CONTRACT: The RDI Hub team Reidín O'Connor (Member and Community Manager), Liam Cronin (CEO), and Fionnuala O'Callaghan (Operations Manager) have secured a contract to run State-backed start-up accelerator, NDRC.

Kerry's RDI Hub has been selected by the Irish Government to run Ireland’s national startup accelerator programme, the NDRC.

Alongside Dogpatch Labs, Portershed Galway, and Republic of Work Cork they’ll deliver accelerator and pre-accelerator programmes to globally ambitious entrepreneurs across every county in Ireland.

They will deliver mentorship-driven accelerator and pre-accelerator programmes, and pre-seed funding to entrepreneurs across Ireland. They will also invest in globally-focused, ‘high impact’ startups, to create world-class internationally scalable Irish companies.

Established in 2006, the NDRC is a Government initiative to invest in very young digital enterprises and start-ups. Following a competitive process, Dogpatch Labs, supported by its partners RDI Hub Kerry, Republic of Work Cork and Portershed Galway has been awarded the €17m contract to manage the service for the next five years. Ignite, which is the UK’s most active regional accelerator, also supported the bid and will provide international support and knowledge sharing with the network.

RDI Hub based in Killorglin is backed by Fexco, Institute of Technology, Tralee and Kerry County Council. A first of its kind, RDI Hub focuses on commercialisation of innovation and research in the technologies’ sectors and helps both indigenous and international start-ups and corporates scale their business.

The new NDRC programmes will take place in Kerry, Cork, Dublin and Galway, with applications opening in Q1 2021.

“This will ensure the best investors, advisors, researchers and technologists are accessible to all our globally ambitious entrepreneurs, regardless of where those entrepreneurs are in the country,” Liam Cronin, CEO RDI Hub, Kerry said.

Startups have faced a challenging year, with COVID-19 impacting funding levels significantly. In response RDI Hub launched Founder’s Circle with Scale Ireland supporting over 100+ founders solve problem together.