Catalyst

Catalyst (independent non-profit)

Stage

Idea / pre-product, MVP / early product, Early revenue, Scaling

Location

Northern Ireland

Equity

No equity taken

Cost

Free (programme-dependent)

Delivery

Hybrid

Any sector

Idea / pre-productMVP / early productEarly revenueScaling

Northern Ireland's leading science and technology hub, founded in 1999 as part of the Good Friday Agreement. Two campuses in Belfast (Titanic Quarter) and Derry~Londonderry. Home to 140+ startups, scaleups and corporates. Runs the full founder journey: Co-Founders (free 12-week pre-idea programme), INVENT (annual R&D competition), Way to Scale (10-company scaleup cohort), and Springboard. Ranked top 10 startup hub in UK & Ireland by Financial Times / Sifted. Supports 900+ entrepreneurs annually.

Why this programme

Find customers / partnerships

Hub events and corporate innovation programmes connecting NI startups with enterprise customers

Community / workspace / ecosystem

NI's anchor innovation campus — two sites, 140+ resident companies, 3,000 tech professionals on-campus

Access to mentors / operators

Each programme brings experienced founder mentors and industry experts; Co-Founders pairs you with domain experts from day one

Build product / validate MVP

Co-Founders is specifically designed to validate ideas and form teams before full commitment; INVENT rewards proven prototypes

Raise funding

Way to Scale and INVENT provide investor access; Catalyst connects founders to Techstart Ventures PoC grants and HBAN angel network

Scale & grow

Way to Scale programme specifically targets NI companies ready to grow, with investor access and enterprise customer connections across UK and Ireland

Interested in Catalyst?

Head to their website for current cohort dates and how to apply.

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