CorkBIC
AxisBIC is a not-for-profit, EU|BIC-certified business and innovation centre headquartered in Cork, Ireland, delivering mentorship, funding access, and investor-readiness programmes to high-growth entrepreneurs across the South and Mid-West of Ireland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersCork, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CorkBIC does
AxisBIC, commonly referred to as CorkBIC, is a not-for-profit Business and Innovation Centre (registered charity, RCN 15503) headquartered at NSC Campus, Mahon, Cork, Ireland. Founded in 1988/1989 and operating for over 35 years, the organisation is specifically set up to identify and build knowledge-intensive companies in the South and Mid-West of Ireland, serving high-growth entrepreneurs and founders across Clare, Cork, Kerry, and Limerick.
The organisation delivers an interconnected platform of programmes grouped under three pillars: Axis Support (hands-on business expertise, mentorship, and investment readiness), Axis Funding (PSSF up to €100k, HPSU/iHPSU programmes, and the Boole Investment Syndicate active since 2012), and Axis Network (Growth Pathway Programme, EU Projects, and access to 30+ mentors and investors). Flagship offerings include the 36-hour Entrepreneur Experience™ event (355+ alumni, raising €500m+ in investment) and the twice-yearly Prep4Seed investor day programme. Underlying delivery is programme-based, workshop-based, and event-based rather than technology-based; no proprietary software, API, or SDK is disclosed. AxisBIC holds EU|BIC certification, validating its adherence to European incubation standards.
As a not-for-profit, AxisBIC does not charge entrepreneurs for its core support programmes. Its revenue base consists of government support (Irish Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; Enterprise Ireland via the HPSU pathway), EU and Interreg project funding, and partnership contributions, rather than commercial pricing. The organisation reports 1,300+ startups worked with, 180+ active startups in the region, an 85% five-year survival rate, and that 48% of businesses founded or co-founded within its ecosystem are women-led. Leadership is led by CEO Michael O'Connor; the organisation has between 1 and 10 employees, indicating a lean operating model that scales through curated mentor, investor, and partner networks rather than internal headcount.
CorkBIC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CorkBIC
- Legal name
- AxisBIC
- Website
- https://corkbic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- AxisBIC is a not-for-profit, EU|BIC-certified business and innovation centre headquartered in Cork, Ireland, delivering mentorship, funding access, and investor-readiness programmes to high-growth entrepreneurs across the South and Mid-West of Ireland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CorkBIC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Incubation and Entrepreneurship Support Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)
Keywords
Where CorkBIC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cork
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CorkBIC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
CorkBIC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CorkBIC/AxisBIC is a not-for-profit Business and Innovation Centre that supports high-growth entrepreneurs in the South and Mid-West of Ireland through structured programmes, mentorship, and access to pre-seed and angel funding. Its core deliverables include the Entrepreneur Experience™ intensive event, the PSSF (up to €100k) and HPSU funding programmes, the Boole Investment Syndicate, and the Prep4Seed investor readiness programme — all delivered free of charge to participating founders.
Product overview
AxisBIC is a not-for-profit Business and Innovation Centre that provides a platform of interconnected programmes and services to support entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. The offering combines Axis Support (business expertise and mentorship), Axis Funding (PSSF, HPSU, and Boole Investment Syndicate funding programmes), and Axis Network (Growth Pathway Programme, EU Projects, and access to mentors and investors). Key flagship offerings include the Entrepreneur Experience™ event, Prep4Seed investor programme, and various funding instruments up to €100k+ for validated startups. The organization has supported over 1.3k startups, with 85% surviving 5+ years.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Entrepreneur Experience: A unique event for 24 Emerging Entrepreneurs to gain access, advice and mentoring from 30 of Ireland's most successful business leaders over 36 hours.
- Prep4Seed
- Boole Investment Syndicate
- Growth Pathway Programme
- PSSF
- HPSU
Products and services
- Entrepreneur Experience™ A flagship 36-hour intensive event for 24 emerging entrepreneurs providing unparalleled access, advice, and mentoring from 30 of Ireland's most successful business leaders. Over 355 entrepreneurs have completed the programme. Targeted at early-stage founders seeking experiential mentorship.
- PSSF (Pre-Seed Support Fund) Pre-Seed funding programme enabling startups to secure up to €100k to validate, build, and fund their startup. Provided to early-stage founders in the South and Mid-West region.
- HPSU (High Potential Start-Up Funding) Funding programme supporting high-growth startups in securing Innovative High Potential Start-Up (iHPSU) funding via Enterprise Ireland. Aimed at innovative, scalable companies.
- Boole Investment Syndicate Angel investment syndicate that has been investing in high-growth startups since 2012. Provides equity capital access for portfolio companies referred through AxisBIC programmes.
- Growth Pathway Programme
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% of supported startups survive 5+ years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CorkBIC
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
CorkBIC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CorkBIC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Enterprise IrelandcoreGovernment-backed development agency supporting Irish companies. AxisBIC works with Enterprise Ireland to support high-growth startups, including through the HPSU (High Potential Start Up) funding programme for innovative early-stage companies.
- EBN (European Business and Innovation Centres Network)corePan-European network of business and innovation centres. AxisBIC is a certified EU|BIC member, part of a network that supports entrepreneurs and SMEs across Europe.
- EUBICcoreEuropean Business and Innovation Centre certification and network. AxisBIC holds EU|BIC certification, indicating compliance with European standards for business incubation and support services.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
CorkBIC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Wayra (Telefónica): Global corporate-backed startup accelerator operating across multiple countries. Comparable to AxisBIC because it runs structured programmes combining funding, mentorship, and investor introductions, though Wayra is corporate-sponsored and global rather than regionally focused.
- Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Large operator of innovation campuses and startup workspaces, particularly in the Cambridge/Boston ecosystem. Comparable to AxisBIC in providing structured incubation infrastructure, but at much larger scale and as a commercial operator rather than a not-for-profit.
- Enterprise Ireland: Irish government development agency funding high-potential startups and scaling companies. Comparable because Enterprise Ireland is also a core AxisBIC partner and runs overlapping programmes (e.g., HPSU), but operates nationally with a much larger budget and mandate.
- Station F: World's largest startup campus in Paris hosting accelerators, programmes, and founder services. Comparable to AxisBIC in acting as a hub connecting founders to mentors, investors, and programmes, though Station F is a private mega-campus rather than a regional non-profit.
- Techstars: Global accelerator network running 3-month mentorship-driven programmes for early-stage startups. Comparable because it provides similar accelerator structure and investor connections, but operates a global equity-taking model rather than a regional not-for-profit BIC model.
- EBN (European Business and Innovation Centres Network): Pan-European network coordinating EU|BIC certified business innovation centres. Comparable to AxisBIC as the umbrella body for the EU|BIC community, providing shared standards, EU project pipelines, and benchmarking across 150+ member BICs.
Direct peers
- SETsquared Partnership: UK university business incubation partnership supporting high-growth startups across southern England. Comparable to AxisBIC because it is a multi-institutional BIC-style organization delivering structured programmes, funding readiness, and mentor networks to early-stage founders in a defined region.
- Dogpatch Labs: Irish startup hub and accelerator based in Dublin. Comparable to AxisBIC because it provides founder workspace, mentorship, and investor introductions to early-stage Irish startups, but operates as a for-profit entity rather than a not-for-profit BIC.
- NDRC: National Digital Research Centre in Ireland, an early-stage investor and accelerator supporting digital startups. Comparable to AxisBIC because it operates a similar high-growth startup support model with funding and mentorship, though with a national rather than regional mandate.
Regional players
- Welsh ICE (Caerphilly Enterprise Circle): Regional business incubation and innovation centre supporting startups in Wales. Comparable to AxisBIC as a regional BIC-style non-profit delivering structured programmes and mentor networks, but operating in a different UK geography.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CorkBIC social profiles
Digital presenceCorkBIC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
CorkBIC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CorkBIC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CorkBIC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CorkBIC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CorkBIC
What does CorkBIC do?
CorkBIC/AxisBIC is a not-for-profit Business and Innovation Centre that supports high-growth entrepreneurs in the South and Mid-West of Ireland through structured programmes, mentorship, and access to pre-seed and angel funding. Its core deliverables include the Entrepreneur Experience™ intensive event, the PSSF (up to €100k) and HPSU funding programmes, the Boole Investment Syndicate, and the Prep4Seed investor readiness programme — all delivered free of charge to participating founders.
Is CorkBIC a public or private company?
CorkBIC is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CorkBIC founded?
CorkBIC was founded in 1989. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CorkBIC based?
CorkBIC is headquartered in Cork, Ireland, in the Europe region.
Who are CorkBIC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Wayra (Telefónica), Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), Enterprise Ireland, Station F, Techstars and EBN (European Business and Innovation Centres Network). Direct peers are SETsquared Partnership, Dogpatch Labs and NDRC. Welsh ICE (Caerphilly Enterprise Circle) is listed as a regional player.
Does CorkBIC have an API?
No public API is recorded for CorkBIC.
What industry is CorkBIC in?
CorkBIC's product category is Startup Incubation and Entrepreneurship Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAHAB, Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days), with a secondary code of FSAKAGAI, SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 6111.