in the programme also have the chance to add an extra £20,000 in funding by winning awards.

Chris McClelland, Programme Director of IgniteNI, said, “Every year we are seeing more and more people starting businesses.

“Our programmes are designed to help give early-stage entrepreneurs the best possible chance of success. Exposing founders to experienced entrepreneurs and investors is key to helping companies move faster.

“Last year, teams met over 300 founders, mentors and experts through our weekly sessions and workshops.

“It’s our 3rd year and we are celebrating over 100 founders being through the Ignite NI programmes. This exceptional group of people is a powerful network, sharing incredible insights into what it takes to build a company today.

 

 

He added, “It‘s an exciting time to start a business and we really hope to help make 2020 a massive year for startups in every region of Northern Ireland.”

If you want to find out more Ignite NI are holding office hours every Monday and Tuesday in Belfast and will be in Derry on 2 October and Newry later in the month.

To book an appointment at the office hours in Newry, please email hello@igniteni.com.

To apply for the Ignite NI Propel programme, please visit www.igniteni.com. Applications for the Ignite NI Propel programme close on 8 November.

 

 

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Posted by on Oct 3 2019. Filed under Business, Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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