A new accelerator programme, called SPRINT, has been launched at Gateway UCC.
Designed to support early stage startups, entrepreneurs and UCC-based researchers, the SPRINT Accelerator will focus on how participating firms can make money and their best routes to market.
SPRINT was launched by Julie Sinnamon, CEO Enterprise Ireland and UCC’s VP for research & innovation Anita Maguire.
“SPRINT was developed to increase the number and the success rate of knowledge-based start-up companies, utilising intellectual property from UCC,” says Prof. Maguire.
The first 10 participants in the SPRINT accelerator are signed up and come from areas such as bioinformatics, digital mobile, MedTech, eHealth, nutrition and food health as well as ICT.
The 10 pre and early-stage startups will work with seasoned business mentors, as well as being coached in business development, and how to scale and grow internationally.
The SPRINT programme is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, Bank of Ireland and Cork City LEO.
Since opening in 2011, GATEWAY UCC Business Incubation & Innovation Centre has supported over 30 startups, which (between them) now employ 180 people and contribute an estimated €13 million in wages and €4 million in tax annually to the local economy.
Pictured at the launch of the new Gateway UCC accelerator programme, SPRINT, are Myriam Cronin Gateway UCC; Ruth Patel, Respiro R&D; Marcus Claesson, MicroBio Solutions; Audrey Micheal, Agathon Services; and Julie Sinnamon, Enterprise Ireland.
