Twelve Participants Kick Off Third FAST-IP Program to Launch Next Wave of AgTech Startups

Key Takeaways

Twelve participants have begun the third FAST-IP programme focused on agritech startups.
The programme aims to equip mid-career professionals with skills for product validation and commercialization in the agrifood sector.
Three teams from the previous programme secured €1.9 million in funding to develop their startups.

New Agritech Startups Initiative Kicks Off

University College Dublin (UCD) and Teagasc have launched the third FAST-IP programme, aimed at fostering the next round of agritech startups. This 12-month program caters specifically to mid-career professionals, providing crucial skills to evaluate, select, and validate new products and services in the agrifood sector, ultimately accelerating their market entry.

The FAST-IP programme is facilitated by UCD’s School of Biosystems and Food Engineering and NovaUCD, in collaboration with Teagasc at the AgTechUCD Innovation Centre, located at UCD Lyons Farm in Co Kildare. Funded under the Innovators’ Initiative Programme by Enterprise Ireland, FAST-IP seeks to drive needs-led entrepreneurship that aligns with Ireland’s national agrifood strategy, Food Vision 2030.

Recent success stories highlight the program’s impact: three teams from the initial FAST-IP cohort—Agriwave, BiCO, and Mehal—have secured a combined €1.9 million in commercialization funding from Enterprise Ireland. This funding will support their efforts to transition from concepts to viable agritech businesses over the next two years, contributing to the growing pool of innovators in this sector.

Emma Callinan, director at Enterprise Ireland, underscored the program’s role in developing globally ambitious companies rooted in Ireland’s research base. “We have high expectations for this cohort,” she noted, emphasizing the program’s potential for positive impacts on the agrifood sector.

Professor Nick Holden, academic director of FAST-IP at UCD, expressed satisfaction over the nearly 300 applications received this year, signifying strong interest in agrifood entrepreneurship. The selected participants, chosen after a rigorous selection process, will delve into real-world issues within the agrifood sector and devise sustainable solutions.

Dr. Siobhán Jordan from Teagasc highlighted that attracting highly skilled participants is crucial for advancing Ireland’s agrifood innovation landscape. The FAST-IP programme emphasizes needs-led innovation, immersing participants in agricultural environments such as farms and food processing facilities to help identify and address unmet needs within the sector.

Past participant Sasha Dunne reflected on her experience, praising the journey and expressing excitement for the upcoming opportunities for the new cohort. Moreover, Naomi Flood from the Southern Regional Assembly noted that initiatives like FAST-IP are vital for enhancing Ireland’s innovation capacity and supporting entrepreneur development, ensuring impactful solutions to economic and societal challenges.

With strong academic and research credentials, both UCD and Teagasc are set to leverage their networks and expertise throughout the duration of this year’s programme. Graduates of the FAST-IP programme will receive a Level 9 Graduate Diploma in Agrifood Innovation and Entrepreneurship upon completion. Applications for the next FAST-IP programme, set for 2027/28, will open in early 2027.

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