Ireland-based AI startups are invited to apply to join University College Dublin’s (UCD) 2026 AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme. The accelerator is delivered by NovaUCD and CeADAR as part of CeADAR’s European Digital Innovation Hub for AI program, which supports Irish start-ups and SMEs innovating with AI.
Now in its third year, the six-month accelerator aims to help Ireland’s most promising and disruptive AI-first startups accelerate their commercial traction into global markets and become investment-ready, scalable businesses, with a particular focus on startups that are actively raising capital and are aiming to close their funding round in 2026.
The AI Ecosystem Accelerator program provides a structured pathway for founders ready to move beyond their initial ideas and turn validated momentum into scalable growth and investor readiness.
The program also offers a combination of commercial, financing, and technical support, including guidance from CeADAR’s AI experts to strengthen your readiness for AI adoption and scale. This includes support for data strategy, model evaluation, AI deployment readiness, and whether the underlying AI is robust, reliable, and fit for real-world use.
A total of 20 startups have completed the program over the past two years. The 2026 program, which begins in April, will culminate in an investor showcase event, connecting investors and strategic partners with founders ready to take and accelerate their next stage of growth.
Support for program participants also includes experienced commercial mentors and practical workshops focused on positioning, value proposition refinement, expansion and investor readiness. Participants will also benefit from access to NovaUCD’s collaborative coworking space, giving them the opportunity to connect with successful entrepreneurs, startups, companies and investors, and access skilled interns.
Open the application from https://www.ucd.ie/innovation/start-ups/aiecosystemaccelerator/.
