The Irish Stock Exchange, Euronext Dublin, has launched a programme to help business prepare for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).

Its IPOready scheme is a financing programme for high-growth companies, exploring fundraising options up to and including IPOs.

It was launched on Thursday, with 14 companies beginning the 10-month long programme.

They include firms in the technology, food and media sectors such as Cubic Telecom, HealthBeacon, O’Brien Fine Foods, Camile Thai and NewsWhip.

Euronext Dublin says the objective is to equip them with an in-depth understanding of all sources of finance available to them - and determine which is most suited to their needs.

On completion, those involved will have the skills "to get their business investment ready, refine their pitch for investors and form a valuable network of peers, advisors and investors."

Now in its third year, the Euronext Dublin programme is supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).

At the launch of Euronext Dublin's 2019 IPOready programme is (left to right) Adam Bohill, Niall Jones and Orla O'Gorman from Euronext | Image: Orla Murray

For the first time this year, participants in the technology sector have the opportunity to join Euronext Group's TechShare programme and network with European entrepreneurs.

TechShare is a pan-European programme designed to support tech companies in their knowledge of the financial markets.

Orla O'Gorman is head of listings at Euronext Dublin.

"It is great to see so many ambitious companies in our IPOready 2019 cohort.

"Previous graduates of this programme have benefitted enormously from their participation, acquiring the necessary skills to determine which funding option is the right one for their business and how to engage with the investment community.

"This year is particularly exciting for us, as the 10 participating technology companies are invited to join other scaling pan-European technology companies at Euronext's renowned TechShare programme".

Euronext is a pan-European exchange in the Eurozone - covering Belgium, France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal and the UK.

The Norwegian stock exchange joined Euronext in June.

The group has around 1,500 listed issuers worth €4.1tn in market capitalisation as of the end of July.