Food Works, an accelerator programme for food and drinks companies, is seeking participants for its latest programme with the promise that they can tap public funding.

The Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc initiative has helped over 100 companies in its ten years of operation, producing success stories such as Wicklow Wolf, Nobó and Lismore Food Company. 

The funding, accessed through High-Potential Start-up investment (HPSU), Competitive Start-up Funding (CSF) and feasibility grants, can see eligible businesses garner up to €35,000 in grants. 

In addition to the funding, the ten-month programme, which runs from February to December 2023, has workshops with industry experts, with a focus on marketing, strategy and finance, as well as 'customised support from business leaders' and networking opportunities. 

'State-of-the-art food facilities' in Dublin and Cork also offer prospective startups facilities for product research and development, according to Food Works.

In Association with

The programme is also launching a podcast series, ‘10 at 10’, which will interview food and drinks entrepreneurs who have been through the scheme, as well as business advisors and mentors offering tips and advice to emerging or early-stage companies. 

Ahead of the launch of the podcast, Food Works alumnus Simon Lynch of Wicklow Wolf spoke about the opportunities that the programme delivers.

“Food Works gave us an opportunity to really focus on what we were trying to do," said Lynch. "We had a business plan coming into the programme and the Food Works team helped us to analyse and drill down into it. The one we landed on, with the help of the Food Works mentors, is the one we ultimately stuck by.

“Food Works also provided a huge networking opportunity, which ultimately provided access to HPSU funding we received from Enterprise Ireland. This gave us a really solid footing to move the company into the future.” 

Applications close on the 2nd of December.