PorterShed officially launches the AI Venture Forge Accelerator, a rigorous 12-week programme designed to bring Ireland’s AI-first startups and corporate innovation teams towards real commercial traction and investor readiness.
Adapted from the globally proven Disciplined Entrepreneurship model, AI Venture Forge is geared towards startups and innovation teams where AI is not simply an add-on, but the beating heart of the product. In a market increasingly saturated with superficial AI applications, this programme sets a higher bar, backing companies that are building transformative technologies rather than riding the latest hype wave.
Speaking on the launch, Mary Rodgers, CEO of PorterShed, said:
“The noise around AI is deafening, however, very few companies are truly innovating at a deep technical level. AI Venture Forge is about cutting through the noise and backing teams with the technical ability and vision to redefine industries.”
Delivered both onsite in Galway City and virtually by the experienced PorterShed Programmes team and led by Programme Manager Dushyant Singh, AI Venture Forge is designed with an international focus from the outset. During the programme, participating teams will travel to either London or Paris – two cities currently vying for the title of Europe’s AI Capital – to deepen market understanding, build networks, and develop a “born global” mindset. Following the programme, during the three-month post-programme off-ramp phase, companies will travel to San Francisco to focus on fundraising, sales pipeline building, and US expansion.
The launch of the AI Venture Forge follows PorterShed’s year-long strategic investment into AI innovation capacity-building in the West of Ireland. Beginning with the GenAI Hackathon in June 2024, through to its regional partnership role in the National AI Challenge (led by TechIreland) and the introduction of an AI stream in the NDRC Founder Weekend in September, PorterShed has spent the past year foregrounding AI innovation not as a tech trend, but as a driver of Ireland’s future economic competitiveness.
Reflecting on the learnings from this foundational work, Programme Manager, Dushyant Singh commented:
“We saw a clear distinction between teams using AI for real product innovation and those applying AI superficially. The Programme is designed to work with technical teams building infrastructure and applications that will define industries in five years’ time, not just bolt-on features. This programme will be supported by AI experts and founders, who will be on site to give mentorship, feedback and provide supports”.
The search for participants will be nationwide, assisting with the ‘talent search’ and programme will be the RDI Hub in Kerry, Republic of Work in Cork and Dogpatch Labs in Dublin.
Applications to the AI Venture Forge are now open. Successful applicants will receive six months’ membership at PorterShed and direct access to a network of industry experts, investors, and peers driving the future of AI-first innovation.
About PorterShed:
PorterShed is a collaborative workspace for startups and entrepreneurs located in Galway, Ireland. Since its founding in 2016, PorterShed has become a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, offering members access to resources and mentorship to help their tech businesses grow.
About AI Venture Forge:
The AI Venture Forge offers participants an intensive three-phase journey: Product Definition, Venture Development, and Fundraising to Scale. Throughout the 12 active weeks, startups will engage in weekly mentorship with seasoned operators and investors, attend multiple onsite workshops and keynotes by industry leaders, and meet regularly with their assigned board to track progress and refine their strategies.
The programme is open to early-stage Irish AI startups, as well as innovation teams from indigenous Irish tech scale-ups and SMEs that have secured senior-level commitment to developing new product solutions or even spinning out new ventures. Companies accepted into the programme will be expected to show real freedom to operate, deep technical leadership, and the ambition to build scalable, globally-facing businesses from Day 1.
The AI Venture Forge is a pilot programme and is funded by returns from successful investments in Irish start-ups through the NDRC.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://portershed.com/ai-venture-forge/
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