Accelerate Green: Advancing sustainable innovation and business growth
Start Bord Early Móna’s Stage In Accelerate Innovative Startups Na Programme Green Participating
Accelerate Green is Bord na Móna’s leading accelerator programme dedicated to companies who are developing products and services based on green innovation in response to climate change and sustainability challenges.
Launched in 2022, Accelerate Green which is run in conjunction with Resolve Partners, delivers practical, impactful support to early-stage enterprises and SMEs across Ireland that are driving climate action and sustainability initiatives. This programme is a key part of Bord na Móna’s commitment to support our national community of green innovators and contribute to the achievement of Ireland’s climate action goals and carbon neutrality target by 2050.
The Autumn cohort for Accelerate Green START commenced on October 10th, with seven sessions taking place over six weeks. Through interactive workshops, one-on-one coaching sessions, and networking opportunities, the programme equips these startups with the skills and resources they need to strengthen their business models, improve their offerings, and prepare for funding and commercialisation.
The programme will culminate in a pitch event on , where each participant will have the chance to showcase their innovative business solutions to a distinguished panel of industry experts, investors, and sustainability leaders as well as Tom Donnellan, CEO for Bord na Móna.
Not only will this be an opportunity for participants to receive constructive feedback from the panel, but it also opens doors to potential partnerships, investment opportunities and further support within Ireland’s thriving green innovation ecosystem.
The ongoing collaboration between Bord na Móna and Biota, led by Oliver Begley, a participant in the Accelerate Green Spring 2024 cohort, demonstrates the programme's tangible impact. This partnership utilizes satellite and artificial intelligence technologies, provided by the Biota platform, to deliver Bord na Móna valuable insights into biodiversity impacts, risks, and dependencies within their habitats. Oliver said….
“Participating in Accelerate Green START had a significant and positive impact on our business. The expert mentorship, hands-on workshops, and the chance to connect with a network of like-minded entrepreneurs gave us the confidence and resources to scale. The programme equips early-stage startups with the tools needed to tackle the challenges of building a sustainable business. For anyone in green innovation, it's an invaluable opportunity to accelerate growth. It's exciting to see the Autumn cohort, with companies from across Ireland, join this important platform for sustainability and I hope they find the same success and opportunities that I did moving forward.”
This year’s participants bring a mix of creativity and technical expertise to the table, highlighting the strength of Ireland’s budding green entrepreneurs:
- — A Dublin-based company working to reduce CO2 emissions by combining wind power with carbon capture.
- — From Sligo, offering nature-based solutions to support sustainable planning for offshore energy projects.
- — Cork-based, using second-life EV batteries to create sustainable and affordable energy storage options.
- — Also in Cork, making eco-friendly materials from mycelium as alternatives to plastics in packaging.
- — Based in Dublin, focuses on sustainable agriculture with carbon capture projects that also generate carbon credits.
- — Located in Kildare, repurposes EV batteries for energy storage in homes and small businesses, supporting clean energy use.
- — Offaly-based, has developed a “Bovine Breathalyser” to measure livestock emissions for improved agricultural sustainability.
- — Cork company providing real-asset data to support sustainable infrastructure development worldwide.
- — From Dublin, developing scalable algae bioreactors to capture CO2, with added uses in fertilizers and aquaculture.
Through the Accelerate Green START programme, Bord na Móna is committed to advancing Ireland’s green sector by fostering the growth of new eco-entrepreneurs – helping them to expand their impact and scale operations at pace.
Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive of Bord na Móna, said: “We’re excited to support the Autumn group of Accelerate Green START participants. These startups represent the future of sustainability in Ireland, committed to finding innovative climate solutions. At Bord na Móna, we know that helping early-stage companies build skills, expertise, and connections is essential to advancing a low-carbon, circular economy.
“Accelerate Green START is all about equipping new green entrepreneurs with the resources they need to realise their ambitions and grow. As we continue our own transition to green energy, supporting these ventures is crucial. The success we’ve seen with Accelerate Green since 2022 is remarkable, and I’m proud of the participants’ achievements so far. We look forward to seeing what this Autumn cohort will accomplish.”
Since its launch in 2022, the Accelerate Green programme has supported 42 businesses, and its alumni have collectively raised over €10 million in venture funding. Many of these graduates of the programme have gone on to create positive impact in areas such as renewable energy, carbon reduction, eco-friendly materials, and sustainable agriculture in Irish and global markets.
For more information on the Accelerate Green START Autumn programme and future opportunities, please visit www.bordnamona.ie