Applications open for Food Works 2025
The ten-month programme offers expert mentorship, investor connections, and support to scale businesses locally and globally
Print2 October 2024
Are you a food or beverage entrepreneur with a vision to disrupt the industry? Do you have a product, food technology solution or ingredient that has the potential to make a global impact?
Food Works, Ireland’s leading accelerator programme for high-potential food and drink companies, is now accepting applications for its 2025 cohort.
Combining the resources of Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc, Food Works has been a fundamental driver of innovation in the food sector in the last decade.
Preparing participants
Food Works helps to drive scale and enables participants to become investor-ready in order to achieve success in domestic and international markets.
The ten-month programme offers entrepreneurs the unique opportunity to access expert mentorship and development of an investor ready business plan, connect with potential investors and buyers as well as gain valuable marketing and production insights.
Successful applicants in 2023 included Chimac, Reso Health Ltd, Blynk Drinks, Ireland West Distillery – Shaker & Co. Brand, ELEMENT Irish Whiskey, Fire&5th, Mór Taste, SomaTech Limited and FemFuelz- all of whom will complete the programme in the coming months.
Mary Maguire, developer, Fire&5th, said: “The Food Works programme has come along at an absolutely critical time in our business.
“The structure of the programme around the key elements of financial planning, route to market, and marketing strategy has been crucial and has enabled us to articulate a clear and compelling business plan for the future.”
Kylie O’Donoghue, founder, FemFuelz, said: “Food Works has been an incredible opportunity for us because sometimes when you’re in the business it’s very hard to focus on the business itself.
“The programme forces you to think outside the box and do all of things you know you should be doing when you are stuck in the day to day. I couldn’t recommend it enough for start-ups or anyone who is in business for a couple of years to focus on what you really need to.”
Food Works was established in 2012 and since then has welcomed more than 120 companies through the programme, including hugely successful food and drink brands such as Nobó, Grá Chocolates, Zingibeer, Valentia Island Vermouth and Lismore Food Company, to name just a few.
Since the programme began, Enterprise Ireland has invested more than €6.67 million in Food Works companies including 21 High-Potential Start-Up (HPSU) and 23 PSSF/CSF investments.
Food Works 2025
Food Works runs annually from February to November. Participating start-ups take part in workshops with national and international industry experts across various disciplines such as strategy, finance, manufacturing and marketing.
Successful applicants are supported to get investor-ready by developing a comprehensive business plan focussed on scaling internationally.
They also receive customised support from business advisors, facilitated peer-to-peer learning and may have the opportunity to receive feasibility grant funding of up to €30,000.
State agencies
The three state agencies, Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc, work jointly to deliver the Food Works programme.
Bord Bia provides strategic insight and support, assisting participating companies in their understanding of consumers, competitors, trends, opportunities and both domestic and international markets.
Enterprise Ireland focuses on helping entrepreneurs to start and grow their business internationally. It works collaboratively with the High Potential Start-Ups (HPSUs) taking part in Food Works to develop a robust funding strategy to drive growth and supports them to prepare an investor ready business plan.
Teagasc provides technical support to companies in the development of high-quality, sustainable products, processes and packaging solutions. State-of-the-art food centres in Dublin and Cork provide participants with access to facilities, equipment, and specialist expertise.
The closing date for applications for the 2025 programme is 29 November 2024.
Full details and an application form are available at FoodWorksIreland.ie
Read more: Final call for Irish food and drink start-ups to apply for Food Works 2022
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