Irish Company – Patient Journey Record – makes Chicago Incubator shortlist

Posted by Linda Coyle on 21 February, 2012 in Connected Health | entrepreneur | Health | startup | US - (Be the first to comment)

Healthbox, the accelerator program for health care startups that was founded by Chicago-based Sandbox Industries, have selected 10 companies to participate in its three-month program beginning 9th January.  The line-up includes PaJR (Patient Journey Record), an Irish company using Trinity College developed technology to build a cloud-based hospital re-admissions prevention platform.  The software identifies at-risk patients based on health status information reported by patients and caregivers.

The HealthBox program offers each company office space and $50,000 in seed capital, in addition to access to a network of about 70 mentors that includes hospital executives, health care entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. The 10 companies will also work with the five-member Healthbox team. Healthbox received about 200 applications

Patient Journey Record is a company we’re really excited about, they’re thinking about the problem that hospitals have with high 30-day readmission rates, and trying to use data in new ways to address that challenge and manage basic populations in a much more proactive way.

said Ms Nashif, Healthbox’s founder and a managing director of Sandbox Industries.

More information about what Patient Journey Record is on this video, taken at Enterprise Ireland’s big ideas forum.

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Games Masterclass Workshop on 15th feb with Phil Campbell – last places

Posted by Sarah Buckley on 10 February, 2012 in Animation | Conference | Developers | Digital Media | Dublin | Gaming | Software | startup | Training - (Be the first to comment)

We are hosting a game design workshop with Phil Campbell next Wednesday. His background is fantastic and he has worked on a number of really successful game franchises like Godfather, Tomb Raider & James Bond. It’s a nice prequel to the DIT Gaming event on Feb 25th, this workshop is part of  the Games Ireland gathering next week.

philcampbelldesign.com - bio

philcampbelldesign.com - bio

 

Due to cancellations, a few more places have become available. Worth noting that the workshop is open to games and animation companies. Signup here on the main EI site; Game Design MasterClass. It is scheduled to coincide with the Games Ireland Gathering on the 15th (also in the Gibson).

 

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Visas for the Best and the Brightest to start innovative business in Ireland

Posted by Lorcan O'Sullivan on 9 February, 2012 in entrepreneur | Entrepreneurship | Investment | startup - (Be the first to comment)

Dylan Collins beat us to it with the news about Ireland’s new visa programme for startups,

Ireland has long been destination of choice for the biggest and the most ambitious companies in Information Technology and Software  to set up major subsidiaries. Ireland has quietly made significant improvements in the startup environment and supports for its own growing number of locally originating high tech start ups. It now has some of the best soft supports along with probably the greatest amount of early stage funding, per capita, in Europe and one of the best in the world.

We in Ireland are now working to attract entrepreneurs with software and other innovative start ups to relocate here to benefit from the start up supports that have been put in place-  the same advantages that have attracted the big companies. This new visa scheme is yet another building block in making Irealnd Europe’s go to location of choice for innovative start ups.

Click here to watch the Start a Business in Ireland Video.

I am delighted that the Department of Justice has introduced this new visa programme. It shows the full commitment there is right across the different parts of government to making Ireland a destination of choice for innovative entrepreneurs.

The main criteria are:

  • Have access to funding of €75k  through business angels, venture capital providers or a financial institution regulated by the Financial Regulator. Personal funding transferred to the State or a grant from a relevant State agency would also be acceptable.
  • The business must have a strong innovation component. Projects will be evaluated by an Evaluation Committee based on those who demonstrate a good idea or the potential to be a winner.

More details at http://www.justice.ie and at www.startinireland.com

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Zombies, Students and Professional Games Developers welcome in DIT on Feb 25th

Posted by Paul Browne on 8 February, 2012 in Apps | Conference | Developers | Digital Media | Dublin | Gaming | Software | startup - (2 Comments)

This is a guest post from Andrea of BatCat Games, who is also involved in putting together the Dublin GameCraft event. For more news follow Andrea on Twitter @RoundCrisis. More on what EI is doing in Ireland with the Games and Software Companies is here.

On Febraury 25th 2012, a collection of hobbyist, student, independent and professional game developers will be placed together in a room in DIT and gently coaxed into a game development frenzy. There will be sweat, there will be tears, there will most likely be zombies, and after eight hours of intensely profound game development acrobatics, there will be games.

http://www.movieposterdb.com/poster/d1ac1b8d

Dublin Gamecraft is a single-day game jam event that has been put together to encourage Irish game developers to gather in one place in order to create a game from scratch in just eight hours. Choice of platform, development tools, and team size is completely unrestricted. Use whatever you’re most comfortable with. Teams are allowed and encouraged, and can even be created on the day, although this will cut into your game development time. This is a bring-your-own-hardware event.

After exactly eight hours, you can submit your masterpiece to our panel of industry experts, who will come up with a list of their favourite entries. We hope to have some fantastic prizes for the best games, including, but not limited to, the respect and admiration of your peers. Breakfast and lunch will also be provided courtesy of our generous sponsors, Open Emotion Studios, JetBrains and Swrve.

If you don’t want to create a game on the day, come along just for the networking. You might gain some new contacts, or learn a new trick or two.

We’re really excited about this event. There’s a real buzz around the game development scene in Ireland recently, which is evident in the large number of registrations we’ve received already. We hope that game jams like this one can help our burgeoning local industry into the global limelight. Hope to see you all there.

 

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Ex Ordo – Making your Conference Great

Posted by Ray Walsh on 13 December, 2011 in Cloud Computing | Conference | Research | startup - (Be the first to comment)

This is a guest post from Dermot Lally of Ex Ordo, a startup aiming to be the ‘EventBrite for Academics’. It’s another good example of EI clients using video to show explain how they can help customers.

An academic conference is where researchers present and discuss their research papers with their peers. It can take 12 – 24 months to organise, involve hundreds of people and is a serious drain on the conference chair’s time. The conference chair is usually an academic or researcher with a full-time schedule, and is certainly not an event manager.  By saving the chair over 3 weeks, Ex Ordo enables the chair  to focus on what makes a conference great – getting the best mix of research, speakers and sponsors to their event.

Still not sure? Watch the video to find out more about Ex Ordo.

NDRC LaunchPad Open Evening

Posted by David Scanlon on 9 November, 2011 in Animation | Apps | Cloud Computing | Connected Health | Developers | Digital Media | ecommerce | Entrepreneurship | Gaming | Innovation | Internet | Mobile | Mobile Solutions | startup | Telecom - (Be the first to comment)

This is a guest post from Amy Neale, Marketing and Programme Manager at the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC).

We at NDRC (National Digital Research Centre) have just announced that we are now open for applications to LaunchPad. This investment programme is open for applications from digital start-ups from Ireland and internationally, and 15 start-ups will be selected to work with us for a 3 month period starting 13th February 2012. During this time we provide these 2 or 3 man bands with a hands-on, intensive mentoring programme; weekly workshops and networking opportunities with experts; as well as the all important investment of up to €20,000 per project. The three months will culminate with NDRC’s ‘LiftOff’ competition, taking place in May 2012 where the start-ups will present to a room of investors and compete for access to a follow on investment prize fund.

We were delighted earlier in 2011 to be ranked in the ‘Top 10 EU Accelerators’ by the Kauffman Fellows, and – along with Enterprise Ireland’s iGap programme – we have been nominated for Best European Accelerator at The Europas 2011. NDRC LaunchPad is producing award winning startups such as Redeem&Get and Hit the Road, and developing technology entrepreneurs with early stage innovative digital start-ups. We invest in and collaborate with early stage start-ups to establish market focused, technically excellent and profitable ventures.

In 2010–2011 NDRC mentored, trained and developed 39 entrepreneurs, and has to date secured €4.8 million in commercial investment for technologies and start-ups. Just ten days ago, NDRC-backed start-up Redeem&Get won the Spark of Genius Award, giving them access to an ACT Venture Capital term sheet worth €100k. This year NDRC received a record 81 applications for 15 places on the current LaunchPad Programme, with Irish, European and North American start-ups participating.

If you are interested in NDRC LaunchPad, come along to our open evening to meet the team, ask questions and find out everything you need to know about the accelerator programme, before the application deadline of 16th December. This informal evening will be held on Thursday, the 1st of December, and will start at 6.30pm and will run to 8.30pm. It will take place in NDRC’s ‘Digital Exchange’ building on Crane Street, Dublin 8 – please register your details here.

To apply for a place on NDRC LaunchPad visit www.ndrc.ie/launchpad; deadline for receipt of applications is 5pm on the 16th December 2011.

NDRC LAUNCHPAD CLOSING DATE 5pm 16th December 2011

NDRC LAUNCHPAD PROGRAMME START 13th February 2012

Start And Grow Enterprise Expo

Posted by Barry Egan on 4 November, 2011 in Conference | Entrepreneurship | Event | startup - (Be the first to comment)

As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (which runs from November 14-20), the Start and Grow Enterprise Expo takes place in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on Friday November 18, at the Tullamore Court Hotel.

The one-day event will consist of business development opportunities, entrepreneurial insights, access to a wide range of business organisations and agencies. The day starts at 9.15am with an Enterprise Exhibition, while Business Seminars run throughout the event from 10am-5pm. Free one-to-one mentoring sessions, also, can be pre-booked from 9am-7pm. And if you have an idea or three spinning around in your head, then you can discuss it at the event’s dedicated Ideas Zone, which is open from 9.15am-7pm. The keynote address – scheduled from 12 noon-12.45pm – will be given by Denis O’Brien, Chairman Digicel.

A joint initiative of Offaly County Enterprise Board, Enterprise Ireland, Offaly Local Development Company, Offaly County Council and Tullamore Chamber, the Start and Grow Enterprise Expo aims to take up the words of Albert Einstein (“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”) and run with them!

For more information on the event, to register, or to pre-book a free mentoring session, click here.

Dublin Web Summit – €40k in funding for Ireland’s top startup

Posted by Alan Hobbs on 19 September, 2011 in Conference | DWS | Entrepreneurship | Event | Investment | Networking | startup - (Be the first to comment)

After the huge success of Founders last year we were left wondering what was next from the Dublin Web Summit guys. This  guest post from Daire Hickey, answers that question. While you’re at it, you may want to signup for the next Dublin Web Summit , which we in EI are sponsoring.

Cash strapped startups take note. Together with ESB Electric Ireland the Dublin Web Summit have put together a €40k prize funds for Ireland’s top startup. This is the second year of the Summit’s Spark of Genius competition. Former winners of the competition have gone on to great success. Datahug came to international attention after judges described the company as “LinkedIn on steroids”. Data Hug co-founder, Connor Murphy said,

“Winning the Spark of Genius Award changed everything for DataHug.

The award gave us a dream platform to introduce Datahug to a global audience of potential customers, media and technology investors. Within a few weeks we had hundreds of registered companies, coverage on TechCruch, and several meetings with leading international venture capital firms’

We cannot thank the organisers, judges and sponsors enough”

The existence of this enterprising competition indicates there is endless talent and innovation growing within the industry and we hope to highlight this further and encourage start ups to come forward and be part of something very special.

The purpose of this competition as part of the Dublin Web Summit is to highlight Ireland’s up and coming tech start-ups as well as offering our winner a support package of over 40K in cash and services. This is a fantastic opportunity to promote your start up and be seen by many of those in the tech industry.  Whether your start up is in its infancy or you have developed a strong following within a short space of time, by entering ESB Electric Ireland Spark of Genius competition you will have an experience with your peers of great innovation and creation that will be immensely rewarding.

During this process, entrants will pitch their business to a number of tech leaders in a Dragon’s Den like scenario in advance of the October summit. Five finalists will then present in front of 1,000 people at the summit itself. The judges include Brian Caulfield of internationally renowned venture capital firm DFJ Espirit, Shay Garvey of Delta Partners, Mark Roden of Ezetop and TechCrunch Europe Editor Mike Butcher.

This is ESB Electric Ireland’s first year with the competition. Ken McKervey from ESB Electric Ireland says

“At ESB Electric Ireland we are committed to embracing innovation and new technology to offer value and choice to our customers. We are delighted to be able to sponsor this inspiring initiative at a time when the technology sector can play a leading role in our economic recovery”.

To enter your start up should be less than 2 years old and have less than 2 million invested in the business. You will have a purchased ticket for the October Web Summit and should you be chosen to be in our final 25 start ups you will get a second complimentary ticket from the Dublin Web Summit. Interested? Signup over on DublinWebSummit.com.

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DCU Ryan Propeller now open – are you one of the best Irish or European startups?

Posted by Lorcan O'Sullivan on 9 September, 2011 in entrepreneur | Investment | Investor | startup - (Be the first to comment)

With 3 out of the top 8 business accelerators in Europe based in Ireland, here in Enterprise Ireland we are determined to help Irish startups succeed. We’re also convinced that Ireland is the best place for entrepreneurs worldwide to come and start their business.

The application process for one of the top 8, DCU Ryan Academy’s Propeller Venture Accelerator, has just opened. This award-winning accelerator has a tremendous amount on offer for smart, winning entrepreneurs: €30K investment, over 60 mentors (including serial entrepreneurs and product/business specialists), office space and a demo-day.

The snag? There isn’t one – you get all this for a 6.5% equity stake, which is surely the bargain of the century.

Summary of DCU Propellor offering

The primary aim of Propeller is to boost early stage technology start-up companies with an emphasis on software, Web 2.0, informatics, clean-tech and applications.

Paul Healy, CEO Fantom and a noted serial entrepreneur, is full of praise for the venture:

Winning a place on the inaugural Propeller Venture Accelerator was like being plucked off the bus and placed on the bullet train for our business. We were given access to the most senior Irish business talent and an inside track to the Irish and international investment community.

Interest in the application process has come from far and wide, with expressions of interest outside Ireland from USA, UK, France, Israel and Portugal. The closing date for applications is November 2nd,  although applicants are advised to apply early. The accelerator starts with the companies moving to Citywest, Co Dublin, on January 2nd next year. For more information visit the Propeller Website and get the Propeller PDF brochure.

Not in Dublin? Enterprise Ireland support a range of business incubators nationwide (list at bottom of this blogpost).

 

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iGAP 3 – Why Should You Participate?

Posted by Ray Walsh on 31 August, 2011 in Cloud Computing | Developers | Digital Media | ecommerce | eMarketing | entrepreneur | Entrepreneurship | Event | Gaming | IGAP | Innovation | Internet | Ireland | IT Services | Saas | startup | Training - (4 Comments)

Internet or Games based Start Up? – Apply for iGAP Here

Over the last 2 years 29 companies, 58 promoters have completed iGAP.  We in Enterprise Ireland believe that IGAP  is a brilliant and innovative internet start up programme.  More importantly so do the participants…..

In an Internet based startup? You should apply for iGAP.

Ronan Skehill co-founder of Cauwill. www.cauwill.com

“I know many such management training and incubation programmes exist, we were on LEAP which was good for us at the time, but iGAP is different because it focuses specifically on the needs of internet businesses.  Over a period of seven months, six modules were led by international lean start-up and customer development experts such as Eric Ries, Scott Rafer, Paul O’Dea , Justin Knecth, Sean Ellis and Oren Michels .Over the programme they addressed issues such as lean startup theory, product market fit, monetisation strategies, internet customer acquisition, business development using APIs, etc. Here is a quick synopsis of the content covered by the speakers………http://www.ronanskehill.com/2011/02/05/in-a-startup-you-should-apply-for-igap/#comments

 In a Games based startup? You should apply for iGAP.

Steven Collins, Swrve, www.swrve.com

“The iGAP program is an excellent opportunity to both network with a peer group of companies all experiencing many of the same challenges as you, and to hear from some of the world’s leading speakers on building companies and products.  The speaker lineup was second to none, with lots of opportunities for interaction and feedback and to build connections.  The program itself is very well structured, with lectures, group sessions and mentors and a great curriculum.  It presented me with the perfect opportunity to reflect on my own startup and to put the spotlight on our processes for customer discovery, product design and business strategy.  I can’t recommend the IGAP program highly enough to anybody building an internet or games industry company and lucky enough to be offered a place.

In a Business 2 Business internet startup? You should apply for iGAP.

Connor Murphy, Datahug, www.datahug.com

“iGAP is one word…. ‘mandatory’. If you want to accelerate your web business and compete globally then you NEED to be on iGAP. If you want to learn from Silicon Valley insiders and world class thought leaders then you NEED to be on iGAP. If you want to collaborate and learn from a brilliant peer group then you NEED to be on iGAP.”

Ronan Perceval http: www.phorest.com

 “The really great benefit for me has been the other companies taking part. We were a bit concerned because our company has been in business for longer, but actually the start-up companies on iGap has given us a new lease of life. We’ve started thinking more like a start up again and that’s given us a real focus. That alone has been great.

Hopefully we’ve been able to share some stuff back with other people on the programme as well.

One of the big benefits of iGap has shown in our marketing. I think it’s much more focused now. It’s the first year we have a proper marketing plan, and we’re analyzing the metrics so we’ll actually know for sure what’s working and what’s not.

All in all I think iGap is the best programme Enterprise Ireland has done. Why? Because it’s all practical. They seminar leaders are all guys who have done it.”

Brian Caulfield

Brian Caulfield was the Programme Lead for the iGAP1/2.

“I have spent the last eight years as a venture capital and angel investor in technology companies.  Prior to that, I was a technology entrepreneur for ten years.  In those 18 years working in and with start-up companies I have become convinced that many entrepreneurs fail simply because they don’t have a clear vision of what their business really is…who their customers are; what their proposition for those customers is; how they are going to reach those customers; how they will make money from those customers.  In a nutshell, they don’t have a clear strategy.

Getting to that clarity is essential for every business.  That clarity enables you to prioritise tasks amidst the chaos of a start-up. It enables you to focus the team on what’s important. It enables you to articulate a clear and, hopefully, compelling investment opportunity to potential funders of the business.

Get your application in today! Online applications close on Friday 9th of September

 

 

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