At a sold out NDRC Startup Sprint in ENGINE Hub, Limerick, we saw what happens when you bring ambitious people into a room and give them the space to learn by doing.

More than 100 builders came together to learn from founders and operators who have been there before, build early versions of products using no code and low code tools, test real problems with real customers, and pitch live on stage.

For many in the room, this was a first step into entrepreneurship and a chance to decide what to build next.

A Practical First Step Into Entrepreneurship

NDRC is Ireland’s national startup accelerator for globally ambitious tech entrepreneurs. The NDRC Startup Sprint is open to anyone interested in building and testing a tech product, regardless of experience.

The format is hands on. Participants form teams, define the problem they want to solve, speak directly with potential customers, build early demonstrations of their product, and present their progress at the end of the day.

In Limerick, more than 30 teams put ideas in front of peers, mentors, and judges. Six finalists pitched live.

The day was MCed by Chris Barrett of RDI Hub and included sessions on early stage opportunities, customer discovery, and practical ways to get something working quickly without heavy engineering.

Mentors and judges worked directly with teams to sharpen their value proposition, challenge assumptions and help founders focus on what matters most at an early stage.

From Idea to Stage in One Day

Six teams presented to the judging panel at the close of the Sprint.

Best Pitch went to IDV Exchange, founded by Robert Bordianu, building an API to verify users across 27 EU member states with a single integration.

Most Improved went to Piste Labs, led by Dan Sweetnam, working on tools to support ski and snowboard workshops through intelligent automation and real time insights.

Across the day, teams tested assumptions, narrowed scope, made decisions on features, and built tangible outputs rather than slide decks alone.

For Side Hustle Founders Across the Midwest and the Kingdom

*Learn from experiences startup mentors*

Participants travelled from Limerick, Clare and the Kingdom, reflecting the appetite across the region for practical startup support.

Many are professionals building ideas alongside full-time employment. Events like the NDRC Startup Sprint provide a structured way to test those ideas properly, speak to real customers, and get feedback from experienced founders.

For those ready to continue, applications are now open for the NDRC Pre-Accelerator.

The NDRC Pre-Accelerator supports early stage founders to test and validate their idea, gain early traction and prepare for the next stage of growth. Applications close on 27 February and the programme will commence in March.

If you are serious about taking your startup idea further this year, this is a practical next step.

Find out more and apply at
https://www.ndrc.ie/pre-accelerator

Details of the next NDRC Startup Sprint on 28 March at Republic of Work in Cork are available at
https://www.ndrc.ie/startup-sprint