Preliminary Market Consultation Exercise in relation to the provision of Accelerator Services for Enterprise Ireland

Tender description

Enterprise Ireland is seeking responses from market providers for the design, delivery, and coordination of a suite of Accelerator and Pre-Accelerator Programmes to be implemented nationally and regionally. These programmes aim to support the development of innovative, high-potential startups and entrepreneurial talent across Ireland, contributing to Enterprise Ireland’s strategic goal of supporting 1,000 new startups by 2029. The procurement will cover multiple programme streams: 1. Accelerator – Startup Company and Talent a. Accelerator Startup Company Programme: The Accelerator Startup Company Programme will consist of two six-month national programmes annually, targeting 30 companies per year across sectors such as tech, food, and life sciences. The programme should be designed to support progression toward High Potential Startup (HPSU) funding. The programme will include investor readiness training, pitch development, and internationalisation support. b. Talent Accelerator Programme: Two six-month programmes annually, engaging 80 participants (e.g. MNC professionals, researchers, commercial leads). Participants will receive monthly stipends and, upon completion of the programme, may be eligible to apply for Enterprise Ireland’s Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF), subject to meeting relevant criteria. The programme will culminate in a Talent Pitch Day, with the goal of creating 30 startups annually. 2. Regional Pre-Accelerator Programmes: Delivered across all regions of Ireland, these short-term programmes will support 160 startups annually. They will be coordinated by one lead provider for all programmes supported by regional sub-providers and will act as feeders into the Accelerator Startup Company Programme. Activities include hackathons, bootcamps, and founder weekends. 3. Sectoral/Specialist Accelerator Programmes: Short-term programmes focused on specific sectors such as AI, fintech, medtech, sustainability, food, and women and underrepresented group entrepreneurship. A minimum of three specialist programmes per year is anticipated, with national or regional delivery depending on sectoral needs. 4. Investor Readiness and Connectivity Programme: This initiative looks at the connectivity of private and institutional investors with early-stage companies raising seed and later-stage funding (€250k+), which could include matchmaking services, investor education, and support for deal flow and investment readiness. All programmes will be delivered under a unified National Accelerator Platform, with consistent branding and coordinated data reporting via a digital platform managed by Enterprise Ireland. Providers will be expected to collaborate across streams to ensure alignment with strategic outcomes, shared KPIs, and a seamless participant experience. Enterprise Ireland is conducting this preliminary market consultation to explore available solutions, indicative costs, and implementation approaches. Responses should address relevant programme streams, proposed services, cost models, and any additional value-added offerings. This is not a call for competition but an information-gathering exercise to inform future procurement. Enterprise Ireland is seeking responses from market providers for the design, delivery, and coordination of a suite of Accelerator and Pre-Accelerator Programmes to be implemented nationally and regionally. These programmes aim to support the development of innovative, high-potential startups and entrepreneurial talent across Ireland, contributing to Enterprise Ireland’s strategic goal of supporting 1,000 new startups by 2029. The procurement will cover multiple programme streams: 1. Accelerator – Startup Company and Talent a. Accelerator Startup Company Programme: The Accelerator Startup Company Programme will consist of two six-month national programmes annually, targeting 30 companies per year across sectors such as tech, food, and life sciences. The programme should be designed to support progression toward High Potential Startup (HPSU) funding. The programme will include investor readiness training, pitch development, and internationalisation support. b. Talent Accelerator Programme: Two six-month programmes annually, engaging 80 participants (e.g. MNC professionals, researchers, commercial leads). Participants will receive monthly stipends and, upon completion of the programme, may be eligible to apply for Enterprise Ireland’s Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF), subject to meeting relevant criteria. The programme will culminate in a Talent Pitch Day, with the goal of creating 30 startups annually. 2. Regional Pre-Accelerator Programmes: Delivered across all regions of Ireland, these short-term programmes will support 160 startups annually. They will be coordinated by one lead provider for all programmes supported by regional sub-providers and will act as feeders into the Accelerator Startup Company Programme. Activities include hackathons, bootcamps, and founder weekends. 3. Sectoral/Specialist Accelerator Programmes: Short-term programmes focused on specific sectors such as AI, fintech, medtech, sustainability, food, and women and underrepresented group entrepreneurship. A minimum of three specialist programmes per year is anticipated, with national or regional delivery depending on sectoral needs. 4. Investor Readiness and Connectivity Programme: This initiative looks at the connectivity of private and institutional investors with early-stage companies raising seed and later-stage funding (€250k+), which could include matchmaking services, investor education, and support for deal flow and investment readiness. All programmes will be delivered under a unified National Accelerator Platform, with consistent branding and coordinated data reporting via a digital platform managed by Enterprise Ireland. Providers will be expected to collaborate across streams to ensure alignment with strategic outcomes, shared KPIs, and a seamless participant experience. Enterprise Ireland is conducting this preliminary market consultation to explore available solutions, indicative costs, and implementation approaches. Responses should address relevant programme streams, proposed services, cost models, and any additional value-added offerings. This is not a call for competition but an information-gathering exercise to inform future procurement.