Prep4Seed Investor-Readiness Programme for High-growth Start-ups
About this good practice
Prep4Seed is a 12-week support program, that brings selected High-Growth start-up clients through the investor readiness process quickly and effectively, in preparation to pitch for investment funding.
It is delivered at a national level in Ireland by the four Irish EU-accredited Business Innovation Centres (BICs), in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland – the Irish Government’s Enterprise Development Agency, in response to the need for new start-ups to be sufficiently prepared at an early stage to successfully pitch for investment funding.
The programme includes five Masterclasses (in-person & on-line) delivered by the Irish BICS, complemented by six one-to-one review sessions with experienced BIC consultants, tailored for individual participant company needs. Masterclasses cover the core fundamentals of Business planning, Financial Modelling, Sales & Marketing, Corporate Governance & Investor Pitch Preparation.
Participants are also brought through intensive investor pitch preparation sessions and trial pitches. The 12-week program culminates with an Investor Pitch-Day where participant companies pitch to the investment community, including interested private Investors and VCs.
In 2024, 24 participants completed the program and pitched for over >€23m of investment. Participants from across Ireland represented smart growth sectors including AI, MedTech, Pharma, FoodTech, AgTech, DeepTech, Media, MarineTech, HealthTech/Wellbeing, Cyber Security and Green Energy solutions.
Expert opinion
Resources needed
Each 12 week Programme (with in-person & on-line Masterclasses) involves:
• 1 dedicated person from each Irish BIC (total 4) for approx. 2 days per week over a 14 week period
• 1-2 persons from Enterprise Ireland (state agency) over 14 weeks.
• Admin support for Programme Promotion & Co-ordination.
Evidence of success
• Prog well established, delivered by 4 Irish regional BICs
• Support of main Irish State Enterprise agency (Enterprise Ireland)
• 1 pilot and 4 full Programmes delivered since 2022 (2 per year)
• 66 start-ups have participated to date
• Investment secured, e.g. in the West region (WestBIC), from 13 participants, 9 received Pre-Seed Start Funding (PSSF) totalling €950k; 4 have secured HPSU investment (Enterprise Ireland/external) totalling >€2.5m
• Increasing investor interest & participation
Potential for learning or transfer
The Prep4Seed programme is highly transferable as both a model and in terms of the learning content towards investor readiness/investor-pitching for start-up enterprises with high-growth potential. The requirements of the majority of high-growth start-ups aiming to become investor-ready are primarily universal. Engagement with good quality candidates with business growth potential at regional level, along with the investor community, are pre-requisites, which will support the transferability and likelihood of success.
The regional approach, facilitated by the 4 Irish BICs ensures a balanced uptake. In addition, while the Irish Prep4Seed Programme currently selects companies from a cross-section of innovative and smart business sectors, it can also be adapted to focus on new or more targeted industry sectors to meet specific needs.
Finally, the Programme has resulted in fast tracking participant companies through to investor readiness with an efficient and shared resource approach.
Further information
Good practice owner
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