Last year, specialist software company MCS-Tech won the programme’s ‘One to Watch’ award.

18 Irish start-ups are participating in the latest iteration of Enterprise Ireland’s Prep4Seed investor readiness programme. Since its launch in 2022, Prep4Seed has seen more than 100 participating businesses spanning numerous sectors.

The 12-week-long mentorship programme, which kicked off in Cork earlier this week, is delivered by the Irish state agency alongside the country’s four Business Innovation Centres (BICs) – AxisBIC, Furthr, Propelor and WestBIC. BICs support start-ups aiming to access funding, mentorship and specialised resources.

Prep4Seed offers five specialist masterclasses to its participants, alongside six one-to-one sessions with BIC consultants to help support early-stage businesses to scale and raise funding.

The annual programme will close this year with a pitching competition on 18 November. Last year, Ocras, a producer of frozen food designed for those that have trouble swallowing, won the Best Pitch award, while specialist software company MCS-Tech took home the One to Watch award.

“Prep4Seed equips founders with the tools and investor-readiness support they need to take that next step,” said Enterprise Ireland’s head of start-ups Conor O’Donovan.

Opening the first Prep4Seed masterclass in Cork, Larry O’Donoghue, the CEO of AxisBIC, said: “Prep4Seed plays an important role in supporting ambitious early-stage companies to build the foundations for investment and sustainable growth.

“We have seen first-hand the impact Prep4Seed has in helping to develop the next generation of high-potential Irish start-ups, giving founders the skills, confidence and investor readiness they need to turn ambition into growth.”

Fan experience platform Skippio, a former Prep4Seed award winner in 2023, expanded into the UK just months later. Skippio, which aims to address the problem of long queues for food and drinks at large-scale events, has seen much success in recent years, often ranking high on app stores’ food-and-drink charts.

This year’s Prep4Seed participants are: Ainmhí Beauty; Alfaeye; Bean Around; ComplyB4; Doctrine; Fashion Connect Ireland; Genotrial Health/Evident; Intelireg/Envaira; Kelvinix; Key2Biotics; Otis Technology; PharmaFast; Sea plus Solu; Seer Health; Slíglas; Talexa; Timeless Beauty; and Well Preserved/Mór Taste.

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