National Digital Research Centre, Dublin, information night this Wednesday on LaunchPad.

With €10 million in commercial investment secured to date, NDRC is looking for next generation of startups NDRC LaunchPad Information Evening to be held this Wednesday, 6.30pm in NDRC, Crane StreetNDRC (National Digital Research Centre) in Dublin will hold an information night this Wednesday (November 28th) on LaunchPad where any interested party can learn more about Ireland’s number one startup accelerator programme and how to apply before the deadline of 14th December 2012.

So far, startup enterprises in NDRC’s portfolio have secured €10m commercial investment following their time at NDRC, with a significant number having graduated from NDRC’s LaunchPad  accelerator programme.

The LaunchPad programme attracts aspiring entrepreneurs and recent researchers with ideas and intellectual property capable of being brought to market and achieving a commercial return. NDRC provides up to €20,000 per project in pre-seed investment to support the founders during the three month programme.

NDRC LaunchPad Director, Gary Leyden points out that NDRC is now looking for the next generation of startups for LaunchPad and anybody with an idea should come along to Crane Street on Wednesday night to find out more:

“Anybody with a clever idea and the ambition to bring it forward should come along to talk to NDRC mentors and experienced professionals to find out how LaunchPad can benefit them.

“LaunchPad’s structured programme provides hands-on mentoring over 12 weeks which helps the new innovators evolve their businesses. Support is not only from experienced professionals, but also potential investors. Should a startup be selected for the programme, they will undergo the intensive three month programme and, at the end, ‘pitch’ for follow-on investment. Participants will also have the option of a further six to nine months of development time at NDRC in Dublin.”

Gary Leyden added that successful companies that have participated in LaunchPad include Boxever and LogEntries who have recently secured investment following the programme:

“This goes to show that the benefits of LaunchPad accrue immediately and for a long time to come following participation. Commercial investment from VC’s and angels is critical to enable the start-ups to grow and achieve their potential, and NDRC supports the ventures through this process.”

Start-ups are selected for participation through a competitive selection process and this will begin in the new year. This culminates in ‘Lift Off’, the competition where each firm pitches in front of a live audience for follow-on investment.

“Considering the intense competition for participation in LaunchPad, this is an excellent opportunity for these new businesses to move rapidly from ideas to income, creating jobs and market value in the process,” Gary Leyden concluded.