Accelerator programme ready to Hatch in Cork
Ireland’s first accelerator programme for aquaculture start-up companies will be launched this afternoon.
Start-ups from Chile, India, Canada, the UK, and the US have arrived in Cork in the last 24 hours to take part in the Hatch programme.
It is the second of the three-month Hatch programmes to be run, following the inaugural accelerator scheme in Bergen earlier this year.
Disruptive companies
Hatch aims to find, develop and scale up talented and disruptive aquaculture start-up companies.
Ireland’s seafood development agency, Bord Iascaigh Mara (BIM) will contribute to the costs of the programme, using money from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. The launch will be streamed live on BIM’s Facebook page, which can be found here.
Cork resident Wayne Murphy, chief operating officer and co-founder of Hatch, said an accelerator programme offered one of the best ways of de-risking investments in early-stage aquaculture start-ups.
“That’s what I’ve been doing for many years across various sectors,” said Murphy.
Aquaculture talent
“We had a fantastic time in Norway. We had eight companies, and a number are now closing investment rounds, which is fantastic to hear.
“We’re really excited about bringing so many international companies here to Ireland, along with attracting some of Ireland’s aquaculture talent.”
The event begins at 1.30pm with a welcome by Murphy and an introduction by Hatch chief executive and co-founder Carsten Krome, who has a PhD in aquaculture nutrition from Stirling University.
The start-up teams will be introduced at 3.20pm.
