From Idea to Success

FREE SERVICE
NO EQUITY TAKEN

€15,000 Funding + Expertise + Mentoring + Support

What is New Frontiers?

New Frontiers provides an optimised business start-up process to people with innovation for large markets. Funded by Enterprise Ireland, it is Ireland’s national entrepreneur development programme delivered in the West of Ireland by Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) Innovation Hubs. Participants can remain in their own office, enterprise centre, start-up hub, work from home and/or avail of the GMIT Innovation Hubs.

What are the benefits?

  • Up to €15,000 tax-free funding.
  • Structured business development process.
  • Expertise in all areas of business including financial management, market research & validation, business process, patenting, product development and sales training.
  • Mentoring from experienced business advisers and practitioners.
  • Office space and other business incubation facilities.
  • Introductions to seed and early-stage capital investment networks.
  • Access to entrepreneurship best practice – both national and international.
  • Peer group learning from participants in the region and across the country.
  • Access to the expertise in Enterprise Ireland through our Market Research Centre.
  • Expertise from the Institutes of Technology and the supportive environment of their business incubation centres.
  • Networking opportunities with other entrepreneurs and business development agencies.

How does it work?

New Frontiers is a three-phase programme, designed to provide an integrated and comprehensive set of business development supports to participants.

PHASE 1: Testing your Business Idea

Held part-time over an 8-10 week period, Phase 1 will help you to validate the market potential of your business idea. These weekend and evening workshops will help you evaluate if your idea can be turned into a viable business.

KEY BENEFITS ARE:

  • Two evenings per week for 8-10 weeks
  • Business validation and market research workshops
  • Peer to peer networking and learning
  • You can continue in your current job
  • Improve your chances of accessing Phase 2
  • De-risk your business model
  • Arrive at a go/no-go decision

PHASE 2: Business Planning

Following a competitive selection process, committed participants who have a strong value proposition and who can demonstrate that their business proposition has potential to grow and create jobs may be offered a place on Phase 2. If successful, you will receive intensive support for six months to develop both your own skills and to work up your business proposition. You will need to commit full-time to starting and developing your business. Typically 80% of this time is dedicated to working on your own business with just 20% attending modules, workshops and mentoring. Using this support, you will fully detail and validate your business proposition and identify potential customers, sales channels and funding options. You will receive up to €15,000 in funding, subject to satisfactory progress and development reviews.

KEY BENEFITS ARE:

  • Full-time incubation support for 6 months
  • Grant of up to €15,000 for the participant
  • No equity taken from your business
  • Develop a strong business plan
  • Comprehensive and intensive mentorship and coaching
  • Peer to peer networking and learning
  • Access to R&D facilities
  • Hot-desk and other incubation facilities
  • Web hosting and support from Amazon worth $15,000

PHASE 3: Business Development

Businesses emerging from Phase 2 will be guided to the most relevant government support that can best help them at their particular stage of development. Further incubation facilities and support may be available to participants for a limited period, in conjunction with ongoing support from the Incubation Centre Management team.

KEY BENEFITS ARE:

  • Full time for 2-3 months
  • Further hot-desk and incubation facilities
  • Introduction to government and private investment opportunities
  • Delivering on the business plan

Meet our Start-Ups

Yvonne Comer - Rugby Smarts
· Artificial Intelligence for Sports Sector

· www.rugbysmarts.com

Marina Murphy - BabyBoss
· Two part patented Baby Vest

· www.babybossonline.com

Barry Flannery - Xerotech Ltd
· Advanced Battery Systems

· www.xerotech.com

Sorcha O'Grady - TruckScience Ltd
· Trucking Modelling Software

· www.truckscience.com

George Curley - CGA Software Ltd
· Compliance Management Solutions

· www.cgatechnology.com

Michael Furey - Ronspot
· Desk & Parking Management

· www.ronspotflexwork.com

Marc Ganly - MARC Sports
· Head Protection for Sport

· www.n-pro.com

Kevin McCaffrey - Tr3Dent
· Digital Transformation Accelerator

· www.tr3dent.com

Eamon Crosby - Britebiz
· Bookings and Events System

· www.britebiz.com

Fergal O'Connor - Buy Media
· Media Advertising

· www.buymediahq.com

Brandon Blacoe - ByoWave
· Customisable Video Controller

· www.byowave.io

Eoin Heverin - Foodie Save
· Mobile Application for Commerical Food Sector

· www.foodiesave.com

Anna Downes - Video Sherpa
· Video Production Company

· www.videosherpa.com

Rory Casey - Atlantic Photonic Solutions Inc
· Parasite Control Technology

· www.zaps.ie

Tomás Thompson - Rockfield Medical Devices
· Patient Feeding Systems

· www.rockfieldmd.com

Padraig Neylon - Addjust
· Contract Management for Construction

· www.addjust.io

Nicola Wall - Afortiori
· Clinical Trials Management

· www.aftdev.com

Mark Herrick - Headrite Sports
· Football Heading Training Unit

· www.headritesports.com

Iain Morrow - OpenBox Models
· Financial Modelling Software

· www.openboxmodels.com

Shankar Ganesh Jayagopi - Magnus Monitors
· Remote Tank Level Monitoring

· www.magnusmonitors.com

Andrea Manning - CyberPie
· Cybersecurity for Small Businesses

· www.cyber-pie.com

Cynthia Baloula - CB Media
· Video Production & Digital Marketing Agency

· www.cbmedia.ie

Colm Murphy - Appraisee
· Vehicle Valuation Software

· www.appraisee.ie

Mark Corrigan - Marine Cable Services
· Subsea Cable Trenching

· www.marinecableservices.com

Liam Feeney - Spottrack
· Spotlight Control Systems

· www.spotrack.com

Frank Enright - Q-Pathway
· MedTech Quality Management Software

· www.companionqms.com

Anne Walshe - Allergy Lifestyle
· Epipen Cases

· www.allergylifestyle.com

Mark Bannon - VT Networks
· Internet of Things Network

· www.vt-iot.com

Arthur Leonowicz - DigiTally
· Food Stocktaking Software

· www.godigitally.io

David McIntyre - DMC Design
· Cubbie Sensory Hub

· www.cubbie.ie

Apply Here

New Frontiers can help anywhere from the idea stage up to the first two years in business.

To apply, you need:

  • Innovative idea
  • Identified an unmet need in a large market
  • Ambition to succeed and grow the business
  • Target €500k turnover and 5 employees in 3-5 years
  • Locate the business in the West of Ireland
  • To be aged 18 years +

Vist the New Frontiers Blog for expert advice for Irish startups and entrepreneurs.

Contact Us

GMIT iHub Galway

Telephone: +353 (0) 91 742850  |  Email: ihubgalway@gmit.ie

GMIT iHub Mayo

Telephone: +353 (0) 94 9043198  |  Email: ihubmayo@gmit.ie

New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme is a nationwide Enterprise Ireland programme, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the national Structural and Investment Funds Programmes 2014-2020