What New Frontiers does

New Frontiers is Enterprise Ireland's nationwide startup accelerator programme, established in 2012 and delivered through 18 partner third-level institutions across the Republic of Ireland. It operates a two-phase model: Phase 1 is a part-time evening or weekend programme over 8–10 weeks for early-stage idea validation, and Phase 2 is a full-time six-month intensive for competitively selected founders. The programme is co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), takes no equity in participant businesses, and provides a support package valued at over €30,000 including a €17,500 tax-free allowance (Phase 2), free co-working space, one-to-one mentoring via the Enterprise Ireland Mentor Network, expert-led workshops, access to Market Research Centre resources, and introductions to seed and early-stage capital networks.

Core products are the Phase 1 and Phase 2 programmes, supported by co-working infrastructure at each of the 18 partner campuses (e.g., CoLab at ATU Letterkenny, iHubs at ATU Galway/Mayo, Greenway Hub at TU Dublin Grangegorman, Synergy Centre at TU Dublin Tallaght, DCU:Innovate, NovaUCD at UCD, Regional Development Centre at DkIT, Media Cube at IADT, MaynoothWorks, Rubicon Centre at MTU Cork, Tom Crean Centre at MTU Kerry, Xcelerate at SETU Carlow/Waterford, MIRC at TUS Athlone, and Hartnett EAC at TUS Limerick). The programme is non-commercial: participants pay no fees and instead receive a €17,500 tax-free stipend (subject to eligibility and performance), with the programme funded entirely through government allocations and ERDF co-funding rather than tuition, equity, or service fees.

The customer base consists of individual early-stage founders — both first-time entrepreneurs and corporate-leavers — across diverse sectors (ICT, medical devices, femtech, cybersecurity, cleantech, food/consumer, engineering, digital media, construction tech, and AI). Each year since 2012, New Frontiers has supported over 500 participants, with cumulative alumni outcomes including €775M equity raised through NovaUCD, €263M through Galway-Mayo hubs, €117M through TU Dublin Grangegorman, and over 1,040 jobs currently sustained through NovaUCD alone. The programme does not generate revenue and operates purely as a public-sector economic development instrument aimed at developing investable Irish businesses and reducing early-stage founder risk.

Name

New Frontiers

Legal name

Enterprise Ireland's New Frontiers Programme

Website

https://newfrontiers.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Frontiers is Enterprise Ireland's nationwide startup accelerator programme, founded in 2012 and delivered through 18 Irish third-level institutions. It supports over 500 early-stage founders annually via Phase 1 (part-time validation) and Phase 2 (full-time six-month intensive with €17,500 allowance), taking no equity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator Program

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator programme
• Entrepreneurship development services
• Pre-seed fundraising readiness
• Business incubation support
• Founder mentoring programme

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-funded startup development program: New Frontiers is a government-funded program co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The program does not generate revenue in the traditional sense but provides non-dilutive support to early-stage founders, including a €17,500 tax-free allowance in Phase 2 and access to co-working space, mentoring, workshops, and networking opportunities. The program aims to develop investable businesses rather than generate direct revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

New Frontiers is Enterprise Ireland's nationwide startup accelerator programme that supports ambitious early-stage founders across Ireland. It operates a two-phase structure: Phase 1 is a part-time evening/weekend programme (8-10 weeks) for idea validation, and Phase 2 is a full-time six-month intensive that provides a €17,500 tax-free allowance, free co-working space, mentoring, expert-led workshops, market research access, and introductions to seed/early-stage capital networks — with no equity taken. The programme is delivered through 18 partner third-level institutions across Ireland.

Product overview

New Frontiers is Enterprise Ireland's nationwide startup development programme, delivered in partnership with 18 higher education institutions across Ireland. The programme offers two phases: Phase 1 is a part-time evening/weekend introductory programme (8-10 weeks) for early-stage founders to research and validate their business ideas; Phase 2 is a full-time six-month intensive accelerator providing a €17,500 tax-free allowance, free co-working space, one-to-one mentoring from the Enterprise Ireland Mentor Network, expert-led workshops, access to university R&D facilities and specialist expertise, Market Research Centre access, and introductions to seed and early-stage capital investment networks. The programme does not take equity in participating businesses and focuses on developing founder capabilities and investor readiness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Phase 1 – Part-time Evening/Weekend Programme An 8–10 week part-time introductory programme for early-stage founders, delivered in evenings or weekends, helping participants research and test market potential, evaluate ideas, understand customer needs, and identify value propositions while continuing in employment.
• Phase 2 – Full-time Six-Month Intensive Programme A full-time six-month intensive startup development programme with a €17,500 tax-free allowance (subject to eligibility and performance), including workshops, mentoring, milestone reviews, free co-working space, investment-readiness preparation, and introductions to seed and early-stage capital networks. No equity is taken in participant businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 participants supported annually since 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Atlantic Technological University (ATU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATU delivers the New Frontiers programme at three campuses: Letterkenny (CoLab), Galway-Mayo (Innovation Hubs), and Sligo (Innovation Centre). Each campus provides incubation space, academic expertise, and local ecosystem connections.
• Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTU Dublin delivers New Frontiers at three campuses: Blanchardstown (LINC), Grangegorman (Greenway Hub), and Tallaght (Synergy Centre). Each location provides dedicated incubation facilities and programme management.
• Dublin City University (DCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCU:Innovate and the Regional Development Centre in Dundalk jointly deliver the New Frontiers programme in the Border mid-east region, providing combined strengths, expertise, and innovation infrastructure.
• University College Dublin (UCD) - NovaUCDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovaUCD and the Media Cube in Dún Laoghaire deliver a joint New Frontiers programme in the Co. Dublin region, with access to expertise, facilities, and resources of both locations.
• Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire (IADT) - Media CubecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIADT's Media Cube partners with NovaUCD to deliver New Frontiers in the Co. Dublin region. The Media Cube is home to 15 early-stage companies and provides workspace and networking opportunities.
• Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDkIT's Regional Development Centre partners with DCU:Innovate to deliver New Frontiers in the Border mid-east region. The RDC has a strong track record of supporting entrepreneurs from concept to international scaling.
• Maynooth University - MaynoothWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaynoothWorks and the Midlands Innovation and Research Centre in Athlone jointly deliver New Frontiers in the Midlands Mid-East region, providing access to expertise, facilities, and resources of both institutions.
• Munster Technological University (MTU) - Rubicon CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTU's Rubicon Centre in Cork delivers New Frontiers, home to 40 knowledge-based startups. The centre has created 2,500 jobs since 1998 with a 75% five-year survival rate.
• Munster Technological University (MTU) - Tom Crean CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTU's Tom Crean Centre in Kerry delivers New Frontiers, providing entrepreneurs with training, incubation facilities, and mentoring for developing investor-ready businesses.
• South East Technological University (SETU) - XceleratecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSETU delivers New Frontiers at both Carlow Campus (Xcelerate/ERIC) and Waterford Campus (Xcelerate/ArcLabs), offering co-located incubation space and comprehensive business support.
• Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) - MIRCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTUS's Midlands Innovation and Research Centre in Athlone partners with MaynoothWorks to deliver New Frontiers in the Midlands Mid-East region.
• Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) - Hartnett CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTUS's Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre in Limerick partners with University of Limerick's Nexus Innovation Centre to deliver New Frontiers in the Midwest region.
• University of Limerick - Nexus Innovation CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUL's Nexus Innovation Centre partners with TUS's Hartnett Centre to deliver New Frontiers in the Midwest, providing purpose-built innovation facilities and research expertise.
• Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal Enterprise Offices throughout Ireland provide additional support and referrals for New Frontiers participants, connecting them with local enterprise development resources.
• Enterprise Ireland Mentor NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Enterprise Ireland Mentor Network provides seasoned business mentors who offer personalised one-to-one mentoring to New Frontiers participants throughout the programme.

Scale indicators24 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Y Combinator: The world's leading startup accelerator, running two cohort-based programmes per year. Directly comparable as an investor-operated accelerator serving early-stage founders with mentoring, networks, and pre-seed capital — though YC takes equity whereas New Frontiers does not.
• Antler: Global early-stage accelerator with a strong presence across Europe and Asia. Comparable as a founder-first accelerator delivering cohort-based programming, mentoring, and pre-seed investment to early-stage startup teams across multiple geographies.
• Techstars: Worldwide accelerator network operating 50+ programmes with mentorship-driven cohort models. Comparable as an investor-operated accelerator serving early-stage founders with capital, mentorship, and alumni network access.
• MassChallenge: Global non-equity accelerator offering multi-month programmes with mentoring and partnerships. Most directly comparable to New Frontiers on the no-equity positioning and government/corporate-funded model serving early-stage founders.
• Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator running industry-specific cohort programmes across multiple cities. Comparable as an investor-operated accelerator delivering mentoring, co-working space, and seed capital to early-stage startup founders.
• Founders Factory: London-based accelerator and venture studio supporting early-stage founders with capital, mentoring, and corporate partnerships. Comparable as a cohort-based investor-operated accelerator with structured founder development programming.

Broad incumbents

• Wayra (Telefónica): Telefónica's corporate accelerator operating across multiple countries with equity-free programmes and corporate partnership access. Comparable as a corporate/institution-operated accelerator with non-dilutive funding and ecosystem integration.
• SOSV: Global venture firm operating multiple accelerator programmes (HAX, IndieBio, etc.) with deep-tech and biotech focus. Comparable as an investor-operated accelerator portfolio serving early-stage founders with sector-specific expertise and follow-on capital.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Large global innovation platform running accelerator programmes across multiple verticals and geographies. Comparable as a multi-location investor-operated accelerator with corporate partnership networks serving early-stage startup founders.

Regional players

• Dogpatch Labs: Ireland's leading startup hub, formed from the merger of NDRC and Dogpatch Labs. Directly comparable as a domestic Irish startup support ecosystem providing accelerator programmes, workspace, and founder community — operating in the same geography and target founder segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EI_NewFrontiers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@newfrontiersprogramme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-frontiers-entrepreneur-development
• Instagraminstagram.com/ei_newfrontiers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments15 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Frontiers