What AxisBIC does

AxisBIC is a not-for-profit business innovation centre and registered Irish charity (RCN 15503), headquartered at NSC Campus in Mahon, Cork. Founded circa 1990 (originally as CorkBIC) and rebranded to AxisBIC in 2024, the organisation supports high-growth startups and entrepreneurs across the South and Mid-West of Ireland, covering Clare, Cork, Kerry, and Limerick. Its core delivery model is the Growth Pathway Programme, which combines three flagship events (The Entrepreneur Experience, a 36-hour mentoring event pairing 24 founders with 24-30 seasoned business leaders; The Venture Academy, a high-growth pitching event; and The Startup Showcase) with funding-application support for Enterprise Ireland's Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF, up to €100k) and innovative High Potential Start-Up (iHPSU) designations, and a 12-week Prep4Seed investor-readiness programme.

The organisation operates no proprietary technology platform; its "product" is curated human advisory, mentorship, and event programming. Services are delivered free to startups and funded through a concentrated set of public-sector counterparties — Enterprise Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Cork City and County Councils — supplemented by EU project grants (Seeds of Bravery, SaferSea, EU|LAC). AxisBIC is also tightly linked to the Boole Investment Syndicate, a not-for-profit angel syndicate based at the same campus that has invested over €15M since 2012 across 38 active members, providing a downstream capital channel for portfolio companies.

AxisBIC monetises through grants rather than commercial pricing and runs on a small core team (1-10 employees, CEO Larry O'Donoghue). Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led: flagship programmes serve as both product and acquisition channel, complemented by media partnerships (The Currency), national BIC collaboration (Furthr, Propelor BIC, WestBIC), and event sponsorship (Dublin Tech Summit 2026, 350 leads). Cumulative outcomes reported by the organisation include €500M+ raised by alumni startups since 2011, 1,300+ startups supported over 35 years, and an 85% five-year survival rate among supported companies.

Name

AxisBIC

Legal name

AxisBIC

Website

https://axisbic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AxisBIC is an Irish not-for-profit business innovation centre that supports high-growth startups in Clare, Cork, Kerry, and Limerick through mentoring, funding-application help, and investor-readiness programmes delivered in partnership with Enterprise Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup and Entrepreneurship Support Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Startup acceleration services
• Entrepreneurship mentoring programmes
• Business innovation centre
• Investor readiness coaching
• Seed funding advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Cork

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Non-profit Support Services: AxisBIC is a not-for-profit organisation (Registered Charity Number RCN 15503) that provides free support services to startups. The organisation is funded through partnerships with Enterprise Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, and EU projects. Their revenue model is based on government and EU funding, not direct revenue generation from clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AxisBIC operates as a not-for-profit Business Innovation Centre delivering structured startup support programmes, one-to-one mentorship, funding application assistance, and investor-readiness coaching to early-stage and scaling founders in Ireland's South and Mid-West region. Its flagship Growth Pathway Programme combines a 36-hour intensive mentoring event (Entrepreneur Experience), a high-growth pitching showcase (Venture Academy), and a celebration event (Startup Showcase), supported by accelerator programmes such as Prep4Seed and NextWave and channelled through Enterprise Ireland's Pre-Seed Start Fund and High Potential Start-Up funding instruments.

Product overview

AxisBIC is a not-for-profit organization providing a comprehensive suite of startup support programmes and services. The core offering is the Growth Pathway Programme, a three-element structure comprising The Entrepreneur Experience (36-hour mentoring event), The Venture Academy (investor pitching event), and The Startup Showcase (celebration event). The organization supports startups through Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) and High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) funding assistance, connects them with the Boole Investment Syndicate (€15M+ invested since 2012), and offers specialized accelerators including the 12-week Prep4Seed investor-readiness programme and the 10-week NextWave Women Founders Accelerator. Additional offerings include EU project participation and access to an extensive network of mentors and investors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Entrepreneur Experience™: A flagship mentoring programme that connects 24 emerging entrepreneurs with 24 seasoned business leaders over 36 hours.
• Venture Academy™
• Startup Showcase
• Growth Pathway Programme
• Boole Investment Syndicate

Products and services

• Growth Pathway Programme A comprehensive three-element programme involving SMEs, startups, and experienced entrepreneurs focused on building the next generation of high-performance companies. It combines The Entrepreneur Experience (mentoring), The Venture Academy (pitching/showcase), and The Startup Showcase (celebration) into a single structured pathway.
• The Entrepreneur Experience A unique founder development programme connecting 24 emerging entrepreneurs with 24 of Ireland's most successful business leaders over 36 hours for mentoring, workshops, peer discussions, and networking, held at Ballymaloe, Co. Cork.
• The Venture Academy AxisBIC's flagship high-growth startup pitching event where selected startups pitch for investment in front of seasoned entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders after participating in one-to-one mentoring and group workshops.
• The Startup Showcase A celebration event for the region's high-growth startups at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey, from early-stage startups to growing and scaling businesses.
• PSSF (Pre-Seed Start Fund) Support Support programme helping startups secure up to €100k to validate, build, and fund their business through Enterprise Ireland's Pre-Seed Start Fund (€50k or €100k via Convertible Loan Note).
• HPSU (High Potential Start-Up) Support Support for high-growth startups to secure Innovative High Potential Start Up (iHPSU) funding from Enterprise Ireland.
• Boole Investment Syndicate The Boole Angel Investment Syndicate has been investing in high-growth startups since 2012, having invested over €15 million in Irish startups. It has 38 active members with a goal to reach 50 by April 2026, and provides AxisBIC startups with access to pre-screened investor-ready opportunities.
• Prep4Seed Programme A 12-week intensive investor-readiness programme delivered nationally by the four Irish BICs in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland, preparing early-stage companies for seed investment through masterclasses, one-to-one sessions, and pitch preparation.
• NextWave: National Women Founders Accelerator A 10-week national accelerator designed exclusively for women founders to validate, build, and scale with confidence through immersive surge sessions, mentorship pathways, and peer connection, delivered nationally by the four Irish BICs with Enterprise Ireland.
• EU Projects Programme AxisBIC's involvement in EU projects including Seeds of Bravery (€20M EIC project for Ukrainian tech startups, helping secure €15.4M in additional investment), SaferSea (maritime safety), and EU|LAC Innovation Cooperation (EU-Latin America/Caribbean collaboration).
• Mentors & Investors Network Network of experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders (155+ mentors) who mentor, coach, and advise emerging entrepreneurs and startups engaged with AxisBIC programmes.

Quantifiable outcome

• €500 million+ raised in investment by AxisBIC-supported startups since 2011
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered key, supporting and core.

• The CurrencykeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 June 2026Media partner for the Entrepreneur Experience. The Currency provides editorial coverage, publishes articles about participants, and Associate Editor Alan English provides commentary on the event.
• Seeds of Bravery (EU EIC)keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023€20 million EU-funded project under the European Innovation Council supporting Ukrainian tech startups. AxisBIC leads EU Market Discovery and Market Entry work packages. Helped Ukrainian startups secure €15.4M in additional investment.
• SaferSea (Interreg Atlantic Area)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023EU Interreg Atlantic Area project contributing to safer, eco-friendly maritime sector development. AxisBIC participates in study visits and conferences for maritime innovation.
• Cork City CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal government partner supporting AxisBIC programmes including the Entrepreneur Experience and Growth Pathway Programme. Co-funds and promotes entrepreneurial initiatives in the Cork region.
• Cork County CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal government partner supporting AxisBIC programmes including the Entrepreneur Experience and Growth Pathway Programme. Co-funds entrepreneurial development in the county.
• Grant ThorntonsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional services firm partner for the Entrepreneur Experience, providing business expertise and mentorship to emerging entrepreneurs.
• MediaHQsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner supporting the 2025 Entrepreneur Experience, assisting with publicity and media outreach.
• FurthrcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four Irish Business Innovation Centres (BICs). Collaborates nationally with AxisBIC on Prep4Seed investor-readiness programme, NextWave Women Founders Accelerator, and other initiatives. Furthr is Chair of Irish BICs.
• Propelor BICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four Irish Business Innovation Centres (BICs). Collaborates nationally on Prep4Seed, NextWave, and other programmes supporting innovative startups across Ireland.
• WestBICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four Irish Business Innovation Centres (BICs). Collaborates nationally on Prep4Seed, NextWave, and other programmes. Deputy CEO Mary Ryan represents WestBIC.
• EBN (European Business & Innovation Centre Network)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAxisBIC is a certified EU|BIC member providing access to a global network of partners and investors, internationalisation support, and EU funding access (EIC, Horizon Europe).
• EBAN (European Trade Association for Business Angels)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAxisBIC is a member and active participant in EBAN. Collaborated on hosting the EBAN Annual Congress in Cork (2022), welcoming 350 business angels, entrepreneurs, VCs and business leaders.
• EU|LAC Innovation CooperationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Commission-funded initiative fostering collaboration among innovators across EU and Latin America/Caribbean for sustainable development. AxisBIC co-hosts webinars and participates in international events.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves1 record

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Ireland: State agency that funds and operates the PSSF, iHPSU and High Potential Start-Up programmes that AxisBIC helps companies apply to. Functions as both a critical funding partner and a broader incumbent that competes for the same founder mindshare.
• EBN (European Business & Innovation Centre Network): Brussels-based umbrella body of which AxisBIC is a certified EU|BIC member. Provides the broader European network, EU funding access, and benchmarking framework within which AxisBIC and other BICs operate.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network running mentor-driven, cohort-based programmes with investor demo days. Provides a useful benchmark for the operating model that AxisBIC's Entrepreneur Experience and Venture Academy emulate at a regional scale.

Direct peers

• Dogpatch Labs: Startup hub and accelerator operating in Ireland (Dublin and Cork) with mentor-led programmes and investor connections. Overlaps directly with AxisBIC's Entrepreneur Experience and Venture Academy as a Cork-based founder and investor community.
• Furthr: One of the four Irish Business Innovation Centres, operating across multiple Irish regions and co-delivering national programmes such as Prep4Seed and NextWave with AxisBIC. Most directly comparable as a sister BIC running the same Enterprise Ireland–backed startup support model.
• WestBIC: Western-region Irish Business Innovation Centre and the fourth member of the Irish BICs consortium. Operates the same Enterprise Ireland–backed startup programmes as AxisBIC and competes for the same funding-allocation footprint in a different geography.
• Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs): Government-backed network of 31 local offices providing mentoring, training, and grant support to Irish startups and SMEs. Comparable as a publicly funded first-stop support provider for early-stage entrepreneurs across Ireland.
• Propelor BIC: Irish Business Innovation Centre delivering PSSF, iHPSU, Prep4Seed and NextWave programmes nationally alongside AxisBIC. Same mission, funding partners, and operating model, making it the closest regional comparator.
• NDRC: Irish early-stage investor and accelerator founded at Trinity College Dublin, providing founder mentoring and pre-seed investment. Comparable to AxisBIC as another nationally active Irish startup accelerator with an investor-aligned model.

Regional players

• Republic of Work: Cork-based coworking and innovation hub that hosts events, mentoring, and founder programmes. Adjacent rather than directly competitive with AxisBIC but overlaps in serving the same Cork-region early-stage community.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AxisBIC
• Facebookfacebook.com/HelloAxisBIC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/axisbic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about AxisBIC