IONA Minerals, a Welsh start-up based in Anglesey, Wales, has been selected to take part in University College Dublin’s (UCD) fourth accelerator programme dedicated to early-stage start-ups in the AgTech and Agrifood sectors.
IONA Minerals, a distributer of natural minerals with the aim of providing innovative solutions to help mitigate environmental pollution challenges found on the land, in waterways and in the air, is one of only seven (7) start-ups selected for the 2024 AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme.
This programme which has just commenced, is an intensive 12-week hybrid programme, tailored to address the particular needs and challenges facing AgTech and Agri-food start-ups. It is focused on fast tracking the business development and leadership skills of participants and on providing them with the support and guidance needed to accelerate the growth and development of their start-ups.
The in-person workshops are taking place in the AgTechUCD Innovation Centre at UCD Lyons Farm in Co. Kildare.
Selwyn Owen, Managing Director, IONA Minerals said, “I visited UCD Lyons Farm in Co. Kildare and NovaUCD, UCD’s start-up hub in Dublin earlier this year as part of a visit organised by M-SParc Science Park, located in Anglesey. M-SParc is a knowledge and innovation hub with focus in key sectors, such as low carbon energy, the environment and digital with a vision to stimulate an entrepreneurial culture and create a high-skilled workforce to grow the region’s economy. The delegation included members of the M-SParc Agri-Tech cluster in Wales, M-SParc tenant companies and officials from Bangor University and the Welsh Government.
The aim of the visit was to foster cross-border relations between Wales and Ireland, share knowledge and best practice and highlight the importance of ‘innovation hubs and ecosystems’ for networking, collaboration, innovation, new venture creation and entrepreneurship to drive regional economic growth.”
He added, “I am delighted that IONA Minerals has been selected as part of an exciting cohort of Agtech and Agrifiood start-up companies on this accelerator programme in Ireland. The AgTechUCD programme provides a ‘unique business support and accelerator platform’ and will help fast-track IONA Minerals to scale and grow, through learning new leadership skills, how to become ‘investor ready’ with access to the UCD network of industry experts and investor community.”
The AgTechUCD Agccelerator programme includes dedicated business development workshops and investor readiness training, mentoring from industry experts and business advisors, guest speakers and facilitated introductions to AgTechUCD’s venture capital and business angel networks.
Gary Ryan, Director, AgTechUCD, said, “During the next 12 weeks we will be focused on supporting the commercial development and growth of the participating start-ups, including IONA Minerals, as they develop their ag and food tech-related businesses with national and international potential. The focus on solutions delivering improved sustainability, efficiency and profitability in the agfood value chain is welcome and is very much in line with the overall focus of AgTechUCD.
During the programme we will also be working with this year’s cohort to help them to increase their profile, to attract customers and investors and to forge new partnerships at home and further afield.”
Twenty-seven start-ups have completed the three AgTechUCD Agccelerator programmes delivered to date.
AgTechUCD, which is part of NovaUCD in Dublin, is focused on promoting and accelerating the launch and scaling of start-ups and SMEs, in Ireland and internationally, with disruptive innovations in the agtech, agri-food and vettech sectors, as they build their innovative businesses into leading job creating companies on the global stage.
The fourth AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme will conclude in January 2025 when participating start-ups will pitch their businesses to a panel of investors.
The other participating start-ups are; Aerial AG Ireland, Auto Coupler, Evogen, RoboCrop, Weighless Wonders and Zirkulu.
