Innovation Labs 1

Join our TechFoundher Innovation Labs 1 - a unique programme designed to accelerate your progress developing a tech product! Fast track your start-up with a focus on your tech solution and innovation.

The AI revolution that’s underway means that being a non-techie doesn’t need to hold your back! Build your tech confidence and product skills so you’re ready to get build underway!

TechFoundHer believes that innovation flourishes in diverse communities with peers, near peers and ‘experts’. We encourage cross-collaboration with timely trouble-shooting when you’re stuck.

Topics

• Product Innovation Building Blocks and Mindset - insights and iterations
• Making it real - options for building using Low Code No Code
• Decoding the Coder - communicating with tech teams
• Using Gen AI for efficiency

Aims of the programme

• Ensure women have the know-how (tools, network and confidence) to lead tech product development (busting the narrative that the only route available for them to progress tech is finding a technical co-founder).
• Inspire women to level up their ambition - bigger problems, faster progress, global markets, deeper tech solutions.
• Advance women to progress the technology readiness of their product and in turn their investor/funder readiness.
• Introduce Gen AI tools that deliver efficiencies but also fast track product progress.
• Foster a supportive all island learning network designed to encourage cross collaboration.

The programme is focused on building practical skills to progress a tech product or service.

At the end of the programme you will have:

• Used an iterative process for product/service innovation based on setting hypotheses (tech product, customer) investigating, testing and drawing insights to further iterate.
• Created materials essential to outline and communicate your product ambition e.g. Business/market insights, product roadmap, contingency plan, costing (hopeful and realistic), tangible benefits, user flow/journey.
• Completed a stakeholder analysis and delivered 3 versions of a product story for customer, vendor (tech developer and funder which draws out the benefits for each segment.
• Used a low code no code tool to further the product build for demoing and testing.
• Identified at least two upcoming tech goals/milestones to progress on the programme.
• Created a tech spec for costing, briefing development teams - which outlines the rationale for features and functionality.
• Used a variety of Gen AI tools to support product innovation and business efficiencies.

• Women who have identified an opportunity for a technical solution to build or grow their business.
• They have researched their market, business planning, and user needs and/or some proof of concept level development completed.
• Women with ambition to solve a big, ambitious problem with global impact.
• As a minimum applicants have developed a basic prototype or wireframe of their product.
• They are committed to participating in the programme - and available to attend in-person labs in Dublin and Belfast.
• They complete an application form and this will be scored.

Additional eligibility criteria may be applied in order to help with selection if high numbers apply.

The Innovation Labs 1 programme takes place from mid October to early December 2024.

The programme includes:

• 3 in person lab/workshop sessions that will alternate between Dublin and Belfast.
• Regular peer Founder Circles with smaller groups of 5-6 participants, designed to foster cross collaboration, feedback and support.
• 3 online webinars introducing key topics presented by innovation and tech leaders.
• Regular office hours (Ask Me Anything sessions) with mentoring from industry professionals mentors to support tech tool demos and troubleshooting.
• Online social platform to connect with peers and mentors for live chats, connecting, learning and sharing.
• Wrap session and Innovation Showcase(s).

A total of 35 applicants - split between applicants from Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Please note: InterTradeIreland are not part of the selection process, TechFoundHer will allocate places based on their criteria.

There is no budget allocated in the pilot to support child care or transport costs.

Participants are encouraged to subscribe to the TechFoundHer Community Platform for at least 3 months from October to December (monthly rate of €29).

Expressions of interest close at 1pm on Wednesday October 2nd.

This is the first step. Next a completed additional application is required to be submitted to TechFoundher.

Applications are rolling and we encourage that you apply asap. Places are limited.