Founder Labs is a six-month accelerator program for early-stage startups in Northern Ireland, located at Ormeau Labs in Belfast and backed by Invest NI. We received a space to work, £25K, and proper mentoring where Ian, Gary, and Paul, and many others told us (in no uncertain terms) where we were messing up.David and I (Kieron) got into Founder Labs in May of 2024. At the time, I was working at Chakray, and David was working at Plastometrics, which were both great jobs that we had fresh out of university, and we're grateful for the experience and things we learned while we were there. The opportunity of Founder Labs, however, allowed us to go full-time on Opinly, which we had both always hoped we'd be able to do. The reason:
Applying for Founder Labs
When we first heard of Founder Labs, we were suffering from some serious grant/program/accelerator application burnout. We'd applied to everything under the sun in Northern Ireland with limited success, but we decided to throw our hat in. We went in for some 1-to-1s, and eventually got to the final stage for a two-pronged interview. We left the interview, and both said to each other that there was no chance we got that. Then came the longest two weeks of waiting I've ever experienced. I knew that the £25K would allow us to go full-time, and we'd have access to people who had built successful businesses before. What more could you ask for as a B2B SAAS (man in the arena) founder who'd had no success up until this point?
We got the email saying we were in, and needless to say we were excited.
The Founder Labs Program
The first three months of Founder Labs was all about events, mentoring and 1-1s. It was intense, but the idea was to get set you up to stand on your own.
I would be amiss not to mention the hospitality of Claire Halliday and the rest of the Ormeau Baths/Labs team for hosting the Founder Labs program. We loved our time in the space.
Early Days - 3 Months Hands-On
We started the program, and it was certainly a novel experience. There were a lot of questions asked that we didn't have the answers to, but it was great to get to know the Founder Labs and Ormeau Baths team, as well as the other teams in the cohort. The most challenging part was managing the business while fulfilling our accelerator responsibilities - some events were not necessarily for us, as there were always going to be many different types of companies in the program. Still, a lot were, and it was great to hear from so many mentors and entrepreneurs who had walked the path before.
We met once a week with Chris Armstrong (founder of Overwatch Research), who, every week, gave us the best advice we've received to date - (paraphrasing) "product looks better than last week, keep going"
Pitches and Trips - Second 3 Months of Founder Labs
The second three months of the program consisted of pitching and travelling. The idea here was to get us ready for talking to investors and networking to meet said investors.
Belfast Demo Day
Belfast demo day was great fun. From where the pitch started, and where it got to, is a credit to the program that Founder Labs is (I was diabolical on stage to start). There was a great turnout from the Belfast community, and it was certainly a nerve-racking experience. Ultimately, it set up the pitch for Dublin and the pints after felt earned.
Dublin - Dog Patch Demo Day
The pitch in Dublin was something else. It was the first time we'd step foot in Dog Patch Labs, which is a very impressive space. I have to mention that Patrick Walsh gave us a talk about starting Dog Patch, and to this day, it's the best story of starting a business I've ever heard.
When the room filled up and I was waiting to go up on stage, I had to do my best not to look at the 400-something people in the crowd. Although unlikely, at 24, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Once again, the pints after were certainly earned.
New York
New York was a great trip. We ate, drank, and occasionally talked some business.
Thanks to Andrew Steele from Activant Capital for hosting us for a talk from some prominent US founders, Invest NI for sponsoring the wider trip, and Digital Irish for putting on the events.
Dublin - SAAS Stock
SAAS stock was a great trip down to Dublin, and it was great to talk to other SAAS companies about their SEO. Ultimately, we had a bit of craic and made a few connections.
Where we were, and where we got to
When we joined Founder Labs, we were two guys with laptops struggling to get a SAAS off the ground. By the end, we were still two guys with laptops on our way to getting a SAAS off the ground. We certainly wouldn't be where we are today without Founder Labs, and anyone in Northern Ireland looking to get started with their own startup should apply.
FAQS
What is Founder Labs?
Founder Labs is a six-month accelerator program for early-stage startups in Northern Ireland, located at Ormeau Labs in Belfast and backed by Invest NI.
How did Opinly benefit from joining Founder Labs?
Joining Founder Labs allowed Opinly to go full-time on their startup, Opinly, providing them with a workspace, mentoring, and funding of £25K.
What was the application process like for Founder Labs?
The application process involved a series of steps including written applications, a two-pronged interview, and a period of waiting before receiving confirmation of acceptance.
How does Founder Labs support startups during the program?
Founder Labs supports startups through events, mentoring, 1-1 sessions, and preparation for investor pitches, helping participants stand on their own.
What are the Founder Lab Demo Day like?
During the Demo Days, the founders pitched their startup to a crowd, refining their pitches with the help of the program, and gaining exposure to investors and the community.
