Founders is reshaping how startups are created in Ireland by unlocking untapped potential within the country’s talent pool. Welcoming its second cohort, Founders is attracting professionals from global leaders like Stripe, Google, and NASA, alongside graduates from MIT, Stanford, and Cambridge with expertise in AI, machine learning, neuroscience, and engineering, Founders transforms exceptional individuals into the impactful founders of high growth tech startups, a foundation of Ireland’s innovation economy and bolstering global competitiveness.
This year’s cohort brings together 40 exceptional founders—half technical engineers, half commercial talent with expertise spanning AI, machine learning, neuroscience, and computational modelling. The Founders Programme is a full-time immersive 12-week journey at Dogpatch Labs, where cofounders; a technical engineer and commercial expert, are paired before they even have an idea, building startups from scratch by complementary teams of exceptional talent. Founders provides mentorship from top-entrepreneurs and the opportunity for €100k in early-stage investment.
Proven Success: The Model Works
Launched as a two-year pilot, Founders is already proving its impact:
Inspeq AI: Co-founded by alumni from Meta and Amazon, Inspeq AI raised €1.1M within six months for its AI-driven security platform.
Glitch Ads: Founded by leaders from Google and Wayflyer, Glitch Ads secured €750k in angel funding to scale its ad optimisation technology.
Amy Neale, Partner at Delta VC and mentor in the program, says: “This is a new kind of Startup Factory for Ireland—a model that taps into one of our greatest untapped resources: transitioning talent from multinationals into impactful startups. The quality of this cohort is really something special.”
An Engine for Exceptional Talent
The programme attracts world-class talent from leading global companies and academic institutions.
Industry Experience: Participants bring expertise from Google, LinkedIn, McKinsey, Meta, Stripe, and more.
Academic Excellence: Alumni of MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, and Trinity College Dublin represent the pinnacle of global education.
Specialised Expertise: Fields of focus include AI, neuroscience, machine learning, and engineering, showcasing the depth and breadth of innovation driving the cohort.
A Critical Pillar for Ireland’s Innovation Future
Stephen Kinsella, Director of Immersive Software Engineering at the University of Limerick, emphasises: “Talent is the single most important ingredient in any innovation ecosystem. Founders unlocks that talent and channels it into impactful startups, making it critical to Ireland’s future.”
Founders bridges the gap between careers at multinationals and entrepreneurship, positioning Ireland as a global innovation hub. With participants transitioning from corporate roles at Stripe, NASA, and Palantir to startup founders, Founders is addressing Ireland’s competitiveness and driving growth in the global market.
Looking Ahead: Investor Showcase and Beyond
Founders is a two-year pilot funded by returns from successful investments in Irish startups through the NDRC. With its proven success and growing impact, new funding is required to sustain and scale this model beyond 2025.
Bobby Healy, CEO and Founder of Manna Drone Delivery states: “This model has proven its value, creating startups that wouldn’t exist otherwise with exceptional founding teams. Ensuring its future is critical to building a world-class innovation ecosystem for Ireland.”
The 2025 cohort will culminate in a showcase or “Demo Day” at Dogpatch Labs later this year, where participants will present their startups to leading investors, ecosystem leaders, and stakeholders.
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