A new pre-accelerator programme has launched in Northern Ireland which provides training, mentorship and financial support to help university researchers validate their business idea in the marketplace.
The DigiSpark programme will last for 10 weeks and successful teams will receive training at a two-day bootcamp, up to £10,000 to support their market discovery activities, and valuable business insights.
At the end of the programme, participants will pitch their idea to a panel of industry experts, funders and investors who will provide them with constructive feedback, along with the chance to secure up to €20,000 of follow-on investment from Ulster University or QUBIS.
In collaboration with Techstart Ventures, DigiSpark is aiming to attract researchers and innovators with a business idea to boost productivity, that utilises digital technologies to make a big impact in areas including health sciences, agri-food and climate change.
RELATED: NI start-up pitch competition LEVELUP opens for applications
The DigiSpark team is currently looking for a business adviser who would like to work with the next generation of NI's digital innovators.
The adviser would be expected to join a team and attend the kick-off bootcamp (23 April 2021), attend the two-day bootcamp with their team (10 - 11 May), attend the options pitch training day (30 June) and attend the final options pitch event (7 July).
They will also have to provide approximately one day per week of one-to-one mentoring and support to the team from 17 May - 25 June (six days in total). This can be via zoom, phone or email.
Business advisers will receive up to £4,000 and explore a potential co-founder role beyond the end of the project.
RELATED: Belfast hiring software firm closes £300,000 funding round
The DigiSpark team said: "We are looking for motivated business mentors that are passionate about boosting business productivity in areas including health sciences, agri-food and climate change through the transformational use of digital technologies and keen to support aspiring innovators and start-ups at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey.
"We are particularly keen to attract mentors from underrepresented groups including women, living with disability and person of colour."
The DigiSpark platform is now open and a range of project teams seeking business advisers are now available.
The closing date for fully formed teams to submit their application is 16 April 2021.
Become a DigiSpark adviser here.
If you have any questions about this opportunity contact p.donaghy@qub.ac.uk
