TECHSTARS FOUNDER WEEKEND, REBUILT FOR THE AI ERA
SPRINTS
High-intensity build sessions where you find collaborators, pick a real problem, and ship something real — fast.
No theatre. No posturing.
Just builders moving at modern speed.
WHAT IS A SPRINT?
A Sprint is a time-boxed build challenge designed to compress weeks of work into a short window.
You'll leave with something you can keep building — and people you'll likely keep building with.
WHY WE'RE ADAPTING STARTUP WEEKEND
The old model assumes you need three days to go from idea → deck.
In the AI era you can go idea → prototype → demo in hours.
This is how new companies get started now.
WHO SPRINTS ARE FOR
You don't need permission. You just need intent.
BUILDERS
Engineers, designers, product people who want to ship fast.
RESEARCHERS & PHDS
Turn technical insight into something people can use.
DOMAIN EXPERTS
You know the problem deeply; we'll help teams build the solution.
FIRST-TIME FOUNDERS
An on-ramp with structure, community, and momentum.
EARLY TEAMS
Accelerate progress, sharpen the story, get feedback.
If you can contribute (skills, insight, hustle), you belong.
WHAT YOU ACTUALLY LEAVE WITH
A shipped prototype
A demo you can show. A repo you can continue. A feature you can build on.
Real feedback
From other builders, mentors, and (where possible) target users.
New collaborators
One of the fastest ways to meet potential co-founders and early teammates.
A clear next step
Keep building, join the next Sprint, apply to Founder Catalyst, or plug into deeper support.
SPRINT FORMATS
Different speeds for different people. We're testing what works best in Northern Ireland.
Shipping Sprint
Fast. Focused. High energy. Build a tiny thing and demo it.
Build Sprint
Prototype → feedback → iterate. Great for first-timers.
Full Sprint
Team formation + deeper build + real demo-day energy.
Challenge
For serious momentum: ship something users can actually touch, test, and pay for.
Each Sprint has a theme (AI agents, fintech workflows, creator tools, health, climate, public services) — often tied to Northern Ireland's strengths and partner challenges.
HOW A SPRINT WORKS
BEFORE
- Sign up
- Join the community channel (details emailed)
- Choose a track: builder / research / domain / non-technical
DURING
- Kickoff — problem framing, rules, tools
- Form teams — match skills + domains
- Build — ship fast, get support
- Demo — show what you built (working > pretty)
- Next steps — decide what happens after
AFTER
- Optional follow-on support
- Intros to mentors/partners (when relevant)
- Pathways into programmes (Founder Catalyst, Founder Labs, etc.)
TRACKS
So everyone can contribute.
Builder Track
Engineers and makers. You will ship.
Research Track
Turn research and technical insight into a product direction.
Domain Track
Bring a real problem and help teams build the right solution.
Non-technical Track
Customer discovery, outreach, GTM experiments, storytelling, demos.
THEMES WE CARE ABOUT
Northern Ireland has real edge in sectors being reshaped by AI. Expect Sprints around:
We're not building NI-only companies.
We're building companies that start here and compete everywhere.
CREDITS, PERKS & PARTNER SUPPORT
Some Sprints include:
We'll always prioritise practical help over gimmicks.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A SPRINT?
Sprints are the on-ramp. If you want to go further:
Keep building
Stay connected to the community
Join the next Sprint
Momentum compounds
Apply to Founder Catalyst
A structured 10-week programme for early founders
Progress into acceleration
For teams ready for the next stage
RUN A SPRINT WITH US
If you're a company, university, or organisation with a real challenge — Sprints are a high-signal way to meet builders early and test ideas fast.
Great partners bring:
- A clear problem worth solving
- Mentors who can show up
- Credits/perks/tools that help teams ship
- Optional pilot pathways