Founder Labs

FAQs

Overview

What is Founder Labs?

Founder Labs is designed to support early-stage founders building scalable, startups with high-growth potential.

Why was Founder Labs created?

To empower startups in Northern Ireland with the resources and mentorship to achieve rapid growth and success.

Who is running Founder Labs?

Founder Labs is an initiative funded by Invest NI and delivered by a partnership between Ormeau Labs, The AMP, Queen's University Belfast and DogPatch Labs. These experienced partners have helped thousands of founders across the island of Ireland from the idea stage right through to raising money from global investors. Collectively we have helped founders raise over $200m in venture capital.

Eligibility

Who can participate in Founder Labs?

Anyone who has an ambitious and transformative idea with a tech focus. It can be at the idea stage, or you may have already launched a product and have your first few customers. If selected for the programme it is expected that you will have a Northern Ireland limited company and a UK bank account. If you have a limited company that is not registered in Northern Ireland you can still apply and if successful, then you will be expected to form a subsidiary in NI, owned by the parent company.  We can provide advice on this in advance of application if you are not certain of the process or implications. 

You can apply if you have already raised some investment, but teams that have already raised a larger amount of investment (e.g. over £500,000) may not get much benefit from the programme.

Ultimately, we want founders that are ambitious, and businesses which are scalable. What do we mean by that? Well after 3 years of trading, we'd want your business to have revenue or funding over £1M, and for the majority of your sales to be from outside Northern Ireland.

Do I need to be an InvestNI customer to apply?

No, you do not need to be an Invest NI customer to apply. If you are successfully accepted into Founder Labs, you will be onboarded as an Invest NI customer.

Can I be based outside Northern Ireland?

We expect at least one member of each cohort team to be in-person throughout the 13 week programme, preferably the CEO / Director but it can be interchangeable. Not all co-founders need to be based in Northern Ireland. There will be opportunities to join some sessions remotely and additional team members are welcome to attend these if they are relevant. As per above, by the commencement of the programme you are expected to have an NI registered company or subsidiary and a UK bank account.

Grant Funding

If successful you will be eligible to receive £25k in grant funding from InvestNI which will be paid in tranches as you complete the programme. There is no expectation or equity or repayment if you successfully complete the programme. 

Who is the programme not suitable for?

While we’d like to support all types of business, the following are unlikely to be suitable:

• Services based solutions that are not SaaS

• Consultancies

• Agencies

• Products that don’t have a technical aspect to them

• Hardware heavy solutions

Application Process

What is the timeline for the application process?

Applications will open 1st May 2025, and close 30th June 2025 at 5pm. The week commencing 21st July will be interview week, with final offers being made by the 1st August (subject to due diligence). The programme will commence on 8th September 2025. 

What is involved in the application process?

From 1st July, there will be an initial desk based assessment of applications by the programme team and InvestNI, during this period we may speak to you informally. Up to 20 companies will then be selected for a final panel interview week of 21st July. If you are successful we will complete a short process of due diligence during the week of 28th July to verify ownership & health of the company.

How can I improve my chance of being accepted into the programme?

We received over 130 applications for cohort two, and expect that to increase with cohort three. While the application process can be competitive, we consistently look for:

• A great team: we all know starting a business is like a marriage, particularly when you have a co-founder. We like to see teams with curiosity and drive to solve a problem they have identified, and who can build fast and iterate quickly. We love teams with complementary skill sets so you can divide and conquer. 

• Initial market validation: we love to hear from founders about the users they have talked to, and why they are so passionate about solving the problem.

• Clear, succinct application: be explicit about what your product is — no extra fluff needed. Follow a “For customers A that have B problem we do C” type structure. Leverage tools like Chat GPT to make your answers clear and succinct. 

Office Hours

We highly recommend talking to our team before you submit your final application. Office hours allow you to have an informal chat with different team members so you can ask questions about suitability, application tips, and programme specific queries. You can set up time with the team via the link on this page.

Ask Me Anything Event

The good news is that we will also run an AMA during the application process so you can speak with us in person. In addition to the Founder Labs & Ormeau Labs teams we will also invite teams from previous Cohort so you can get peer feedback also. 

Programme Structure

How is the Founder Labs programme structured?

There are two three month phases to the programme: an intensive in-person build phase, and a concierge growth phase. The Build Phase will start on 8th September and run for 13 weeks. There will be a mix of core weeks and non-core weeks. Core weeks will be in person, intensive and themed. Non core weeks will be hybrid by design with in-office days on Monday, Wednesday & Friday, core hours 10am-4pm. Demo day will be 4th December and it will close out the Build phase of the programme. 

The Build Phase of the programme is about understanding what you are trying to achieve and connecting you with the right people to help. There will be an intense mentoring period at the beginning to help you calibrate where you are followed by a second period which focuses on company fundamentals and go-to-market strategy. The final period of phase one will be around company narrative, pitching and understanding the venture landscape which will culminate in a Demo Day in Ormeau Labs where you will pitch the startup to 100 investors, mentors and ecosystem supporters. The Concierge growth phase follows the Build Phase - this time allows you space to lead and grow with the ability to lean on our support when you need it. In this phase, there may be some travel/events.

How many companies will be in the cohort?

We will accept up to 10 companies in each cohort.

Who are the advisors and mentors involved with the programme?

We have two core entrepreneurs in residence (EIRs) who will support the founders on a weekly basis. These are experienced entrepreneurs who have successfully built venture backed companies and want to support the next generation.  Other mentors will be pulled from our local and international network and will support as and where required.

Will there be a Demo Day?

Yes, there will be an in-person demo day held at Ormeau Labs at the end of the first phase.

How long is the programme?

The programme will last for six months and will be split into a three month intensive, in-person phase with a further three months of concierge support during execution. There will also be international trips to the US & Europe.

What support will I have after the programme?

You will become part of the alumni portfolio of Founder Labs companies. We will continue to be on hand for any support you need.

Logistics

Where does the Founder Labs programme take place?

Founder Labs is a hybrid programme with a majority of the in-person sessions held at Ormeau Labs in Belfast. You will have a dedicated programme space to work from daily and can hot desk in the AMP, Derry. You will also be part of the Irish Tech Hub Network which lets you passport across hubs in Dublin, Cork, Kerry and Galway.

The core programme will be based in Ormeau Labs, Belfast. During the concierge phase, in-person contact is not required, but encouraged. Travel is included in the programme and you will require the necessary passports / visas to travel to Europe and the USA. 

Support

Are there other local and regional programmes I could apply to?

Yes! We are very lucky to have a wide and varied ecosystem here in Northern Ireland, and have many channels of support available.

Technology Partners

Our six-month programme is intensive, offering participants access to over £500,000 in credits from industry leaders such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Stripe.