UK Accelerator, StartPlanetNI Invites Local and International Startups to Belfast Launchpad
by Startacus Admin
After a highly successful first cohort which has helped to establish Belfast as a go-to location in the UK and Europe for high-growth potential startups, Northern Ireland’s international tech accelerator StartPlanetNI is once again open for applications.
StartPlanetNI
This 3-month programme beginning in September 2016 is for technology-focused startups who have been in operation ideally less than 24 months but who have an immediate global market potential. Teams of 2-4 people must have 1 founder and at least 1 co-founder (with a max of 4) and all members will be required to attend the programme. Startups must have a product built to at least MVP stage, but yet need extra support to help with its development and market potential. 
There are places for up to 10 companies and half will be drawn from Northern Ireland, with the rest coming from international markets.
The programme offers a mix of equity investment, mentoring, co-working space, business support, and the potential for further investment, in exchange for a 6% equity stake in your business.
StartPlanetNI is delivered by an extremely high-calibre team including renowned mentor and founder Bill Liao, Diane Roberts from Xcell Partners who is running the programme, and Accelerator Manager Wayne Murphy . It is also backed by Northern Ireland’s regional economic development agency Invest NI. As well as this they have put in place an impressive team of expert mentors with a wide range of international experience who will offer intensive mentoring and coaching to the successful founders.
This is potentially a valuable opportunity for companies with a product that would like to scale and prepare themselves for further investment and sales in global markets.
What’s On Offer?
Applications are welcomed from across the island of Ireland, UK, Europe and further afield, as the accelerator continues to grow to become a truly international programme. Each company who is successfully selected by StartPlanetNI will receive;
- total focus on developing your business from a world class programme team
- equity investment of £15,000, with the opportunity to gain up to £40,000 investment on completion of the 3 month programme
- 3 months co-working space, with an additional 6 month extension without charge
- Additional significant opportunity for post accelerator investment
- Potential follow-on support from Invest Northern Ireland
- Guidance from a host of talented entrepreneurs and mentors
The StartPlanetNI accelerator is based in a brand new co-working startup space located in the heart of Belfast’s creative and digital Cathedral Quarter - 112DonegallSt. This venue will link the participating companies to a global network of co-working spaces linking to programmes across the globe from Shenzhen to Shanghai and New York to San Francisco.
World’s First ‘Founders Fund’
True to the spirit of collaboration that the programme fosters, each participant will also have the opportunity to join an optional ‘Founders Fund’, a world’s first for an accelerator programme. This unique model involves participants investing a small percentage of their equity for shares in a fund formed for the benefit of and to be shared by all the companies participating in the programme. This equity is shared amongst all the founders on the programme thus creating the scenario where each company shares in their fellow participants’ success. This is an interesting model which should create a truly dynamic, focused and cooperative environment.
Applications Now Open
The deadline for applications is the 27th May 2016. You can make your application here, or pop over to the StartPlanetNI website for more info. Join in the conversation @StartPlanetNI
Also & if you are based in London, on Monday 25th April come and join us for an informal meetup and social event at Club Workspace Clerkenwell where the guys from StartPlanetNI will there to tell you a little about their upcoming accelerator programme that is currently open for applications. Click here to book your free ticket!
Good luck to all and hopefully we can get someone from the Startacus community in there!
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Published on: 19th April 2016
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