Top Startup Accelerators & Incubators in Dublin, Ireland

Dublin has become one of Europe's most vibrant startup hubs, earning the nickname "Silicon Docks" because of its high concentration of tech companies. The city combines Ireland's favorable business environment, strong talent pool from top universities, and deep connections to European and North American markets, creating an ideal startup ecosystem.

This guide explores the leading accelerators and incubators shaping Dublin's evolving startup landscape. These programs support domestic and international startups seeking to establish themselves in the European market.

Top 20 Startup Accelerators & Incubators in Dublin, Ireland

1. Dublin BIC (Furthr)

Target Audience: Startups at various stages (idea to scale-up).

Niche: Business development and funding access.

Dublin BIC is a leading business innovation center that provides comprehensive support throughout the startup journey. It offers an average funding of €270,000 alongside tailored programs for entrepreneurs at different stages. It also provides extensive mentoring and networking opportunities, connecting founders with investors and partners. Through structured development programs, it creates sustainable growth pathways.

2. NDRC

Target Audience: Early-stage tech startups.

Niche: Technology commercialization.

NDRC delivers one of Ireland's most selective accelerator programs for promising technology ventures. Its competitive program provides up to €100,000 in funding for selected startups. It offers intensive mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs with proven success records and creates direct connections to investor networks for follow-on funding opportunities.

3. NovaUCD

Target Audience: University-affiliated ventures.

Niche: Research commercialization.

NovaUCD functions as University College Dublin's innovation and technology transfer center. It provides dedicated office space and business mentoring for research-based startups. It offers access to university resources, including research facilities and academic expertise. It creates pathways for transforming academic innovation into commercial success.

4. DCU Invent

Target Audience: Research-based startups.

Niche: Academic entrepreneurship.

DCU Invent serves as Dublin City University's innovation and entrepreneurship hub. It provides comprehensive mentoring from industry experts and academic leaders, offers specialized office space designed for early-stage ventures within the university ecosystem, and creates valuable connections between academic research and commercial opportunities.

5. Tangent - Trinity College Dublin

Target Audience: Student and faculty entrepreneurs.

Niche: Education-based innovation.

Tangent operates as Trinity College's dedicated ideas workspace, fostering an innovation culture. It provides extensive resources and structured programs supporting entrepreneurial development. It offers networking opportunities, connecting academic innovators with industry partners and creating pathways for translating educational ideas into viable businesses.

6. Launchbox

Target Audience: Student entrepreneurs.

Niche: Student-led ventures.

Launchbox runs a specialized accelerator program exclusively for student entrepreneurs. It provides seed funding alongside structured development programs for early-stage ideas. It offers access to extensive networks of investors interested in student ventures. Launchbox creates a supportive environment for students to develop entrepreneurial skills while building businesses.

7. Dogpatch Labs

Target Audience: Tech startups seeking corporate connections.

Niche: Corporate-startup collaboration.

Dogpatch Labs functions as a central startup hub connecting ventures with established corporations. It offers a premium workspace in Dublin's Silicon Docks alongside comprehensive support programs. It provides structured networking opportunities with corporate partners and investors and creates a collaborative environment supporting innovation and business development.

8. The Media Cube

Target Audience: Creative industry startups.

Niche: Creative sector innovation.

The Media Cube operates as IADT Dun Laoghaire's specialized incubation center for creative ventures. It provides tailored office space and mentoring programs focused on innovative business development. It also offers networking opportunities specifically designed for creative entrepreneurs and creates a supportive ecosystem for innovation in digital media and creative technologies.

9. Synergy Centre

Target Audience: Technology startups.

Niche: Technology development and commercialization.

Synergy Centre is TU Dublin's Tallaght campus innovation hub for technology ventures. Provides dedicated office space designed for technology development and testing. Offers comprehensive mentoring from industry experts and academic specialists. Creates connections between startups and relevant industry networks.

10. The LINC

Target Audience: High-tech startups.

Niche: Technology innovation.

The LINC supports technology ventures as TU Dublin's Blanchardstown campus innovation center. It provides specialized training programs focused on business development and growth. It offers networking opportunities, connecting startups with industry partners and investors. It creates a supportive environment for high-tech innovation and commercialization.

11. Business Incubation Centre – National College of Ireland

Target Audience: Early-stage entrepreneurs.

Niche: Business development.

The Business Incubation Centre operates within the National College of Ireland and supports emerging businesses. It provides tailored office space and comprehensive business development resources, offers a supportive environment for transforming ideas into viable companies, and creates direct connections to NCI's educational resources and business networks.

12. Origin8 – NCAD

Target Audience: Design-focused entrepreneurs.

Niche: Creative design and innovation.

Origin8 functions as the National College of Art and Design's specialized incubator for creative ventures. It provides tailored support programs designed for design-focused entrepreneurship, offers access to NCAD's extensive creative resources and expertise, and creates pathways for commercialization of design innovation.

13. New Frontiers

Target Audience: Early-stage entrepreneurs across sectors.

Niche: Structured entrepreneurship development.

New Frontiers operates as Enterprise Ireland's national entrepreneur development program. It provides comprehensive training, mentoring, and funding opportunities across multiple locations. Up to €15,000 in equity-free funding is offered for Phase 2 participants. The program creates a structured pathway for transforming ideas into investment-ready businesses.

14. MasterCard Start Path

Target Audience: Fintech scale-ups.

Niche: Fintech.

MasterCard Start Path runs a global startup engagement program with a strong Dublin presence. It provides access to MasterCard's extensive global network and resources, offers specialized mentorship designed for scaling financial technology solutions, and creates opportunities for startups to partner with one of the world's leading financial services companies.

15. AgTechUCD

Target Audience: Agricultural technology innovators.

Niche: Agtech innovation.

AgTechUCD specializes in supporting agricultural technology startups within UCD's ecosystem. It provides access to specialized research facilities and agricultural expertise. It offers connections to Ireland's strong agricultural sector and relevant industry partners. It creates pathways for commercializing innovations in farming and food production.

16. Pearse Lyons Accelerator

Target Audience: Agribusiness innovators.

Niche: Agricultural innovation.

Pearse Lyons Accelerator provides comprehensive support for startups developing agricultural solutions. It offers mentorship from industry leaders within the farming sector and provides potential investment opportunities for promising agrarian innovations. It creates connections to global markets through Alltech's extensive international network.

17. Alpha Programme Dublin

Target Audience: Pre-seed startups seeking investment.

Niche: Investment readiness.

Alpha Programme runs an intensive 12-week accelerator preparing startups for significant investment. It delivers workshops led by industry experts focused on investment readiness, provides comprehensive support for business model development and refinement, and creates direct pathways to investor networks and funding opportunities.

18. NadiFin

Target Audience: Fintech startups using advanced technologies.

Niche: AI/ML and Big Data in finance.

NadiFin offers a specialized two-week intensive program for fintech innovators. The program focuses specifically on solutions implementing AI/ML or Big Data Analytics. It provides essential knowledge and connections for scaling financial technology businesses and creates opportunities for integration with established financial institutions.

19. International Security Accelerator

Target Audience: Cybersecurity startups.

Niche: Security technology.

International Security Accelerator supports projects focused on cybersecurity and related technologies. It offers free office space alongside access to specialized security expertise. It provides mentorship from respected cybersecurity professionals and industry leaders and creates potential investment opportunities for promising security innovations.

20. Citi Ventures

Target Audience: Growth-stage fintech startups.

Niche: Fintech.

Citi Ventures invests in innovative companies across various financial technology sectors. It provides strategic partnerships leveraging Citi's global financial infrastructure. It offers significant financial backing to foster growth within selected ventures and creates opportunities for integration with one of the world's largest financial institutions.

AcceleratorApp's Closing Thoughts on Startup Accelerators and Incubators in Dublin, Ireland

Dublin's startup ecosystem demonstrates remarkable strength through its diverse range of accelerators and incubators. The ecosystem uniquely combines:

• Strong university involvement with multiple academic-linked innovation hubs
• Significant focus on fintech and financial innovation
• Excellent support for creative and design-focused entrepreneurship
• Robust corporate involvement in the startup ecosystem
• Clear pathways from education to entrepreneurship

The city's accelerators and incubators have been instrumental in establishing Dublin as "Silicon Docks" in Europe's technology bridge between the EU and North American markets. This comprehensive support system has created a thriving ecosystem attracting entrepreneurs across Europe.

The ecosystem's success is reflected in its ability to nurture startups from ideation to international scaling, with programs offering specialized support at each development stage. This structured approach to startup development has established Dublin as a premier destination for entrepreneurs, particularly those in technology, financial services, and creative industries.