Growth Fund
Supporting social innovations that achieve widespread impact, significant scale and transformative change in Ireland.
Through the Growth Fund, Rethink Ireland provides bespoke support to social innovations that are ready to secure significant growth capital to grow and deepen their impact over several years.
Applications to the Growth Fund are open to existing Rethink Ireland Awardees who meet the criteria. Successful applicants partner with Rethink Ireland’s Business Development Team to secure private funds for an agreed growth capital fundraising target. If this is achieved, Rethink Ireland then provides an uplift on the capital secured and assigns a dedicated team to support the organisation to achieve targets for scale and impact.
Awardees
TRINITY CENTRE FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES (2020)
The Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities (TCPID) is the fifth organisation to receive investment from the Rethink Ireland Growth Fund. TCPID have been awarded €540,000 in growth capital as they aim to create nationwide opportunities for people with ID to access high-quality programmes, providing real pathways to education and employment. The growth capital is broken down into cash grants and non-financial supports to deliver their goals and targets for the investment period.
The investment is supported by TCPID partners with match funding from the Growth Fund. The Growth Fund is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development from the Dormant Accounts Fund. It invests in established social innovations that have completed a six-month Accelerator Programme and are ready to secure significant growth capital to achieve significant scale and deepen their impact.
The funding is being used to grow their team to explore additional services and to scale their model through a national forum, expanding their reach across the country.
TRINITY ACCESS 21 (2020)
Trinity Access 21 is the fourth organisation to receive investment from the Rethink Ireland Growth Fund. Trinity Access 21 have been awarded over €2.115m in growth capital as they aim to work with over 2,000 teachers across 80 schools to assist 40,000 students to progress to college and reach their full potential. The growth capital is broken down into cash grants and non-financial supports to deliver their goals and targets for the investment period.
The investment is supported by Trinity Access 21 partners with match funding from the Growth Fund. The Growth Fund is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development from the Dormant Accounts Fund. It invests in established social innovations that have completed a six-month Accelerator Programme and are ready to secure significant growth capital to achieve significant scale and deepen their impact.
The funding is being used to continue to provide an innovative university-led school outreach programme that empowers students and strengthens “college-going” cultures in DEIS schools.
SENSATIONAL KIDS (2020)
Sensational Kids is the third organisation to receive investment from the Rethink Ireland Growth Fund. Sensational Kids have been awarded €580,000 in growth capital as they aim to provide 12,000 therapy supports to 2,000 children in 2021, helping them to reach their full potential. The growth capital is broken down into cash grants and non-financial supports to deliver their goals and targets for the investment period.
The investment is supported by Sensational Kids partners with match funding from the Growth Fund. The Growth Fund is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development from the Dormant Accounts Fund. It invests in established social innovations that have completed a six-month Accelerator Programme and are ready to secure significant growth capital to achieve significant scale and deepen their impact.
The funding is being used to continue to provide timely, affordable support to children with additional needs.
GIY (2020)
GIY is the second organisation to receive investment from the Rethink Ireland Growth Fund. GIY have been awarded €1.27m in growth capital as they aim to reach 1,000,000 people and increase their income to €2.5m by the end of 2021. The growth capital is broken down into cash grants and non-financial supports to deliver their goals and targets for the investment period.
The Growth Fund is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development from the Dormant Accounts Fund. It invests in established social innovations that have completed a six-month Accelerator Programme and are ready to secure significant growth capital to achieve significant scale and deepen their impact.
The funding is being used to invest in GIY’s team as they look to increase their sales through their retail products and deliver their online content to more food growers in Ireland.
FOODCLOUD (2018)
FoodCloud is the first organisation to receive investment from the Rethink Ireland Growth Fund. FoodCloud aims to double its impact over the next three years. The growth capital awarded is broken down into cash grants and non-financial supports to deliver their goals and targets for the investment period.
This investment is supported by AIB with match funding from the Growth Fund. The Growth Fund is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development from the Dormant Accounts Fund. It invests in established social innovations that have completed a six-month Accelerator Programme and are ready to secure significant growth capital to achieve significant scale and deepen their impact.
The funding is being used to invest in the further development of FoodCloud’s bespoke technology platform, the expansion of FoodCloud Hubs, and the development of new services to support the redistribution of surplus food.
