Accelerate Green Grow showcases commitment to green business

A programme to foster innovation in the field of sustainability has been hailed as a “drive environmental progress across the economy”.

The Accelerate Green Grow Programme is an initiative launched by Bord na Móna, aimed at supporting early-stage enterprises and SMEs in scaling sustainability-driven businesses.

Participants engage in a series of immersive learning sessions led by industry leaders and successful business representatives, focusing on collaboration and strategic growth.

The Accelerate Green programme has been successfully completed by 60 Irish businesses since it first came into being. In that time it has contributed 704 jobs to the Irish economy.

Nine of Ireland’s leading green innovators have successfully completed BnM’s 2025 Accelerate Green Grow programme, which culminated with a showcase at the Accelerate Green Conference 2025 at the Tullamore Court Hotel.

Delivered by BnM in conjunction with Resolve Partners, the Accelerate Green programme is a flagship accelerator supporting early-stage enterprises and SMEs at the forefront of climate action and sustainability.

This year’s Accelerate Green Grow cohort includes nine innovative companies from across Ireland: Easydry, Circular Food Co, BioSense, Watt Footprint, Plaswire, The Planted Way, Novelplast, JTM Energy, and Pulse Market.

Together, they represent a diverse range of sectors, from foodtech and sustainable hospitality to the circular economy, biodiversity, renewable energy storage, and sustainability-focused software. Each is delivering distinctive green solutions that address evolving business and environmental needs.

Since the launch of the 2025 Accelerate Green Grow programme in January, the nine participating businesses have taken part in an eight-module series of intensive workshops and mentoring sessions.

These engagements connected them with leaders from enterprise and energy agencies, Irish-founded companies, research networks, and the investment community.

Participants also benefited from tailored networking and business development opportunities through direct engagement with senior leaders across BnM.

This year’s nine participants join 51 alumni who have previously completed the Accelerate Green programmes, bringing the total number of supported sustainable Irish businesses to 60 since its launch in 2022.

Collectively, the companies have shown remarkable growth and resilience, many have expanded operations, entered new markets, and secured significant investment and most importantly contributing to the Irish economy with more than 700 jobs.

Feedback from last year’s cohort highlights the lasting impact of the Accelerate Green programme. Over the last 12 months, six out of eight participants reported increased confidence in their leadership and strategic direction, while all eight secured new commercial opportunities or contracts following completion.

Peer-to-peer support continues to be a key strength, with every alumnus remaining active in the network, through mentorship, collaboration, or continued engagement with fellow participants.

Notably, five of the eight businesses have since expanded into new sectors or markets, both regionally and internationally.

These results underscore the programme’s value not only as a catalyst for innovation, but as a long-term growth partner for early-stage and scaling companies at the intersection of enterprise and sustainability.

The Accelerate Green Conference 2025, themed Energy and Policy, is the fourth instalment of the conference and brought together more than 250 attendees who are passionate about sustainability, strengthening Ireland’s energy resilience and advancing innovation.

During the conference, the nine participating businesses of the 2025 Accelerate Green Grow programme showcased their innovative business solutions to a national audience. Keynote addresses included BnM chief executive Tom Donnellan, along with Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O’Brien, TD, and global expert and financier in energy transition, Gerard Reid.

Mr Donnellan said: “It’s a privilege to welcome nine new companies into our Accelerate Green alumni network, with each bringing fresh ideas, energy, and ambition to Ireland’s growing sustainability sector.

“Since launching the programme in 2022, we’ve seen first-hand how powerful it can be in helping early-stage and scaling businesses gain the confidence, insights, and connections to take their next big step.

He said the programme plays an important role in developing environmental projects: “As a company that has undergone a major transformation, BnM is now established as a renewable energy leader in the Irish market. We understand the challenges and opportunities that come with meaningful change,” he said.

Minister O'Brien commended the participants: “Supporting innovative, sustainability-led enterprises like these is central to Ireland’s climate and energy transition.

“Each of these companies is making a valuable contribution, whether through biodiversity, cleantech, the circular economy, or greener consumer solutions.

“Programmes like Accelerate Green are essential to helping early-stage businesses grow, collaborate, and drive environmental progress across the economy,” he concluded.

* Watt Footprint is based in Mullingar, and Circular Food Co is run by south Westmeath siblings Ruairi and Niamh Dooley, and based on Church Road, Tullamore.