Prep4Seed Accelerator Programme kicks off in Cork

The Bi-annual Prep4Seed 12-week Programme has started in Cork with a Masterclass on Market Planning and Business Validation organised by AxisBIC and Furthr. The programme, delivered by the four Irish Business Innovation Centres (BICs), in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland brings high growth start-up clients through the investor readiness process quickly and effectively.

11 companies were selected by Enterprise Ireland from a variety of industry sectors including Climate Tech, Life Sciences, FinTech, Digital Tech, Food and Sustainability.

Carol Gibbons, Divisional Manager for Entrepreneurship, Start-Ups and Local Enterprise at Enterprise Ireland said:

“Start-up companies are a driver of innovation and economic growth. At Enterprise Ireland, we are committed to helping founders start and scale their business internationally. The Prep4Seed programme, delivered in collaboration with the four BICs, is an effective platform from which to launch and nurture our future enterprise leaders and their businesses.

I am pleased to see the wide regional spread of companies across a range of sectors engaging in this programme, and we look forward to supporting these high-growth start-ups on their investment journey.”

Opening the first Prep4Seed Masterclass in Cork, Larry O’Donoghue, CEO of AxisBIC, stated: “We are thrilled to welcome participants to Cork for the inaugural Masterclass of the 2025 Prep4Seed Programme. AxisBIC has been engaged along with the BICs and EI with Prep4Seed since its pilot phase and has witnessed numerous companies gain immense value, securing substantial investments. Programmes like Prep4Seed play a crucial role in ensuring startups are investor-ready and equipped for sustainable growth.”

The Prep4Seed programme includes five Masterclasses run by the Irish BICs and six one-to-one sessions concentrating on client-led bespoke activity with experienced BIC consultants. The one-to-ones ensure that content from the Masterclasses is applied in a relevant way to each company. The individual, tailored company focus, brings these start-up companies through the investor readiness process quickly and effectively.

Participants are also brought through intensive investor pitch preparation sessions and trial pitches preparing them for Investor Pitch Day. The 12-week programme culminates with the Investor Pitch Day in May hosted by Enterprise Ireland.

The participating companies are Blip Payments Limited, Chapter Technology Limited, Liltoda, Maximo Financial Planning, Nibbed Ltd, Shoden Limited, Somatech Limited, Tao Climate, Voltflo, Xtricate Medical Ltd and Zeitgeist Spirits.