Startup In Dublin: Learn More About New Frontiers On TU Dublin’s Grangegorman Campus

In Grangegorman, Programme Manager Diane Hurley leads one of the three New Frontiers programmes at TU Dublin (the other two being Blanchardstown and Tallaght). In this blog, we’ll learn more about the Grangegorman programme and Diane’s background.

Diane Hurley brings a wealth of experience to the role of New Frontiers Programme Manager. She previously founded a small enterprise, co-founded a European startup, and managed chapters of the founder network Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) across 15 cities in Europe. Before joining TU Dublin’s Enterprise Engagement team in 2017, she lived and worked internationally across EMEA and Asia, spending time in Spain, Japan, and Germany.

She first worked for New Frontiers as a Consultant for Blanchardstown in 2017and joined New Frontiers Grangegorman full time in 2021. Diane has now worked with over 50 high potential startup companies through the programme. She leads with a strong focus on founder development, ensuring there is support for them in the areas they need the most.

“We really get behind our founders. Our journey with startups through all the programmes we deliver here (not just New Frontiers but initiatives such as ivenTUre or TrailblazHER™) is about developing the person. From my EO background I have a keen interest in strategy, goal setting and metrics, and go-to-market strategy. That’s because of my own experience in a startup and because the founders I work with are also focused on this.”

One university, three programmes

The three campuses of Tallaght, Blanchardstown, and Grangegorman run their own programmes but with a high degree of collaboration and alignment of best practice. Start dates for phases are staggered across the year.

The programmes run at full capacity including Grangegorman which has a strong pipeline of new high potential ventures. Although New Frontiers is open to most sectors, there has been a notable uplift in AI-driven businesses and by extension higher expectations of producing a finely polished MVP early in the game. Diane’s approach is therefore to frontload the six-month full-time Phase 2.

“We dive straight into the main tools and resources. That means a deep dive into business model fundamentals, assumption testing, and early customer validation methods. Founders build plans based on tested assumptions rather than guesswork, so they are ready to engage customers with something solid, which we encourage as early as possible Other areas I bring in are design thinking, prototyping, and MVP readiness. Parallel to the customer engagement and market validation which is ongoing, reviews are about supporting the startup identify gaps to build strategy around to move the startup forward. We aim to offer ad hoc support later in the programme customised to meeting the startup where it is.”

Diane also works with industry expert and serial entrepreneurs to facilitate the programme training. She aims to find trainers who are as passionate about seeing the founders progress their businesses. She looks for people who have a similar approach and mindset to the team. Another aspect to the programme is to draw on the alumni startups to deliver the programme.

“I brought in the Blueprints and Breakthrough series, which is in its third year now. It is an online session tailored to mirror the programme content for real world insights into the founder’s journey. Founders who have come through the programme return to share on their experiences of GTM strategy, raising finance and sales. It has proven to be very successful.”

A deep understanding of the startup journey

It’s clear that Diane’s approach is guided by a deep understanding of the ecosystem and a relentless focus on what moves founders forward. Her commitment to lifelong learning says it all: an MBA from TU Dublin with a Capstone based on the ‘Effectiveness of Tax Relief Incentives for Irish Start-ups’ and international study trips to Montreal for the John Molson MBA International Case Competition as well as Silicon Valley; a Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Thinking, Innovation & Entrepreneurship from Trinity College Dublin; an Advanced Certificate in Corporate Governance & Ethics from the London School of Business & Finance; and a BA in Applied Languages & Intercultural Studies from Dublin City University.

Drawing inspiration from leading accelerators such as Y Combinator and Techstars, and applying frameworks such as Rockefeller Habits or Verne Harnish’s Scaling Up methodology, she continues to evolve the programme to deliver what founders need as they respond to the ever-changing business landscape. One example was moving the intellectual property workshop to Phase 1 instead of delivering it during Phase 2. The rise of AI and changing VC/market expectations mean MVPs are being launched earlier than ever and founders need the right protections in place.

“Another aspect to the programme, that we think works well, is the three programmes including Grangegorman have introduced an investor pitch panel competition, parallel to the new frontiers regular schedule content and supports. It provides an opportunity for the group to practise pitching , and gives them early exposure to investor questions. Practice pitch panels take place throughout the programme, but the competition introduces real stakes and feedback that closely mirror actual fundraising scenarios. It has elevated the quality of their pitch decks and pitching skills to an entirely new level.”

Continuing support and connections

Mindful of the cliff-edge that startups can experience when they transition from a high-support environment to independence, Diane maintains strong relationships within the ecosystem. From corporate sponsors like PwC and Philip Lee to the coal-face support offered by FR Kelly or Furthr, the programme provides a network that extends beyond the curriculum. Some alumni will apply to Enterprise Ireland’s Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) during or after the programme and potentially then go on to HPSU status, while others will become clients of the Local Enterprise Office.

“From beginning to end, we reinforce to need to lead with a customer-driven approach. And encourage continuous testing of t the market and stickiness of the product or service. We support startups who plan to raise capital or those who are planning to commercialise and drive sales.”

TU Dublin’s Greenway Hub

The programme is located in TU Dublin’s Greenway Hub. The Grangegorman campus spans 75 acres of Dublin’s city centre and the €21 million incubator offers training space, hot desks, own-door offices, and state-of-the-art labs. Client companies in the Greenway Hub include programme alumni, spin outs from the university, research-driven companies, and commercialisation fund companies.

“A benefit of our programmes is access to a range of researchers across different sectors through the faculties of TU Dublin Innovation Vouchers are approved a lot quicker these days, than in previous years. Our startups have had a lot of success identifying IP around algorithms and other technology, build wireframes, or develop robust planning around AI architecture. We also work to connect founders with university interns. At times the School of Marketing may offer 4th year students support to research the startups markets and marketing strategy We currently have one founder working with four interns on market research which would prove expensive as hired support.”

Another benefit is that New Frontiers Phase 2 participants can enrol as students of TU Dublin, gaining access to a wide range of student discounts across Dublin. The grounds offer something for everyone: football pitches, a newly finished academic library, yoga classes, a gym, and meeting rooms.

Previous participants from Grangegorman

Having delivered New Frontiers for well over a decade, Grangegorman has quite the list of notable alumni. One example is Phorest, the well-known salon management and scheduling platform. 10 years on from the programme, it has achieved around €50 million in annual revenues, selling to 150, 000 clients globally.

It’s a case study Diane references regularly: a company using its continuous customer-driven approach as its competitive advantage – demonstrating the value of continuous customer engagement when developing tech. She works closely with serial entrepreneurs who encourage the founders to get out and test the market in whatever way they can, running various campaigns to understand their buyer personas and early adopters.

Recent success stories from Grangegorman include Joel Olympio of Focus Co (enhancing and protecting focus), Deirdre Schroeder of GoodBrew (creamy cold brew coffee), Stephen O’Dwyer of Trojan Track (AI analysis of horse movement), Nipun Kathuria of Smile Genius (dental practice management), and Jason O’Gorman of Roamr (corporate travel disruptor).

Learn more about the programme in Grangegorman, about Diane, and about Enterprise Engagement at TU Dublin.