TEST THE IDEA
New Frontiers is the national entrepreneurial development programme for ambitious early-stage entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas which have the potential to scale and provide employment. It provides the skills, support, and confidence needed to make the leap to starting a successful business.
PHASE 1
Our Offering
We have two offerings catering for different individual’s needs by running either in the evenings or Friday/ weekend
5-week Phase 1 Programme
- 10 Practitioner-led training workshops
- Part-time evening programme typically Wednesday / Thursday 6-9pm approx
- You can continue in your current job
- Workshops covering Business validation and market research, financial planning, pitching & more
- De-risk your business model
- Peer to peer networking and learning
- Arrive at a go-no go decision
- Prepares you & improves your chances of accessing Phase 2
1.5-day Bootcamp
- 1.5 day practitioner-led training workshops running over 1.5 days (Friday afternoon / Saturday)
- A shorter, fast paced programme
- Ideal for those either at the early stages that want to explore entrepreneurship for the first time
- Or those that feel they have progressed their idea & want to enhance & get a flavour of New Frontiers before processing to Phase 2
Key Benefits
- Part-time programme
- Business validation and market research workshops
- You can continue in your current job
- Peer to peer networking and learning
- De-risk your business model
- Arrive at a go-no go decision
- Prepares you & improves your chances of accessing Phase 2
Both programmes are to help you develop an Entrepreneur Toolkit to
- Test your business idea with potential customers
- Prepare next stage of your “product” development eg. prototype / minimal viable product / (MVP) or next version
- Understand the financial requirements to fund the early stages of your business development
- Articulate your business idea
- Introduction to the Startup Landscape & available grants/funds in Ireland
Who is this for
Individuals at the earliest stage of having a business idea with little or no experience in starting a business that have the desire to start their own business.
An Innovative Idea - Have a potentially innovative business idea that has the potential to create a manufacturing or internationally traded services business OR a new domestically-traded service business in Ireland.
Are Ambitious - Are ambitious and have the capability and commitment needed to develop a sustainable business.
Are Growth Orientated – Have the drive & ambition required to commit & engage fully in all aspects of the programme to build a successful startup.
Commercial Market Potential – With the Phase 1 programme can show clear evidence of a commercial market for their proposed product/service.
Your New Frontiers Journey
A 5-week or 1.5-day programme to explore your business idea and will help you to research and test the market potential of your business idea. New Frontiers is a free entrepreneur development programme funded by Enterprise Ireland during which you will develop your entrepreneurial toolkit, your understanding of startup supports, widen your network plus more. The programme will help you to prepare for our 6-month phase 2 “Develop the Business” Programme.
The programme is for early-stage entrepreneurs with little or no experience in starting a business who are based, and intend to run their business, in Ireland. The programme is open to applicants over the age of 18 from a range of sectors including:
Food & Consumer Products
Engineering & Electronics
Medical Devices
Biotechnology
Pharma
Digital Media
Cleantech / Renewable Energy
Eligible Internationally Traded Services
Next Programme - Phase 1 April '25- 5-week evening programme
10th & 11th March '25
Commencement
Programme Close
29th May ‘25
We will also be hosting our fast paced 1.5 day Bootcamp on the afternoon in June '25
FAQ?
We welcome your queries please reach out to the team with any questions regarding the programme, your commitment, eligibility.
Schedule a phone call, zoom or meeting with us.
In advance of each programme closing date, we will hold Information Sessions – Book via Events Page
We highly recommend that those interested in support begin their New Frontier Journey with Phase 1 to available of the additional support, tease out their idea, enhance their customer understanding & prepare for Phase 2. Phase 1 is not compulsory you can apply to phase 2 directly..
No, you can apply directly to Phase 2
Individuals are eligible to apply for, or to be in receipt of, at any given time, ONE of the following State supports awarded through public bodies: New Frontiers P2/P3 stipend, HPSU Start feasibility, EI Commercialisation Fund, Foodworks, Pre-Seed Startup Fund (PSSF), LEO Feasibility, Udaras Na Gaeltachta Feasibility.
This may affect eligibility to participate on the programme and will make you ineligible to receive the stipend.
You will not be eligible to receive the New Frontiers P2 stipend if they are already in receipt of funding over the value of €100,000 (i.e., culmination of State or Private funding).
Failure to disclose any funding received or applied for at the time of application may result in the suspension of future stipend payments.
Business concepts based on the following ARE NOT ELIGIBLE for support:
- Retail outlets and professional services, including consultancies that are not engaged in internationally traded services.
- Areas of enterprise which involve displacement of existing jobs or businesses including builders, hairdressers, cafes, pubs, hotels, general printers, construction, trades etc.
- Conferences and seminars
- Businesses which are contrary to public policy, i.e. goods/services for military use, adult entertainment services, tobacco and related ventures, cannabis-based products.
- Activities that fall within gambling or “gaming” as defined in the Gaming & Lotteries Act 1956.
This is not an exhaustive list.
Alumni Testimonials
"Phase 1 really moved my mentality from doing something because I love it and my customers love it into examining my Why. Gaining market research, enhancing my customer journey, increasing my financial potential, and really seeing exactly how I can scale to a turnover of a million-euro , month by month. It was a rich breeding-ground of ideas, inspiration , commitment, and diversity made up of people from all sectors and backgrounds."
Lorraine Lynch, CEO Child Psychology Institute
"This 5-week programme is a great support for anyone looking to start a business who needs to validate their idea. Not alone do you gain practical skills to test your idea, but it equips you for the future . it was a great way to meet like-minded people who are passionate about making their idea a reality."
Nicholas Ryan, CEO Thomond Gate Whiskey
"As a web developer, my head is often buried in the technical requirements of developing the product. Doing Phase 1 of New Frontiers allowed me to take a step back and spend time on developing other important aspects of the business and plan it's direction. I came in to contact with people who are experts in their fields, sharing their knowledge and experience and also connected with my fellow programme colleagues who are taking the same tentative steps that I am. A most enjoyable and memorable experience which I feel has added personal life-long value. "
Derek Nolan, Annotate
"Even with the time constraint of only 1 day and a half, the phase 1 bootcamp really helped me dream bigger in terms of where I can bring my business. I was able to expand on my idea, question it and reimagine it through different scenarios. I no feel better equipped to turn my idea into a feasible, profitable business with the potential to provide jobs for others."
Malu Colorin, CEO Talú
