The nine (9) start-ups selected to participate in the second 6-month AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme, which is being delivered by NovaUCD and CeADAR, Ireland's Centre for AI, at University College Dublin (UCD), have been announced today.

The participating start-ups are; Ailtir, Leapifai, NestiFi, PacSana, Reactable AI, Run Audit, TrojanTrack, UniDoodle and UnitMode. See start-up profiles below.

The focus of the programme, which has just commenced, is to support a cohort of entrepreneurs who are developing disruptive AI solutions in sectors including; advertising, construction, content creation, cybersecurity, education, finance, healthcare and sportstech, for a global market.

The AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme is funded through the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) framework, a Europe-wide initiative with funding of €700 million from both the European Commission and the Governments of member states. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, through Enterprise Ireland, is leading on the EDIH programme for Ireland.

Michelle Doyle, Senior Manager, Strategic Innovation Partnerships, NovaUCD, said, "I would like to congratulate the nine start-ups which have been selected, following a very competitive selection process, to participate in our second AI Ecosystem Accelerator programme. Over the next few months, we will be supporting this dynamic cohort of Irish start-ups and entrepreneurs who are focused on using AI technologies to deliver a range of disruptive products and services, for the benefit of society, not only here in Ireland, but on a global stage. I wish them every success over the coming 6-months."

Targeted supports for participants over the next 6-months include guidance from CeADAR's AI experts, and experienced commercial mentors, along with workshops on value proposition, scaling and investor readiness. Participants will also have access to collaborative co-working space at NovaUCD with the opportunity to connect with successful AI entrepreneurs, start-ups, corporates, investors and access to skilled interns.

Dr Ricardo Simon Carbajo, Director of Innovation and Development, CeADAR, said, "The AI Ecosystem Accelerator programme is one of the key services of CeADAR's European Digital Innovation Hub programme. The CeADAR and NovaUCD teams look forward to supporting the participating entrepreneurs, who are leveraging the power of AI, through our knowledge, expertise and networks, as they accelerate their start-ups to the next stage of their entrepreneurial journeys."

Among the eleven (11) start-ups which completed the inaugural programme in 2024 were, Customs Window Technologies, a RegTech start-up co-founded by Brian Murphy and Johnny Dunne and Wrksense, an AI-driven HR tech start-up transforming high-volume recruitment co-founded by Andrew Connolly and Ruaidhrí McDonnell.

The 2025 AI Ecosystem Accelerator Programme will end with a showcase event in October.