What it is?
Scale-X North West is an exciting opportunity for Start-up entrepreneurs to accelerate the growth of their business. The programme focuses on giving you a deep understanding of the metrics that can drive your success, the skills to build financial models that stand up to investor scrutiny, and industry engagement and mentorship that give you valuable insights to adapt your business model to create the perfect fit.
Scale-X is an 11-week Accelerator Programme which is targeted at start up entrepreneurs with the potential for fast growth.
Who is eligible?
- Any founder(s) with ambitions to grow their business globally.
- Any founder(s) with the potential for fast business growth
- A potential spin-out from an existing firm or third level institution
- A commitment to grow your business from the North West (Leitrim, Donegal or Sligo), no matter where in the world you live right now.
- The programme is open to residents of Leitrim, Donegal, Sligo or anyone that is part of the North West Diaspora within Ireland or worldwide.
Selection
SCALE-X is seeking founders that have a unique insight into their industry, borne out of deep industry expertise or an evident passion for their idea, as well as solutions that solve a distinct customer problem.
We will select twelve teams to go with us on this journey. This will be based on the scale of ambition of the founder/s, the potential market size of your chosen field and, most importantly, the teams that we feel we can help the most. We will review every application and interview shortlisted candidates on a rolling basis, so apply early to give yourself the best possible chance to be accepted.
You must be available to participate on all programme days as outlined for Zoom sessions (Z) and in-person sessions (I-P)
Closing Deadline & Key Dates:
The closing date for applications is midday on August 16th 2023.
Successful applicants will be informed on week commencing August 18th and the programme will kick off on Wednesday September 6th.
Programme Schedule
| DATE | THEME | TOPICS |
|---|
6th Sept 2023 (I-P) | Accelerator Launchpad | You get to know your course-mates, learn the core principles of the lean startup methodology, and make a start on clearly defining the key elements of your opportunity. |
| 13th Sept 2023 (Z) | De-Risk Your Venture | You learn a framework for identifying and prioritising the key risks related to your venture. You also learn a process for reducing risk through rapid cycles of test and learn. |
| 20th Sept 2023 (Z) | Customer Discovery | You learn a process for testing the riskiest parts your new venture. |
27th Sept 2023 (Z)
| Pitching your Venture | You learn a proven, effective pitching framework and strategies for crafting and delivering a compelling pitch. |
| 4th Oct 2023 (Z) | MVP Thinking | In this workshop you’ll learn how to apply MVP thinking to help reduce risk and build momentum. |
| 11th Oct 2023 (Z) | Tracking Progress with KPIs | You’ll learn how to measure your progress through KPI management. |
| 18th Oct 2023 (Z) | Achieving Product Market Fit | You’ll learn why product market fit is critical to success and learn a set of key indicators to help you determine if/when you’ve achieved product market fit. |
| 25th Oct 2023 (Z) | Building & Leading your Startup Team | You’ll explore the role of leadership in the startup environment and the job of a startup founder. |
| 1st Nov 2023 (Z) | Funding Your Venture | You’ll learn how to identify your funding need and select which type of funding is most appropriate for your situation. |
| 8th Nov 2023 (Z) | Pitch Practice | You'll have the opportunity to practice your pitch and get expert and peer feedback. |
15th Nov 2023 (I-P) | Final Pitching Event (full day in-person) | A hosted celebratory event where you pitch to a panel of investors, industry experts and support agencies. |
