On 19 December, SETU marked the ending of Phase 1 of the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers programme with a networking day held at its campus in Carlow.
New Frontiers is the national entrepreneurial development programme funded by Enterprise Ireland for ambitious individuals with innovative business ideas which have the potential to scale and provide employment. The programme is delivered by SETU at its campuses in Carlow and Waterford.
With Phase 1 of the programme running on a part-time basis, workshops were held in the evenings, spanning across a 5-week block. These sessions helped aspiring early-stage entrepreneurs to develop and validate their business ideas.
The cohort of aspiring entrepreneurs gathered for a day of networking, sharing insights and pitching business ideas to their peers. Gemma Purcell, New Frontiers’ Programme Manager, kicked off the event by extending a warm welcome to all participants and guest speakers, commenting, “Networking offers entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to create and build relationships, problem solve and strengthen the entrepreneurial community in the south east region of Ireland.”
Speaking at the event, Alex Kelly, founder of Flower Child and former New Frontiers participant shared her own entrepreneurial journey to date. Flower Child specialises in natural alternatives to everyday home fragrance products.
Alex shared that she joined the New Frontiers programme in 2023 and has completed phases 1, 2 and 3. During this time the brand invested resources into securing more retail stockists using trade fairs, becoming a tenant in the Xcelerate Centre at SETU and launching a new ecommerce platform. Since this expansion Flower Child has doubled its retailers, tripled its online sales and is currently stocked in 52 retailers in both domestic and foreign markets.
The event was topped off with a campus tour delivered by Brian Ogilvie, Head of Research and Commercialisation Support at SETU’s Kilkenny Road campus in Carlow. The guided tour showcased the campus facilities and resources available to enterprises in the region.
Applications for Phase 2 of New Frontiers will open in May 2025. This is a full-time, six-month intensive commitment to help validate the commercial aspects of the start-up in addition to guiding the founders in developing their entrepreneurial capacity. Phase 2 provides a support package worth over €30,000, including a €15,000 tax-free allowance.
For more information on the programme, contact Gemma Purcell, New Frontiers Programme Manager on [email protected] or apply at newfrontiers.ie/register