IGNITE Startup Incubation Programme – October 2026 cohort

About

University College Cork’s full-time, equity-free IGNITE programme helps recent graduates from Irish third-level institutions turn early-stage ideas into scalable businesses through a stipend, mentorship, workshops and desk space.

Benefits

• 💶€20,000 support package
  The programme is valued at approximately €20,000 per participant and includes a €5,000 cash stipend.
• 🧑‍🏫Mentorship and coaching
  Participants receive one-to-one coaching, tailored mentorship and personal development coaching.
• 🏢Desk space at UCC
  Participants have dedicated desk space at UCC’s Western Gateway Building for the duration of the programme.
• 📈Business and pitching support
  Participants receive expert workshops, regular feedback on their business, pitching support, business strategy and development, and guidance on IP protection.
• 🤝Funding and investor support
  IGNITE provides support with grants and investment, including help securing grants, investors and resources; investment or grant funding is not stated as guaranteed.
• ⚖️No equity taken
  Participants retain 100% of their equity.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: applicants must be recent graduates of any third-level institution in Ireland
• Mandatory: applicants must hold at least an NFQ Level 7 qualification, such as an Ordinary Bachelor Degree, Honours Bachelor Degree, Masters Degree, Doctoral Degree, Higher Diploma or Post-Doctoral Diploma
• Mandatory: applicants may be from any discipline
• Preferred/expected: most applicants will graduate in the year in which they begin the programme
• Accepted in certain cases: applicants who graduated in the immediately previous 2-3 years and either continued in postdoctoral research, started developing the business full-time or part-time, or engaged in relevant work experience
• Mandatory: participants must work full-time on their business for the duration of the programme

Participation Commitments

• Full-time commitment: participants must work full-time on their business for the duration of the programme
• Progress reporting: participants must present at least three progress updates to an external review panel over the course of the programme
• Programme duration: the programme can last up to 12 months, adapted to the needs of the business
• Location: the programme is full-time and in-person at UCC, and basing in the IGNITE offices in the Western Gateway Building is strongly recommended but not stated as mandatory
• Application requirements: a 60-second video, a CV and one reference
• Application deadline: applications close at 12:00 pm Ireland time on 31 August 2026
• Equity: no equity is taken and participants retain 100% of their equity

Target Sector

Sector agnostic, Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other

Target Location

Applicants must be recent graduates of any third-level institution in Ireland; no nationality, citizenship or residence requirement is stated.