This week the CEOs of 11 Irish software companies are converging at Microsoft’s Silicon Valley campus. They’re here on an Enterprise Ireland-supported visit to learn how to broaden their business opportunities in the US by leveraging their relationship with Microsoft.
They represent the best of Irish software innovation, offering solutions for a range of applications that include telecommunications/mobile, social media/networking, e-learning/education, energy efficiency, financial services and information security.
Participant companies are already part of Microsoft’s BizSpark™ program or the Microsoft Partner Network and are interested in growing their business through export and expansion.
The pilot program is the second of its kind and an important initiative between Microsoft and Enterprise Ireland (EI) – part of EI’s overall strategy to grow the country’s software industry. A similar program aimed at the UK market generated some valuable connections and lucrative leads for participating companies.
This targeted approach, geared to accelerate the growth of high-potential software start-ups and early stage ISVs, aims to foster connections with potential partners, customers and investors.
For some of the innovators, the route to market is direct; for others, going global means navigating an indirect or electronic channel. But for all of them, success depends on identifying suitable strategic partners, negotiating effective partnership arrangements and managing third-party relationships – as quickly as possible.
