Northern Ireland based Accelerator Start Planet NI aims to build global appeal

by Startacus Admin
A brand new accelerator programme aiming to put Northern Ireland on the map as a global go-to place for high potential startups has been launched. Here’s all the details on how you can apply…
Aiming to place Northern Ireland as a great location for high potential startups is StartPlanetNI - an accelerator programme based in Belfast. Uniquely it is setting out to bring together local NI startups with international startups on a 50/50 basis to build Northern Ireland’s next generation of world class businesses.
Applications now open to startup founders from across the world. Here are all the details you need to know.
Funding for the programme comes via the regional economic development agency Invest Northern Ireland, who want to help high potential start-ups access early stage support and investment in Northern Ireland. It has contributed £2.6million to establish this accelerator programme, which will specifically focus on attracting both international and indigenous businesses with technology based ideas in the Knowledge Economy sectors.
The programme will also make approximately £2million of private sector equity investment funding available for selected startups (50 in total) over the length of the five year programme.
The StartPlanetNI accelerator is backed by an expert team with an internationally credible pedigree. Led by startup stalwart, mentor and founder Bill Liao, SOSventures European Venture Partner (also co-founder of CoderDojo and founder of WeForest.org), he is joined by Wayne Murphy - Accelerator Manager with Belfast based Diane Roberts from Xcell Partners running the programme.
In addition they have put in place an impressive team of expert mentors with a wide range of international experience who will offer invaluable and intensive mentoring and coaching to programme participants.
It will kick off in November 2015 with the programme’s first cohort of 10 teams. Each team will consist of 2-4 people who will have a product or idea almost ready for market. Participants will receive £15k ($23K USD / €21K EURO) seed funding and in return will be expected to part with 8% equity investment.
The accelerator offers an innovative co-operative approach to the investment the startups will gain and the equity they offer in return.
Uniquely, of that 8%, 2% will go towards a Founders’ Fund, which plans to generate shares in a pool made up of each company participating in the five year programme. The goal being that if in the not too distant future, one or more of the startups has a significant exit - all those in the ‘pool’ will benefit!
With relatively low living costs and a strong entrepreneurial spirit at its heart, Belfast is a prime location to start a tech centred business. The 3 month long Accelerator will be based in Revolution BFS, a new purpose designed accelerator and co-working space located in the heart of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. This space will be part of a global network of SoSventures Revolution co-working spaces – from San Francisco and Schenzen, to Cork and New York.
Each company who is successfully selected onto the accelerator will receive;
- Equity investment of £15k
- Up to a further £250k available per cohort
- 3 months of intensive mentoring and support
- Access to a state of the art co-working space for 3 months - with the option to stay for a further 6 months free of charge
- Legal and financial support
Startups have until 18th September 2015 to apply for the inaugural programme, commencing at the start of November and ending three months later with an all-important Demo day.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
The lowdown on the London-based health-tech startup Zedsen that has developed technology that can monitor the user’s bloodstream and collect data by using sensors that simply sit on top of the skin

The early-stage NI startups selected to pitch at LEVELUP 2021, the 2-day event taking place on 21-22 April as part of Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week have now been revealed...

Aimear Lynch, founder of My Pet Lamb and one of our Impacting Founders gives us the lowdown on her eco-conscious startup and business journey to date

The latest addition to the LEVELUP agenda is an online Speed Networking event, in partnership with Allstate NI and powered by Netminds. Come along and make new connections!

Digital DNA, leading lights in the NI Tech and Business community announced as media partners for the LEVELUP events at Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week

Kellie McCord from Toastmasters International shares some tips on a few of the key things you should consider to make sure that the online experience is inclusive and easier for more people

Thinking about embarking on currency trading? Here are some basic tips that will help you do just that...

The innovative Brighton-based startup, Naurt, that has created a plug-and-play toolkit for high-precision, beacon-free tracking

Thinking of using email marketing to promote your startup? Here are a few of the key things to consider when doing just that...

The lowdown on Fleex, the startup that helps companies provide remote employees with all they need to make working from home more comfortable
Published on: 1st June 2015
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- Startacus brings virtual speed networking to Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week 2021 12th Apr 2021 The latest addition to the LEVELUP agenda is an online Speed Networking event, in partnership with Allstate NI and powered by Netminds. Come along and make new connections!
- LEVELUP bags Digital DNA as media partners 12th Apr 2021 Digital DNA, leading lights in the NI Tech and Business community announced as media partners for the LEVELUP events at Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week
- Huge rise in dog weddings leads Feast It and Poppy’s Picnic to launch dog wedding planning service 31st Mar 2021 "Mutt-rimonials" are on the horizon thanks to Woof Weddings, the UK's first dedicated wedding planning service for dogs
- Manual, the innovative Men’s Health platform Raises $30M Series A 31st Mar 2021 Manual secures major investment to help with product development and international expansion and its overall mission to become the global destination for men’s health