Applications for ACORNS 12 are now officially open, giving early-stage women founders in rural Ireland a fresh opportunity to grow their businesses with expert peer support. Announced on gov.ie by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD, the latest ACORNS cycle is aimed at helping rural female entrepreneurs build confidence, increase revenues and create jobs in local communities.
The new call, backed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will remain open until midnight on Friday, September 18, 2026. The programme will run from October 2026 to April 2027.
ACORNS 12 opens applications on gov.ie
ACORNS 12 — short for Accelerating the Creation of Rural Nascent Start-ups — is now in its 12th year and continues to be one of Ireland’s best-known supports for women starting businesses outside the main cities. Funded through the Rural Innovation and Development Fund, the initiative focuses on practical learning through peer round tables led by experienced entrepreneurs.
Minister Heydon said the programme has been supported by his department for more than a decade and has already helped over 600 women in rural Ireland complete an ACORNS cycle. He highlighted its role in addressing the real barriers women can face when launching a business, especially in smaller towns and rural areas where access to networks and tailored support can be more limited.
The initiative also aligns with wider state enterprise and regional development goals often reflected across public bodies such as Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Local Government and Heritage, Social Protection and Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
What the programme includes
- Six monthly round-table sessions
- Guidance from voluntary Lead Entrepreneurs
- Briefings from development agencies
- An end-of-cycle celebration event
- No participation fee for successful applicants
Participants first register interest through the ACORNS website and then receive an application form by email.
Read more: latest Ireland government supports for small business and rural communities
Why ACORNS 12 matters for rural business growth
The results from the previous cycle show why ACORNS 12 is likely to attract strong interest. According to the latest figures, all 53 women who completed ACORNS 11 said they would recommend the programme. Nearly all participants reported feeling closer to their business goals, while a large majority said the experience led to practical changes inside their companies.
The economic impact was equally notable:
- Nine businesses started trading for the first time during the cycle
- Combined annual turnover increased from €4.1 million to almost €6 million
- Employment rose by 59, bringing the total to 134 jobs
- Four participants became new exporters
These outcomes underline the value of structured mentoring and peer learning in rural enterprise development, particularly at a time when Finance, Agriculture, Transport and regional employment remain key policy priorities across Ireland.
Explore more: breaking Irish news on enterprise, agriculture and public policy | in-depth features on Irish business growth, leadership and innovation
Who can apply for ACORNS 12?
Eligibility for ACORNS 12 is focused on women in rural Ireland who are either already trading or are well advanced in launching a business.
Main eligibility criteria
- You must own or part-own the business
- You must live outside the administrative city boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford
- Your business must have generated sales no earlier than the end of June 2023, or you must be actively progressing a start-up
- You must expect to become an employer within three years
- You must be available for the launch forum and first round table session on October 19 and 20, 2026
Up to 50 places are available in the coming cycle.
Conclusion
ACORNS 12 is more than a business support programme — it is a practical pathway for women in rural Ireland to turn ideas into sustainable enterprises. With applications now open on gov.ie, eligible founders should act early before the September deadline if they want access to one of the country’s most proven peer-learning networks for rural entrepreneurship.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
