START-UPS with high growth potential will be given the chance to get their companies fit to compete with the best in the world by taking part in a new business accelerator programme.
The Danske Business Lab sees the bank partner with Catalyst Inc’s hugely successful Springboard programme, a well-proven mentoring process open to innovative companies with high growth potential.
Participants will go through a rigorous 16-week process during which every aspect of the business is analysed, including finance, value proposition, sales, marketing, corporate governance, growth and go-to-market risk.
Panel sessions, mobilising Northern Irelands most experienced business leaders both challenge and support participants to build robust business strategy before determining if the company will graduate as ‘really’ investor ready.
Springboard director John Knapton said: “Springboard provides ‘tough love’ through a peer coaching programme uniquely tailored for each company.
"Access to proven, experienced experts and mentors is priceless but effective. Of the 61 ‘graduates’ of the programme since 2008, 96 per cent are still active, nearly 90 per cent of those seeking capital have successfully raised it and combined, they are supporting well in excess of 700 jobs."
Austin Coll, senior manager, business banking at Danske Bank added: "Northern Ireland is rich with scalable companies and talented individuals that have the potential to grow into market leaders. The Danske Business Lab will help high growth potential companies to harness their true capabilities and provide them with some of the tools needed to drive towards their business goals."
