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Pitch competition · Newry, United Kingdom

Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition

An all-island business competition for early-stage companies in Ireland and Northern Ireland, run by InterTradeIreland. Entrants get feedback from investment experts and compete for EUR 800,000 in cash prizes.

Closed Run by InterTradeIreland

Visit the programme's site

Verified 19 October 2026 · From the programme's own pages

Terms

Funding
€130,000 EUR 800,000 prize fund with no equity taken: EUR 130,000 for the overall winner, 2 x EUR 100,000 category winners (B2B, B2C, Deep Tech), 9 x EUR 50,000 regional winners and a EUR 20,000 impact award
Instrument
Prize
Equity taken
None (equity-free)
Programme fee
not published
Duration
not published
Cohort size
not published
Cohorts
not published
Delivery
not published
Stages
Pre-seed, seed
Sectors
Sector-agnostic
Open to founders from
Ireland, United Kingdom
Perks
  • Individual feedback on every application from investment experts
  • One-to-one session with the lead equity advisor for shortlisted companies
  • Pitch to investors and business leaders at regional and all-island finals

Northern Ireland entrants compete in the Belfast regional final. The 2026 awards ceremony is given as 12 November on the timetable page and 5 November on the main Seedcorn page.

Application dates

ClosedSeedcorn 2026

Usual timing: The 2027 timetable is not yet published. In 2026 applications opened on 5 March, Phase 1 closed on 24 April and regional finals ran in October.

Who can apply

  • Independent ventures incorporated on the island of Ireland (Ireland or Northern Ireland) at seed, start-up or early stage
  • The founders created, manage and own the venture and hold significant equity
  • Ventures that have raised more than EUR 1m (or the sterling equivalent) in external equity are not eligible
  • Stage: pre-seed, seed

What founders should check

  1. The programme says it takes no equity. Still read the agreement for warrants, revenue shares or rights in a later round.
  2. It does not publish a fee. Ask whether you pay for desks, services or the programme itself.
  3. It does not say whether it runs in person or remotely. Ask before you plan a move.
  4. The last window we track closed on 24 April 2026. The 2027 timetable is not yet published. In 2026 applications opened on 5 March, Phase 1 closed on 24 April and regional finals ran in October.

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