New era begins: Belfast’s Ormeau Baths becomes Ormeau Labs

Ormeau Baths, the respected hub of startup innovation and collaboration in Belfast, has announced its transformation into Ormeau Labs.

Marking a significant milestone in its journey as a hub for groundbreaking technologies and entrepreneurial spirit.

Founded in 2015, Ormeau Baths is an entrepreneurial campus located in a former Victorian Bathhouse in Belfast city centre which supports tech startups in Northern Ireland by helping them gain access to the skills, networks, funding and expertise needed to succeed in global markets.

The decision to rebrand to Ormeau Labs reflects its commitment to evolving as a dynamic centre for innovation, research, and technology.

Claire Halliday, co-founder and general manager of Ormeau Labs, said: “While our ethos remains deeply rooted in facilitating connections and nurturing talent, our new identity underscores our dedication to pushing the boundaries of innovation further.

“Ormeau Labs has evolved beyond its origins as a co-workspace; it has increasingly become a leading force in the delivery of programming, support, and resources aimed at empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and startups.

"Our expanded scope encompasses a diverse range of initiatives, including accelerator programs, hackathons, workshops, and industry partnerships.”

Earlier this year, Economy Minister Conor Murphy announced that Ormeau Labs, in partnership with Dogpatch Labs in Dublin, The AMP in Londonderry and Queen’s University Belfast will be delivering a new accelerator programme called Founder Labs, designed to help early-stage technology startups. The accelerator launched this week.

Ormeau Labs is a founder member of the Irish Tech Hub Network (ITHN), a network of six community-led and entrepreneurial driven hubs from Ireland and Northern Ireland with a mission to drive ecosystem connectedness through the sharing of knowledge and resources, to help to make Ireland a true island of innovation. Ormeau Labs and Dogpatch also run HBAN 2.0, Enterprise Ireland and InterTrade Ireland’s all-island angel investment network, supported by the network.

Ormeau Labs is supported by a number of high-profile global tech leaders with connections to Northern Ireland.

One of its original investors Sarah Friar, CFO of OpenAI, explained: “Investing in Ormeau Baths was a step towards accelerating innovation in Northern Ireland. Now, as we transition into Ormeau Labs, we strive to further spur creativity, connection and growth. Our mission is clear: to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to pioneer meaningful advancements, not only in N.Ireland, but beyond."

David Singleton, CTO of financial infrastructure platform Stripe, continued: “The decision to invest in Ormeau Baths was driven by a need for entrepreneurs in Belfast to have a space to come together and share ideas—and to repurpose a historically significant space in the heart of the city. The next phase of Ormeau Labs will carry this founding vision even further, helping entrepreneurs transform their ideas into global businesses that showcase the untapped potential of Belfast."

Ormeau Labs will continue to serve as a vibrant ecosystem where entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses converge to exchange ideas, cultivate creativity, and drive technological advancements across various sectors.

Claire added: “Our mission remains unchanged: to empower individuals and organisations to pursue their boldest ideas, transform concepts into reality, and make meaningful contributions to society. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and look forward to continuing our journey of innovation, collaboration, and discovery under the banner of Ormeau Labs."