Introduction
VentureLaunch is UCD’s accelerator programme, held at NovaUCD, to support the creation and launch of sustainable and profitable new ventures based on UCD intellectual property.
The objective of the programme is to equip UCD researchers with the knowledge, skills and understanding that will be required to work as part of a team leading a new commercial venture. On completion of the programme the expectation is that participating new venture projects will have developed a commercially viable business plan.
The NovaUCD Customer Discovery Programme is a prequel to VentureLaunch. In preparation for VentureLaunch, it supports UCD research teams to identify trial partners and customers.
Overview
The VentureLaunch Accelerator programme consists of 7x4-hour workshops delivered over a 2-month period from October to November each year.
- The Business Model Canvas approach to start-up development forms the basis of the programme and each session consists of a mix of taught content and interactive workshops delivered by external experts as well as involving talks from entrepreneurs.
- Projects will gain expert mentoring on marketing, finance and funding, sales and pitching to investors.
- In addition, participants will receive valuable access to the VentureLaunch Programme Board which is made up of individuals from the entrepreneurial and investment community who will provide advice and guidance to new venture projects at key intervals throughout the duration of the Programme.
- The overall winner of the annual programme is announced at an Annual Showcase and Awards event and wins €10,000 of seed money in cash as well as professional services and supports for their new venture worth an additional €20,000.
Application Process
A maximum of seven projects will take part on the annual programme. Projects are screened by UCD’s Knowledge Transfer team and participants are chosen by the VentureLaunch Programme Board.
- Interested participants should complete an expression of interest form and send to the relevant Knowledge Transfer Case Manager.
- You should speak with the relevant Knowledge Transfer Manager to discuss your application in advance of submission.
- Expressions of interest forms must be submitted by June. Projects will be notified on the outcome of their application in late June.
- (opens in a new window)Expression of Interest Form
Eligibility Factors
Factors used in assessing eligibility to take part in the programme
Team
Requirement for a credible team made with a commercial advisor. If a commercial advisor is not currently involved we can assist in identifying an appropriate individual for the duration of the programme.
Market
Requirement for evidence and first-hand engagement of a scalable market opportunity which can be accessed to support the development of a robust new business venture.
Intellectual Property
Requirement for tangible IP with a clearly defined technology roadmap with appropriate IP strategy and freedom to operate.
Funding Plan
Requirement for technology funding through to launch of a new business venture within one year.
Workshops
The VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme workshops consist of
- The 7 workshops which will run from 10am to 2pm each Wednesday beginning in early October through to mid-November.
- Sessions will combine a mix of taught content and interactive workshops as well as regular pitching sessions to the VentureLaunch Programme Board. The content will be delivered by external experts as well as involve talks from leaders of UCD spin-out successes.
- Expect approximately 10 hours of scheduled meetings over the 2 months with the Project Team (including the relevant UCD Knowledge Transfer Case Manager and New Ventures Manager) as well as independent working requirement for completion of the programme.
- Final Event: Participants will present their business pitch to an assessment panel consisting of VentureLaunch Programme Board members and members of our entrepreneurial and investment community.
- Based on evaluation of the business pitch the panel will chose a winner of the programme which will be announced at the VentureLaunch showcase event held in late November.
SusBioME Wins 2024 VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme
SusBioME, an emerging greentech start-up, was the overall winner of the 2024 UCD VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme. SusBioME is developing technology for use in the anaerobic digestion process to increase renewable gas yields from biomass.
A major bottleneck limiting renewable gas production is the low digestibility of feedstock used in the anaerobic digestion process which leads to unrealised gas yields and low operational efficiency.
To address this problem SusBioME, a start-up emerging from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, is developing modular, plug-in disruptive electro-processing technologies to make feedstocks more biodigestible. As a platform technology it can be applied to a wide range of feedstocks and bioprocesses.
The members of the SusBioME team are, Dr Ajay Menon, who completed the VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme, Professor James Lyng, Norman Maloney and Bernie Fitzpatrick.