Big Data – SAP Startup Focus Program
Posted by Andrew Peet on 25 July, 2012 in Cloud Computing | Dublin | Event | Ireland - (Be the first to comment)

SAP - The Best-Run Businesses Run SAP

SAP Startup Focus Program – Big Data

Enterprise Ireland’s Global Sourcing team see this as a good opportunity for companies to work closely with SAP to enhance their products. SAP’s new database technology SAP HANA, is in essence a tool for companies needing to manipulate large volumes of data at speed.

If you want your products to conquer big data, enable your customers run faster and make smarter decisions then the SAP Startup Focus Program could be a great opportunity to enhance your products with SAP HANA in-memory technologies and make your products run hundred thousand times faster.

Why join?

If you are a startup or a company with revenue under 40M and you have a product that could benefit from in-memory technologies then join the program and get up to 65K in licenses, IP and supporting activities to build a proof of concept.

SAP is one of the top brands in the world. Based on how compelling is the proof of concept further opportunities could include co-branded positioning, demand generation and general awareness. We will be actively recommending most promising startups to SAP Ventures.

How do I start?

Come to our first SAP Startup Focus Forum, an event where you can present your products, discuss big data trends, learn how in-memory technologies can make a difference for you and explore support options and funding opportunities for your startup.

When: September 6th 2012 from 9:00 –18:00

Where: SAP AppHaus, Waterside, Kingswood Avenue, City West Business Campus, Dublin 24.

Cost: No charge to attend, exhibit and present.

Contact us to register: E-mail, LinkedIn Page, Web

What happens next?

From the forum, six to ten promising firms will be invited to join a development accelerator. The objective is to help you to build a Proof of Concept and, eventually, a product with explicit business value. Startups are selected based on desirability, feasibility and viability of their products.

The accelerator kicks off with an intensive boot camp on SAP HANA development topics. Once development is underway, we support participants with regular architecture reviews, technical support and consulting. We offer scheduled ‘office hours’ for technical teams to dial-in, an inclusive network of HANA experts and a private community to discuss challenges and share experiences.

The SAP Startup Focus is working closely with SAP Ventures to identify and cultivate groundbreaking startups who can deliver high quality solutions to real-world problems using HANA. While the Startup Focus does not fund startups (other than with program support) and participation in the program does not guarantee venture funding, the program will actively be recommending promising startups to SAP Ventures.

Learn more about SAP In Memory technologies and SAP HANA success stories:

https://www.experiencesaphana.com/

 

Andrei Grigoriev

SAP Startup Focus Manager for Ireland

Call to Action Diploma in Product Management
Posted by Andrew Peet on 23 July, 2012 in Software - (Be the first to comment)

International research suggests that just 10% of Product Managers have received formal training in the function, the question is, are you or your team part of the 90% who haven’t?

The ISA Software Skillnet Postgraduate Diploma in Product Management designed and delivered by Dublin Institute of Technology provides the knowledge and skills required for effective performance in the role. As practicing product managers will attest, the job demands in-depth expertise in range of disciplinary areas. The postgraduate diploma delivers highly relevant and immediately applicable learning in areas such as; designing optimal business models, crafting robust business cases, developing processes fit to the needs of agile environments and honing skills in team leadership and negotiation.

There’s only a few places left on this exciting programme which starts in October. Applications are on a first come first served basis so early application is advisable.

To apply for the programme, visit the ISA Software Skillnet at www.isa-skillnet.com or contact Susan Kelly at 086-806-7200/susan@isa-skillnet.com

Some feedback from last year’s programme:

Each module involves the completion of a company-based assignment. This drives application of programme learning, delivering an immediate return on investment for participating companies. Assignments facilitate more efficient engagement across functional areas, thus supporting a central feature of the product manager’s role. Mossy O’Mahony, Product Manager, Newsweaver

The course offers a comprehensive view of product management that is thoroughly grounded in business reality. I highly recommend it to practicing product managers and to anyone with an interest in how to build great products that customers love. Emmett Murphy, Product Manager, Avego.


I believe the programme will become a key certification for any software product manager working in Ireland and beyond. Jason Cooke, VP Product Management, MoneyMate


The Business Case module has given me the confidence to engage with investors and provoked critical questions at board level about our target audience and pricing model. Liam Cronin, Co-founder, Right-to-Sight Technology


Prior to the course my role was as ‘defined by me.’ It is now to a great extent being enhanced by the content we are exposed to on the programme. John Fleming, Founder, TripCrystal


I lead FINEOS’ Technology Architecture to ensure our products are delivered on a market-leading platform. The programme has helped me learn how structured tools can be applied to my product development role within the company. It has helped me to take a more strategic view and enabled me deliver greater value. Michael Quinn, Chief Technology Architect, FINEOS

Microsoft WPC 12 Toronto – 10 reasons why you should meet us on the stand
Posted by Paul Browne on 11 July, 2012 in Canada | Cloud Computing | Conference | Microsoft | US - (1 Comments)
Ireland@MicrosoftWPC2012

 

Enterprise Ireland, the Trade, Technology and VC agency of the Irish Government, will host the Ireland@MicrosoftWPC2012 booth, showcasing some of Ireland’s most innovative Microsoft platform vendor solutions. Enterprise Ireland, through a global network of 32 offices, including four in North America, works with Irish Software companies to identify channel partners, end-customers and creates technology partnerships across multiple platforms. Enterprise Ireland is the Microsoft Bizspark partner in Ireland.

Microsoft’s annual Worldwide Partner Conference. Gain insights into Microsoft’s business and technology roadmap for 2012, learn how to expand your possibilities with Cloud services, Windows® 7, Windows Phone and experience the latest in solution innovations.

These Irish companies (below) will join the scene in Toronto this July 8-12 to share their business-ready solutions with the Microsoft reseller channel. Each ISV is committed to expanding their network of reselling partners and will be “meeting and greeting” in person at the conference. More information can be found on each of these companies on their websites:

  • QUMAS - Compliance Management Solutions

 

 

10 reasons how iGAP can increase your odds!
Posted by Andrew Peet on 6 July, 2012 in entrepreneur | IGAP | Networking - (Be the first to comment)

http://scurri.com/images/scurri-logo.png                         iGAP Internet Growth Acceleration Programme

 

Enterprise Ireland would certainly like to thank Rory O’Connor of Scurri.com for his comments about iGap. For more from Rory, please to Scurri’s blog.

22 June 2012

Today I looked back on some of my notes about the original ideas I had for Scurri.com and I realise how much I have learned and how the business idea has developed since then. What I have also come to realise is how much I have learned about starting an internet business and that Scurri.com would more than likely have failed by this stage only for a very important decision I made in the early stages of the company.  That decision was to apply for the iGAP programme.

My first iGAP workshop set the bar extremely high and to be honest it was a pivotal moment for me.  We had Eric Reis who talked about the lean startup, I had never heard of Eric or the lean startup.  I knew about lean in manufacturing and I knew about agile but after a few minutes of Eric talking the whole concept seemed so logical.  After the presentation Eric came around individually to each of the companies and discussed where we were at.  At the time I was about 2 weeks from launching a prototype site and we a payment engine to sort out.  Eric convinced me to launch as he bet that I would not have anyone through the site to payment before we had the payment process sorted.  To cut a long story short I launched there and then and Eric was right.  We had a lot of sorting to do before I got my first paying customer through the site.

The guys in EI and the Internet growth alliance pulled out all the stops and the contributors just got better and better, Paul O’Dea, Sean Ellis, Justin Kenecht, Scott Reafer, Oren Micheals and Brian Caulfield.  Each of the contributors were world class and they really are cutting edge.

I noticed that iGAP4 has been launched and I thought that I could share with potential iGAP participants 10 reasons why they should consider the programme.

1.  Contacts and Connections

Enterprise Ireland, the Internet Growth Alliance Members, Paul O’Dea, The contributors, your peers, the past participants and the mentors provide you with access to a pretty awesome bunch of contacts that will help your networking and connecting in the Irish Web and tech scene and beyond.

2. Learning

You will be exposed to the latest cutting edge practices and strategic thinking in the industry.  The contributors to the programme have done it, know what they are talking about and are probably doing it again.  This is not academic learning, this is real practical stuff that you can implement in your business today.

3.  Your fellow iGAPers

You will be in with the brightest of the Irish internet, games and tech scene.  There are fantastic opportunities to build up lasting relationships with teams at the same, earlier and later stages than you are at.  Knowledge is freely shared and the collaboration is fantastic amongst your peers.

4.  Time to Think

You are so caught up in developing your business and more than likely you do not feel you have the time to spend thinking about your business.  The workshops give you the time, structure and support to do this.

5.  The Contributors

To get access to the likes of Eric Reis and Sean Ellis alone these days is almost impossible even if you are in San Fran.  An as a bonus you get access to a whole bunch of other contributors that may not be as famous but are equally as knowledgable in their own fields.

6.  The Mentors

You get a great group of fellow participants together in a cohort and you get a Mentor who will help you get the most out of the programme.  The mentors are amongst the most experienced industry experts.

7.  The Kudos

iGAP is certainly seen as one of the premier accelerators in Ireland and with just cause.  It certainly opens doors with VC’s and investors when you mention you have been on the iGAP programme.

8.  Investor Ready

Of course the idea of iGAP is to ensure that at the end of the programme you should understand the key elements of a startup business and you will have all the elements necessary to build a killer deck. Whats more you will also have the chance to pitch and practice that pitch.

9. Enterprise Ireland

If you raising investment in Ireland you will probably be talking to EI.  iGAP gets you into the EI radar and you will have developed a relationship with the agency that is going to help you realise your vision.

10.  Increased ambitions

Simply hanging around with the right people and getting exposure to the opportunities that are out there will increase your ambitions and make you see the possibilities when you have access to a global market.

 

Finally I have to recommend iGAP as it really has been pivotal to Scurri.com and if your thinking of creating a startup business its a must.
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