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PARTNER WITH US

Back the next generation of Northern Irish founders.

Techstars Belfast gives corporates, investors and universities a structured, founder-first way to build relationships with the builders, researchers and operators shaping the next decade — before anyone else does.

Book an intro call

10,000+ founders in the global Techstars network

$130.6B+ market cap of Techstars companies

150+ countries represented

WHY PARTNER WITH US

For corporates

Early talent pipeline. Pre-IPO startup access. Credible AI-native positioning your customers and recruits will notice.

For investors

Deal flow at the earliest possible stage. Curated intros. Co-invest signals from a global Techstars network.

For universities & public sector

Translate research into commercial outcomes. Deliver entrepreneurship outputs that funders can measure.

WAYS TO PARTNER

Three tiers. Pick the level of involvement that fits — start small, scale what works. Tap a tier to expand.

Entry tier

Event Partner

Single-event sponsorship, mentor slots, brand on materials. The fastest way to start working with us.

Good event formats

  • Founder Night (short talks + networking)
  • AMA / Fireside (operator-led, candid)
  • Masterclass (practical, hands-on)
  • Demo Night (teams show what they shipped)
  • Partner workshop (tools + use-cases + credits)

What you bring

  • A great speaker (or two)
  • A practical topic founders actually need
  • Optional: space, food, travel support, or tools/credits

What you get

  • Brand trust with founders (earned, not forced)
  • High-signal relationship building
  • Optional: recruiting/talent visibility
  • Content capture (photos, clips, recap) if you want it

Founder-first rule: we keep the content practical. No sales pitches. If it's a product session, it must help founders ship.

Mid tier

Sprint Partner

Sponsor a themed Sprint, set the challenge, meet teams, optional pilot pathway.

Sprint partner options

Challenge Sprint "Here's a real problem. Build the best approach."
Tooling Sprint Enable teams with credits + templates + mentors
Industry Sprint Target a local strength (fintech, legal/regtech, creative industries, health, manufacturing)
AI Agent Sprint Practical agentic workflows, automation, integration

What you bring

Input
  • A clear problem statement (or build theme)
  • Mentors who can show up and help teams unblock
  • Optional: credits/perks/prizes/pilot pathway

What you get

Output
  • Early access to builders and teams
  • Fresh ideas and prototypes against real problems
  • Brand association with "shipping culture"
  • Optional: pilot conversations with the best teams
Top tier

Founding Partner

Year-round presence, priority on Sprint themes, named on partner wall, quarterly founder access sessions, full calendar access.

Important: we do not sell founder access in a way that breaks trust. This stays founder-first.

PARTNER FIT

WHAT MAKES A GREAT PARTNER

We build best with teams who show up, share, and play long-term. If this feels true, we should talk.

You believe in our #givefirst mantra
Want to help founders ship (not just "be associated")
Can bring mentors/operators who are practical
Are willing to show up consistently
Care about AI-era company building (speed, modern tooling, real demos)

HOW IT WORKS

01

Intro call

30 mins — goals, audience, what you want to achieve

02

Choose a tier

Event / Sprint / Founding Partner (or a mix)

03

Design the activation

Topic/theme, roles, what founders get

04

Deliver

We run tight ops; you bring the value

05

Measure + iterate

Attendance, engagement, output, next steps

READY TO TALK?

Tell us what you want to do and we'll propose the best format. 30 minutes, no slides.

Book an intro call

FAQ

Is this just Belfast?

Belfast is the hub, but we're building a NI-wide network in practice.

Can we run something in Derry / elsewhere?

Yes — if it's founder-first and we can deliver it properly.

Can we pitch at founders?

No. You can teach, mentor, and support shipping. Founders can smell sales decks a mile away.

What's the quickest way to start?

Co-host one event or sponsor one Sprint theme. Then scale what works.