WeBuild Programme: 50+ Women-Led Ventures and How to Apply

What is the WeBuild programme? It is a free, four-month, part-time pre-accelerator for women building technology products anywhere on the island of Ireland, led by InterTradeIreland and delivered by TechFoundHer. More than 50 women-led ventures have taken part, and Cohort 4 applications close at 12 noon on 30 October 2026.

The milestone, announced on 23 September 2026, comes less than a year after the first cohort began. The programme is paid for through the Government of Ireland's Shared Island Fund, and its next intake of 25 founders starts in January 2027. For people working on digital health and life science tools, one graduate, a clinician building a platform that flags early heart, kidney and metabolic risk, shows how the model reaches well beyond software startups.

Apply for WeBuild Cohort 4 on InterTradeIreland
Applications close at 12 noon on Friday 30 October 2026.

WeBuild Reaches 50 Women-Led Ventures

WeBuild announced on 23 September 2026 that more than 50 women-led ventures have now come through the programme, which helps founders move from a working idea to a technology-enabled business. According to the announcement, participants have used it to develop products, secure funding, validate markets and build investor and business networks (Sync NI, News Letter).

The figure matters because WeBuild is still young. TechFoundHer was appointed to deliver it in November 2025, with a first cohort starting in January 2026 and an ambition to support 150 women entrepreneurs over three years (TechFoundHer). Demand was visible early: the first cohort attracted more than 90 applications, and a second intake opened in March 2026 (TechBuzz Ireland).

Who Runs WeBuild and How It Is Funded

WeBuild is a cross-border programme by design. It is led by InterTradeIreland in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland, and is part of the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme, which is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Shared Island Fund. Delivery is handled by TechFoundHer, a women in tech organisation founded in Dublin in 2024 and launched in Belfast the same year.

The wider scheme is worth 30 million euro and is run jointly by the three agencies. Of that, 20 million euro goes to a Shared Island Sustainability Capital Grant (10 million euro in each jurisdiction), with the remainder supporting women's entrepreneurship and business clustering (Enterprise Ireland). The specific budget for WeBuild has not been disclosed.

WeBuild also sits within a broader set of women's entrepreneurship supports. In September 2024 InterTradeIreland introduced eight new programmes under the same scheme, including an earlier TechFoundHer initiative, Innovation Labs 1, alongside programmes from Women in Business and Network Ireland, AwakenHub, Alinea and AwakenAngels (InterTradeIreland).

How the WeBuild Programme Works

InterTradeIreland describes WeBuild as a founder-led, all-island programme that combines AI-powered tools, practical frameworks and expert insight. It is a four-month, part-time hybrid programme delivered primarily online: a 12-week core sprint, followed by an investor readiness phase in the fourth month (InterTradeIreland).

Five in-person days are built into the sprint: all-day labs in Dublin, and a two-day Residential Build Lab in Belfast, with accommodation for the first night included. Around them sit weekly online masterclasses and group mentoring on product development, AI integration, customer traction and funding, plus one-to-one and small-group mentoring from experienced product designers, software engineers and tech founders. The investor readiness lab in month four is delivered by Awaken Angels. After the programme, founders keep access to The Collective and the TechFoundHer alumni network. There is no cost to participate.

WeBuild is planned as six cohorts in total, concluding in 2028. At 25 places per cohort, that matches the stated goal of 150 women founders.

Cohort 4 Week-by-Week Schedule

InterTradeIreland has published the full Cohort 4 schedule. Online weeks are masterclasses, and the five in-person days, marked below, are mandatory.

Note on Week 7: InterTradeIreland's published schedule lists a second two-day Belfast lab for this week, but with the dates 26 and 27 February 2026, which appear to be carried over from an earlier cohort, and the programme is described as having five in-person days. Applicants should confirm Week 7 with InterTradeIreland before planning travel. InterTradeIreland notes that topic details may change slightly but the in-person mandatory dates are confirmed.

What Founders Work Towards

By the end of the programme, InterTradeIreland says participants should have:

• moved their product from an early prototype or MVP to a validated version with a clear roadmap;
• a detailed technology and product roadmap setting out technical milestones, testing priorities, commercialisation steps and a scale plan;
• tested and iterated their MVP using structured feedback frameworks;
• built or refined their product in hands-on Build Labs using generative AI and no-code tools;
• a defined revenue model and growth strategy;
• explored funding options and strengthened their investor readiness with a refined pitch;
• adopted AI and data-driven workflows in product design, operations and customer engagement;
• joined a network of women founders, engineers, designers and investors across the island and beyond.

Who Can Apply? WeBuild Eligibility

The WeBuild programme is open to women founders and entrepreneurs anywhere on the island of Ireland. According to InterTradeIreland, applicants should:

• have identified a significant problem with global potential;
• be past the idea stage, already prototyping, testing or building;
• be developing a product or platform where technology plays a central role;
• have evidence of early market validation or proof of concept.

Innovators developing new tech products inside existing businesses are also welcome, which could include teams within established pharma, medtech or diagnostics companies. Coding ability is not listed as a requirement.

Founder Stories: FreQNC and HeartPath

The announcement highlighted two graduates whose businesses show the range of what "tech-enabled" can mean.

Rachel McMullin, from Co Down, founded FreQNC, a platform that helps teams identify workload pressure and delivery risk. She described the programme's effect in concrete terms:

"The impact has been transformational. During the programme, we secured successful funding support after previous unsuccessful applications, developed a high-fidelity MVP, began investor conversations and validated through engineering leader interviews that teams consistently lack reliable systems to detect overload before delivery risk materialises." - Rachel McMullin, founder, FreQNC

Karen Kelly, from Kildare, founded HeartPath, a digital health platform designed to help people spot early risks of heart, kidney and metabolic conditions. Her account will resonate with clinicians and scientists who have a problem in mind but no startup background:

"WeBuild has been one of the most impactful professional experiences I have had. As a clinician and founder, I entered the programme with a clear understanding of the problem I wanted to solve but limited experience navigating the technology startup ecosystem. WeBuild provided the knowledge, tools, mentorship and confidence to begin turning that vision into reality." - Karen Kelly, founder, HeartPath

Why WeBuild Suits Health and Life Science Founders

Much of the innovation in Irish life sciences starts with people who know a clinical or scientific problem intimately but have never built a software product. HeartPath is a clear example of that profile. Because WeBuild's criteria do not restrict sector, digital health founders are eligible on the same terms as any other tech founder. Founders validating a health product may also want to see which clinical trials are running in Ireland in their therapeutic area.

TechFoundHer founder Máirín Murray has repeatedly argued that coding ability is no longer the barrier it was:

"You don't need to be a coder to be a tech founder. You need a strong problem to solve, a clear vision and the ambition to build. The tools available now mean founders can move from idea to product faster than ever before, even if they haven't come from a traditional technical background." - Máirín Murray, founder, TechFoundHer

A practical caveat for anyone building in regulated health: a pre-accelerator helps with product, commercial model and investor readiness, but a tool that makes health claims may also need to consider medical device regulation. That is outside WeBuild's stated scope, so founders in this space should plan for regulatory advice separately.

What InterTradeIreland and TechFoundHer Say

Barbara Orr, Director of Enterprise Development at InterTradeIreland, framed the programme as part of a wider economic case:

"Women entrepreneurs are making an increasingly important contribution to innovation and business growth across the island. WeBuild is helping ambitious founders develop the skills, confidence, networks and capabilities needed to build and scale technology-enabled businesses." - Barbara Orr, InterTradeIreland

Murray pointed to the 50-venture milestone as evidence that the talent pipeline already exists, and that the gap is access: "The challenge now is making sure women have access to the infrastructure, technical support, community and networks that help them turn that ambition into technology businesses."

How WeBuild Compares With Other Women Founder Programmes in Ireland

WeBuild is one of several supports for women building technology companies in Ireland. Which one fits depends on stage and on what a founder needs next: help building the product, preparation for investors, or grant funding. The table compares four options using each programme's own published terms.

The programmes can be complementary rather than competing. WeBuild and the NDRC Pre-Accelerator suit founders who are still building and validating a product, NextWave is aimed at founders preparing to raise pre-seed or seed investment, and Women TechEU is a grant route for deep tech companies (check current country eligibility on its site). For the funding side, see our guide to Irish startup funding and our overview of Enterprise Ireland founder supports.

Key Dates and How to Apply

1. Join the online information webinar, hosted by TechFoundHer, on Thursday 1 October 2026 from 11:00am to 12:00pm (optional, but recommended by InterTradeIreland).
2. Check that you meet the eligibility criteria above, including evidence of early validation.
3. Apply through the InterTradeIreland WeBuild page before 12 noon on Friday 30 October 2026.
4. If selected, Cohort 4 begins on 4 January 2027. The core sprint ends on 22 March and the investor readiness lab takes place on 8 April 2027.

Apply now on the InterTradeIreland WeBuild page

Questions about the programme can go to InterTradeIreland on 028 3083 4100 (048 3083 4100 from Ireland) or info@intertradeireland.com.

In the same week as the announcement, TechFoundHer also hosted showcase events in Dublin and Belfast, with founders speaking about their experience. The Dublin event included a keynote from Kelly Vero, whose career includes work on Tomb Raider and Halo 3, on using AI and emerging technologies to build products.

Mistakes to Avoid When Applying

1. Applying at the idea stage. The programme expects founders to be past the idea stage and already prototyping, testing or building.
2. Arriving without evidence of validation. Applicants are expected to show early market validation or proof of concept, so gather that evidence before you apply.
3. Missing the cut-off time. Applications close at 12 noon on 30 October 2026, not at midnight.
4. Treating a health product like any other app. Tools that make health claims may fall under medical device rules, which are outside WeBuild's scope. Plan for specialist regulatory advice alongside the programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply to WeBuild?

Women founders and entrepreneurs anywhere on the island of Ireland who are past the idea stage and are prototyping, testing or building a product where technology is central. Evidence of early market validation or proof of concept is expected. Innovators building new tech products inside existing businesses can also apply.

Does WeBuild cost anything?

No. The programme is funded through the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme and there is no cost to participate.

Do I need to know how to code?

Coding is not listed as a requirement. The programme includes training in generative AI and no-code tools, and its founder has said you do not need to be a coder to be a tech founder.

How long does the programme last?

Four months in total: a 12-week part-time core programme, followed by an investor readiness phase in the fourth month. For Cohort 4 the core runs from 4 January to 22 March 2027, with the investor readiness lab on 8 April 2027.

What is the difference between WeBuild and NextWave?

WeBuild is a free pre-accelerator for women who are building and validating a tech product. NextWave is Enterprise Ireland's 10-week national women founders accelerator for high-potential founders seeking pre-seed to seed investment. Founders at an earlier product stage generally fit WeBuild; those preparing to raise investment fit NextWave.

Can a digital health or life science startup apply?

The eligibility criteria are not limited by sector, and one of the programme's highlighted graduates, HeartPath, is a digital health platform founded by a clinician. Any product making health claims may also need separate regulatory advice.

How many places are there?

Each cohort has 25 places. Six cohorts are planned in total, concluding in 2028.

Do I have to attend in person?

Yes, on five days. Most of the programme is online, but the in-person days are mandatory: all-day labs in Dublin on 22 January, 5 March and 8 April 2027, and a two-day Residential Build Lab in Belfast on 4 and 5 February 2027, with the first night's accommodation included.

Outlook

Passing 50 ventures less than a year after its first cohort puts WeBuild roughly a third of the way to its stated goal of 150 women entrepreneurs over three years. The more telling test will come later: how many of these ventures raise investment, hire staff and reach customers beyond the island. For women in health, life science and adjacent fields with a validated problem and an early product, the next cohort is a free, structured route into that journey, provided they apply before 30 October.

Founders who have been through WeBuild or a similar programme are welcome to share their founder story with Priya Life Science readers.

Sources

• Press release issued by Entrepreneurs Unleashed on behalf of TechFoundHer, as published by Sync NI and the News Letter, 23 September 2026
• InterTradeIreland: WeBuild programme page
• TechFoundHer: appointment to deliver WeBuild, 24 November 2025
• TechBuzz Ireland, 10 March 2026
• Enterprise Ireland: Shared Island Enterprise Scheme
• InterTradeIreland: eight new women's entrepreneurship programmes, 17 September 2024
• Enterprise Ireland: NextWave, National Women Founders Accelerator
• NDRC: Pre-Accelerator
• European Innovation Council: Women TechEU, 12 June 2026

Cover image: WeBuild Cohort 4 promotional graphic, TechFoundHer and InterTradeIreland.