No More Waiting
Written by NDRC Managing Director Ian Browne
Startups are built on speed. After investing and working with hundreds of different founders over the years, it’s clear that when they’re ready, they’re ready. They shouldn’t have to wait for other people’s schedules to catch up with them; we should move at their speed. That’s why we’ve made a change at NDRC: our accelerator is now available year-round. No more fixed cohorts. You apply when you’re ready, and we start working with you immediately.
Always On Is The Future
Something interesting happens when you run an accelerator for long enough: you start noticing patterns in when founders need help most. The best founders we’ve worked with tend to move in bursts. They’ll go from idea to MVP in a weekend, land their first enterprise customer without having the product actually built, or completely pivot their business after a single crucial discovery. When these moments hit, they need support immediately — not four months from now.
Today’s founders move at internet speed. They can incorporate online, deploy globally with AWS or Vercel, charge customers through Stripe, and close six-figure deals over Zoom. Throw in the rapid acceleration in AI and this means you can do all of this faster than ever before. A good team can go from idea to paying customers in days, weeks, and sometimes even hours.
Everything in the startup world has become on-demand and real-time. Everything, apart from accelerators. This mismatch between how founders work and how accelerators operate has been bothering us at NDRC. We’ve seen too many great teams who needed support right when they had momentum, but had to either wait for the next cohort or go it alone.
That’s why we’re making NDRC always-on.
This isn’t just about removing a waiting period — it’s about matching the natural rhythm of startup building.
Our community benefits too — instead of the artificial boundaries between cohorts, we now have a continuous flow of founders helping each other. The cohort effect will still be present, it will just build over time.
We’re making this change because we believe the best accelerator is the one that’s there when you need it. Not in three months. Not at the next intake. Now.
What We’re Keeping (Because It Works)
We’re not starting from scratch here. We know what works, and we’re keeping it:
€100k investment via our founder-friendly SAFE note, which gives you runway without tying you down.
Six months of intensive, tailored support — the kind that pushes you both personally and as a company
Access to Ireland’s most comprehensive mentor and investor network, filled with operators and founders who’ve been in the trenches.
Our hands-on approach, where we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you.
These are the elements that have made NDRC the gold standard for accelerators in Ireland.
What’s Different (And Why It’s Better)
No Waiting: This is the big one. You apply when it suits you. Got a product that’s taking off? Secured a first customer? Need to fundraise immediately? You can start the accelerator when you’re ready. Timing is everything in a startup, and we’re making sure our programme works on your schedule.
Individual Attention: With rolling admissions, you won’t be lost in a large cohort vying for attention. Each startup we bring on board receives focused, direct support from our experienced team and Entrepreneurs in Residence
A Tight-Knit Network: Joining our rolling admissions model means you’ll be part of an elite group of about 13 startups in the 2025 program. This is not about volume; it’s about quality.
Workshops That Matter: We’ve rethought the one-size-fits-all workshops. Instead, you’ll get workshops and content tailored to your stage and company. Whether you need to refine your go-to-market strategy, solidify financial forecasting, or figure out how to scale internationally, we’ve got you covered.
What It’s Like to Be Part of This
Building a startup can be isolating, that’s why we’ve also doubled down on the community aspect:
Monthly in-person Accelerator Days at Dogpatch Labs in Dublin — intensive sessions where you collaborate, learn, and push forward.
Regular founder dinners and networking events, because some of the best ideas and connections come from casual conversations.
Dedicated workspace at Dogpatch Labs, putting you right in the heart of Dublin’s tech community.
Active WhatsApp and Slack communities for real-time support and camaraderie. Need a quick answer or a bit of encouragement at midnight? Your peers and programme team are only a message away.
How It Works
Starting this January, we’ll be accepting two to three startups each month. The application is straightforward—it takes about five minutes to fill out. And we move fast: you’ll hear back from us within two weeks. If we’re a match, you can start immediately, jumping straight into building and scaling with our support behind you.
Want In?
If you’re building something big, you can’t afford to wait, and neither should we. Apply now. Rolling applications are now open.