Ten AI-First Start-Ups Commence Accelerator Programme at University College Dublin

Ten (10) AI-first start-ups have been selected to participate in the third AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme which commenced today at University College Dublin (UCD).

The Accelerator, delivered by NovaUCD in partnership with CeADAR, Ireland’s Centre for Applied AI, is part of CeADAR’s European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) for AI programme to support Irish start-ups and SMEs innovating with AI.

AI-First Start-Ups at UCD

The participating start-ups are; AnotherTrip; Databuckets; Diotima; Envaira; Infralign.ai; MESO; Neuronourish; RunCommerce; Setanta Space and Stormlands Mining.

See profiles below.

The focus of the 6-month programme is to support Ireland’s most promising and disruptive AI-first start-ups to accelerate commercial traction for global markets and become investment-ready scalable businesses.

Michelle Doyle, Senior Manager, Strategic Innovation Partnerships, NovaUCD, said, “I would like to congratulate the ten start-ups which have been selected, following a very competitive selection process, to participate in our third AI Ecosystem Accelerator programme. This year’s programme has been designed as a conversion engine to support ambitious, AI-first start-ups that already have market validation or live pilots underway and are now focused on accelerating traction on a global stage and are seeking to close a funding round this year.”

The AI Ecosystem Accelerator programme provides a structured pathway for founders and includes a combination of commercial, fundraising and technical supports. It also includes guidance from CeADAR’s AI experts to strengthen AI implementation and readiness for scale and support on data strategy, model evaluation, AI deployment readiness to ensure the underlying AI is robust, reliable and fit for real-world use.

Dr Ricardo Simon Carbajo, Director of Innovation and Development, CeADAR, said, “It is quite rewarding to see the growing interest of entrepreneurs in our AI Ecosystem Accelerator year on year. The Accelerator is a key pillar of CeADAR’s European Digital Innovation Hub for AI programme which has a set of services to reduce the risk and catalyse the adoption of AI in start-ups, SMEs and public sector organisations.”

Among the twenty (20) start-ups which have completed AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programmes delivered to date are, Customs Window, TrojanTrack, UniDoodle and Wrksense.

The AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme is funded through the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) framework, a Europe-wide initiative supported by the European Commission and the Governments of member states. In Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and
Employment, through Enterprise Ireland, leads on the EDIH programme.

The 2026 AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme will end with a showcase event in October.

Profiles of Participating Start-ups

Ten (10) AI-first start-ups have been selected to participate in the third AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme which commenced today at University College Dublin (UCD).

The Accelerator, delivered by NovaUCD in partnership with CeADAR, Ireland’s Centre for Applied AI, is part of CeADAR’s European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) for AI programme to support Irish start-ups and SMEs innovating with AI.
AI-First Start-Ups at UCD

The participating start-ups are; AnotherTrip; Databuckets; Diotima; Envaira; Infralign.ai; MESO; Neuronourish; RunCommerce; Setanta Space and Stormlands Mining.

See profiles below.

The focus of the 6-month programme is to support Ireland’s most promising and disruptive AI-first start-ups to accelerate commercial traction for global markets and become investment-ready scalable businesses.

Michelle Doyle, Senior Manager, Strategic Innovation Partnerships, NovaUCD, said, “I would like to congratulate the ten start-ups which have been selected, following a very competitive selection process, to participate in our third AI Ecosystem Accelerator programme. This year’s programme has been designed as a conversion engine to support ambitious, AI-first start-ups that already have market validation or live pilots underway and are now focused on accelerating traction on a global stage and are seeking to close a funding round this year.”

The AI Ecosystem Accelerator programme provides a structured pathway for founders and includes a combination of commercial, fundraising and technical supports. It also includes guidance from CeADAR’s AI experts to strengthen AI implementation and readiness for scale and support on data strategy, model evaluation, AI deployment readiness to ensure the underlying AI is robust, reliable and fit for real-world use.

Dr Ricardo Simon Carbajo, Director of Innovation and Development, CeADAR, said, “It is quite rewarding to see the growing interest of entrepreneurs in our AI Ecosystem Accelerator year on year. The Accelerator is a key pillar of CeADAR’s European Digital Innovation Hub for AI programme which has a set of services to reduce the risk and catalyse the adoption of AI in start-ups, SMEs and public sector organisations.”

Among the twenty (20) start-ups which have completed AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programmes delivered to date are, Customs Window, TrojanTrack, UniDoodle and Wrksense.

The AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme is funded through the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) framework, a Europe-wide initiative supported by the European Commission and the Governments of member states. In Ireland, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and
Employment, through Enterprise Ireland, leads on the EDIH programme.

The 2026 AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme will end with a showcase event in October.

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