Want to know more about our support?
Who are start-ups with export potential?
A start‑up with export potential is an early‑stage, ambitious business with a tradeable product or service and a clear plan to scale through job creation and sales outside Northern Ireland, meeting Invest NI’s client definition of the potential of achieving at least 25% sales outside Northern Ireland (or £250k in external sales) and employing at least 10 staff within five years.
What support do we offer for start-ups with export potential?
We also offer a range of financial and advisory support for start-ups with export focused business ideas.
We can help you:
- Develop your strategy
- Develop new product ideas
- Sell outside Northern Ireland
- Manage your people and develop their skills
- Benefit from IT and implement e-commerce systems
- Manage your energy and waste
Our programme support for start-ups with export potential
Ambition to Grow
Ambition to Grow is designed to help ambitious businesses scale, with a focus on job creation, innovation, and external sales growth.
nibusinessinfo.co.uk
nibusinessinfo.co.uk provides guidance to help businesses find new markets, export, and manage customs and compliance requirements.
Export to Grow
Our free Export Health Check is a diagnostic tool designed to help you understand your readiness to sell outside Northern Ireland.
Ambition to Grow – Supporting Women is our targeted growth programme designed to support women led businesses that have clear ambition to scale. It focuses on job creation, business growth, and expansion into new markets, while also strengthening leadership capability and confidence.
What funding is available for start-ups with export potential?
Our start‑up financial support focuses on businesses that plan to sell outside Northern Ireland. As part of our Access to Finance initiative, we offer five funds with a total value of around £170 million to help SMEs with high-growth potential. These funds provide debt and equity investment options to help early‑stage companies’ scale.
NI Small Business Loan Fund III
A loan fund offering unsecured loans to individuals, private companies and social enterprises across micro, small and medium sized businesses.
Investment Fund for Northern Ireland
The fund provides secured and unsecured mezzanine debt finance to SMEs to help them access the capital they need to grow.
Techstart Ventures
A suite of funds supporting Northern Ireland entrepreneurs, early‑stage and seed‑stage SMEs, and university spin‑outs.
Co-Fund NI
An equity fund providing early‑stage and growth capital for SMEs. It typically invests between £150,000 and £2 million in businesses with strong potential to scale.
You may be interested in
- Start a business
Regional Business Network
Our Regional Business Network works directly and indirectly with businesses across Northern Ireland.
- Find new markets
Business Information Centre
Our Business Information Centre provides free access to company databases and market intelligence reports, including sector and country information, to help your business succeed.
Contact us
If you are interested in support for start-ups with export potential, contact our Business Support Team on 0800 181 4422 or complete the enquiry form.