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Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) – Limerick Campus

Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre

HEAC-logo-2023TUS Logo Limerick and Athlone New Frontiers

The Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre facilitates the transition from education, research and employment to startup success by assisting clients in a number of complementary areas: research commercialisation, early-stage enterprise startup and internationalisation.

The centre provides business development services to clients via one-to-one mentoring and business plan reviews with the Enterprise Development & Business Liaison Manager, the New Frontiers Programme Manager and a panel of subject matter experts. Providing links to Enterprise Ireland and other enterprise support agencies is a critical dimension of the Hartnett Centre service, as well as links to investor networks across Ireland, Europe and the USA.

The centre has incubation units – ready-to-go shared office solutions, hot desks or virtual incubation services – available to promoters of early-stage companies. For companies that are starting to grow, some of the offices can open out into a space for 8 – 10 people.

413
PHASE 1 PARTICIPANTS SUPPORTED
147
PHASE 2 PARTICIPANTS SUPPORTED
3
COUNTIES IN CATCHMENT (LIMERICK, CLARE & TIPPERARY)

What’s on offer?

18 units of approx. 25m² accommodating up to four people, shared office space and hotdesks. Reception, restaurant, boardroom and meeting room. IT support, broadband, managed print facility and videoconferencing.

Access to the TUS Enterprise Ladder, TUS International Network and invitations to dozens of events to help inspire, motivate and build networks and relationships and to take part in competitions.

Access to collaborative research with TUS. Centre for Applied BioScience Research (CABR), Factory Xchange, and the IDEAM Cluster are based in the centre.

Gallery

Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre New Frontiers location
Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre New Frontiers location
Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre New Frontiers location
Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre New Frontiers location
Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre New Frontiers location
Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre New Frontiers location

The team

The New Frontiers Programme Manager at TUS – Limerick Campus is Mary Casey. She holds a BA degree from the University of Limerick, and qualified with the Chartered Insurance Institute while working in that sector. Mary has worked in a variety of private and public sector roles, and shares her considerable practical experience with Limerick’s programme participants, as she steers them towards success through each phase of New Frontiers. Mary thrives on the collaborative environment that the New Frontiers programme develops, and helping new entrepreneurs find their feet by drawing on the expertise of TUS’s New Frontiers alumni and consultants.

Visit their website

Mary Casey

Mary Casey

New Frontiers Programme Manager

061 293 830

Gillian Barry New Frontiers

Gillian Barry

Head of Innovation & Enterprise

061 293 151

Nadia Hwigi New Frontiers Programme Administrator Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre, TUS Midwest

Nadia Hwigi

New Frontiers Programme Administrator

061 293 807

“At the beginning of New Frontiers, I was the sole member of Mavarick. Finishing phase 2 we have three full-time and one part-time employees. New Frontiers has been instrumental in highlighting the areas that required additional skillsets to ensure the company could capitalize on early traction.”

Paul Byrne, Mavarick

“New Frontiers has enabled me to grow as a person in knowledge and insights. It has expanded my sphere and allowed me to scope out my business in a thoughtful, creative and expansive manner. It has allowed me the time and headspace to do this, thanks in no small part to the stipend.”

Joe Guiney, Maravil Foods

“My business has gone from being an idea on paper to being stocked in stores nationwide. I started on New Frontiers Phase one in July and by March we are selling online to customers all over Ireland and are stocked in retailers nationwide.”

Edel Breslin, Oirtonics

“When I started New Frontiers we had a small team, and idea, a basic MVP. Now we have a real business with a comprehensive platform, early customers, and users. We achieved all of this in just 6 months. It would have never been possible without New Frontiers.”

Paul Kwasniak, Finedeeds

“New Frontiers helped me to ask and answer questions about my business that I’d not considered before. I’m a stronger entrepreneur and have a stronger business after this programme.”

Allen Wixted, Plop

“The 5-week phase 1 programme is a great support for anyone looking to start a business who needs to validate their idea. Not alone do you gain practical skills to test your idea, but it equips you for the future. It was a great way to meet like-minded people who are passionate about making their idea a reality.”

Nicholas Ryan, Thomond Gate Whiskey

Notable alumni

  • Paul Gough, Nualtra – delivery of food for special medical purposes
  • Charlie Glynn, Glynn Technical Diamonds – innovative synthetic diamond products
  • Evan Talty, Wild Irish Sea Weed – sustainable, hand-harvested seaweed
  • Mark Cochrane, Trackplan – facilities management software
  • Hannah Wrixon, Get the Shifts (Wrx Wrx) – temp staff on tap
  • Shane Ryan, Fiid – the perfect everyday meal
  • Leonie Lynch, Juspy – a delicious collagen and protein blend
  • Nicholas Ryan, Thomond Gate Whiskey
  • Eoin Keane, Tornoc Studios – AR gaming
  • Paul Byrne, Mavarick – Manufacturing production and sustainability analytics

Alumni news

Limerick start-up Mavarick raises €1.3 million

Limerick start-up Mavarick raises €1.3 million

Congratulations to Paul Byrnes and the team at Mavarick as they raise €1.3 million to drive international expansion. This is the first fundraise for the company which has been largely bootstrapped until now. It also was awarded €100,000 funding as part of the InterTrade Seedcorn competition late last year.
Mavarick announced as Overall Winner of Seedcorn

Mavarick announced as Overall Winner of Seedcorn

Mavarick AI, co-founded by Dr Paul Byrnes, has been announced as the overall winner of the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition, walking away with a cash prize of €100,000 to invest in their business

This is the right time! Register your interest in New Frontiers and a Programme Manager will be in touch to guide you through the application process.

Register your interest