WeScale
A three-year initiative to help female founders scale their business strategically and sustainably.
Who it is for
To be eligible for support for the WeScale programme, businesses must:
- Be a women-led or women-founded business.
- Be based on the island of Ireland.
- Be a registered business (pre-revenue applicants are eligible).
- Have less than 250 employees and less than £40m (or euro equivalent) in annual turnover.
- Have a proven business model with demonstrated product-market fit in at least one market.
- Have strong potential for international market expansion.
- Have a scalable and innovation-driven business model.
- Have evidence of sustained growth over three years. Earlier stage, fast-growing companies with clear momentum will also be considered.
Sole traders and social enterprises that satisfy the eligibility criteria are welcome to apply.
Ineligible sectors
Businesses involved in the following sectors are generally not considered eligible for support: Wholesale, retail, distribution, tourism, hospitality, primary agriculture, personal services and professional business services.
Applications from the sectors above may be considered if the business has developed a unique product, system or process that provides additional value to the core business activity.
Businesses involved in practices associated with gambling, health risks or immoral activity or any other activity that may be negatively perceived and bring the reputation of InterTradeIreland into disrepute will not be supported.
Support you can get
WeScale is a three-year scaling initiative supporting one cohort of eighteen women founders each year to scale their business strategically and sustainably. The programme combines world-class learning delivered in collaboration with Cranfield University, bespoke mentoring, and access to corporate and investor networks.
Over its three-year cycle, WeScale will foster a vibrant community of innovative women-led businesses driving growth, investment, and impact across the island of Ireland.
How to apply
Applications will re-open on Wednesday 10 June 2026.
Support organisers
- InterTradeIreland