NextWave: National Women Founders Accelerator

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An accelerator designed to empower women founders to validate, build, and scale with confidence.

Who is it for?

The NextWave Programme is a 10-week national accelerator designed exclusively for women founders.

Through an energised mix of structured learning, mentorship, and peer connection, participants will validate their ideas, refine compelling narratives, and build momentum toward investor readiness.

At the heart of the programme is a high-trust, founder-first community that provides lasting support, shared ambition, and an environment where women founders can thrive.

The programme is open to high-potential women founders ready to commit to an intensive and challenging experience.

Investment Stage: You’re aiming to secure pre-seed or seed investment for your company which has ideally been incorporated for less than three years.
Market Insight: You have a clear value proposition that demonstrates a real, significant problem.
Product Stage: You’ve developed an MVP and have started validating that in the market.
Export Potential: You have an international focus and are looking to scale the company and create jobs in Ireland.

What is provided?

Immersive Surge Sessions: High-intensity, in-person cohort gatherings designed to fast-track clarity and alignment. These sessions create concentrated bursts of focus and momentum, equipping founders with the energy and insights to advance their ventures.

Ebb & Flow Tracks: Flexible and accessible pathways tailored to each founder’s stage and schedule. Combining on-demand content, self-directed learning, and live webinars, the tracks provide structure without pressure and accountability without rigidity.

Integration Spaces: Strategically placed intervals throughout the programme to allow participants to consolidate insights and apply learning between high-impact days. This proven approach maximises knowledge transfer and ensures practical implementation.

Mentorship pathways

Wave Maker Mentorship: Sector-specific founder-mentors provide insight, wisdom, and navigation through entrepreneurial challenges.
Anchor Mentorship: High-trust, hyper-local guidance from BIC consultants who balance challenge with support, helping founders stay grounded while pursuing bold growth.

What can it be used for?

Achieve clarity of vision and narrative for your start-up
Develop your product or service to achieve validation and traction
Strengthen investor readiness with structured momentum
Access tailored, sector-specific mentorship and investor networks
Build enduring connections through a trusted founder community

Dates

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Online Information Session - with Irish BIC's - 2nd October Register today
Applications close: 7th October at 23:59
Application review: 8^th October – 10^th October
Shortlist interviews (online): 13^th October – 16^th October
Cohort onboarding & pre-work: 20^th October – 4^th November
Programme starts: 12^th November
Programme duration: 10 weeks (Programme will be on hiatus during the Christmas Period)

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Apply Now

NextWave is an accelerator programme delivered nationally by the Irish BICs, in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland.