Startup Ireland

Providing focus, strategy and vision to the Irish startup community for jobs & innovation

LAST UPDATED MARCH 25th 2014

Startups are the largest creators of new jobs

(Central Bank of Ireland) but the startup journey is typically

problematical and the sector are difficult to interface with in a

structured way.

What is the problem?● Some hotspots of startup activity but overall

fragmented● Lots of potential help/support available but is

not effectively ‘brokered’ ● Noise/hype in the sector reflecting the relative

immaturity of ecosystem● Some duplication of efforts leading to

confusion for startups● National policy based largely on anecdotal

evidence● Entrepreneurship not considered a viable

career choice

Cumulative effect = no appearance for Ireland in the Startup Genome

International Ranking of Startup Ecosystems at a time when

competition is intense.“Startup Nations anticipates the emergence of more national & city level startup campaigns around the

world.”

Since 2008 there have been calls for the establishment of an Irish association to represent the interests of startups -

“Let’s create an organisation to represent ourselves, the entrepreneurs, as a unified body of people with a realistic set of expectations and requirements who can lobby effectively and with a single voice.

We need a committee that can formulate policies that directly benefit the entrepreneurial community and provide a liaison point that can build successful relationships with key bodies.”

It hasn’t happened to date as startups are a very transient population (moving target), entrepreneurs are extremely busy building their businesses and funding it would be difficult, there can’t be a membership fee as ‘Startups have no money’.

Why hasn’t an organisation been set up to address this before now?

A comparison with the tech startup ecosystem in IsraelIsrael Ireland

Population 7.8 million 4.6 million

National economy type Small, open, export orientated Small, open, export orientated

Real GDP (2012) $179bn $212bn

Startup Genome Ranking Tel Aviv #2 Dublin #No rank

Tech startups per million inhabitantsBowei Gai, World Startup Report

#1 in the world at 375 per million inhabitants

No rank, researcher did not include Dublin

Accelerators 36 (http://mappedinisrael.com/) 12 (Activating Dublin report)

Number of tech startups per annum

1,900 (Tel Aviv Startup City 2013) 200 (EI HPSU+Accelerator numbers only)

VC funds raised in 2013 $2.3bn (Israel VC Research Centre)

$395m (Irish VC Association)

Other Facts about Israel● 39% of Israeli high tech employees work in the R&D Depts of tech multinationals located in Israel, in

Ireland these same multinationals locate their customer service and sales operations here.● 63 Israeli high-tech companies listed on the tech oriented NASDAQ● Israeli tech exits worth $7.6b in 2013 (PwC) with significant capital gains tax to the Exchequer.● A coherent story communicated internationally by the book “Start-up Nation” by Dan Senor and Saul

Singer

Modelling a solutionFindings from Eoin Costello’s circling the planet:

● Doesn’t have to be expensive to implement (Silicon Welly)

● Must comprise all elements of the ecosystem● Grassroots up works best

MSc Finding: The ecosystem can be strengthened through“’collaborative activities’ occurring within an effective network which yield symbiotic outcomes to the participants” which in turn “creates a permanence of patterns and relationships of constituents.”

Facilitating ‘collaborative activities’ such as:● Student projects with Startups● Student interns with Startups● Student tours to our Incubator● Signposted relevant resources

Let’s do something about it!Rather than wait for a national plan or

budget we (a committed group of entrepreneurs and accelerator managers

) decided in July 2013 to get on with whatever we could achieve with zero

budget and a lot of enthusiasm.

What is Startup Ireland?Startup Ireland is an independent not-for-profit

organisation representing the Irish startup community. Working from the grassroots up

with the startup community regionally, nationally and internationally with the objective of increasing the number of high

impact Irish startups that start + scale successfully.

We will achieve this by providing focus, strategy and vision towards bringing about the framework

conditions that provide the most fruitful environment for startups.

Our Mission“Impactful, dynamic networks are powered by grassroots structures and community-minded ideas and people” - Startup America Partnership

Mission #1 - Connecting and growing Ireland's startup community

“Ireland has some amazing entrepreneurs but not nearly enough.” Minister Richard BrutonMission #2 - Changing Irish hearts and minds towards entrepreneurship as a valid career option

“Creating an entrepreneurial community is a long term commitment, up to 10 years at a minimum”. Brad Feld Mission #3 – Impact and Funding – To create long term change as a startup itself Startup Ireland must be sustainable.

We have a lot of support and strong foundations are in place….

Our Strategy for 2014/2015

Phase 1 is about Mission #1 – “The entrepreneurial network and culture of startups in Ireland needs to become further engaged and intertwined.” REPORT OF THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM IRELAND 2014Phase 2 is about Mission #2 – “If we want to increase the pipeline of people choosing an entrepreneurial career, then Ireland must encourage entrepreneurship as a norm rather than an exception.” REPORT OF THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM IRELAND 2014Phase 3 is about Mission 1 & 2

Phase 1 Actions Complete• Our Startup Linkedin groups now have over 4,074 members

engaging and sharing information on startup topics. • Our Startup Twitter accounts have in excess of 6,440 followers

who have received 5,700 Tweets on topics such as #StartupEvents #StartupFunding #StartupProgrammes #StartupAdvice #StartupJobs

• This growing social media network is leveraged for the good of the startup community through our Help Needed Form which brokers resources within the community, 30+ campaigns launched to date.

• Startup community hubs (www.startup-dublin.ie etc) launched for all main Irish cities including infographics of resources available to startups.

• Startup Champions recruited in 3 cities (Dublin, Cork, Limerick)• 10 Startup Ireland Partners signed up in Dublin.

Phase 2 Actions Commenced

Implement the Startup Ireland community building tool kit in each city

• Startup Digest of events in the city (For example:  https://www.startupdigest.com/digests/dublin )

• Startup Beta to showcase new startups each month/quarter (For example: http://dublinbeta.com/ )

• Networking events such as New Tech Meetups each month/quarter• Startup Weekend every 6 to 12 months (For example: http://dublin.startupweekend.org/ )• Startup Grind with local role models

Survey of Startups & Service ProvidersBiannual survey of the key players in respect of funding, working space, access to accelerator programmes etc to help better inform national and local strategies.

Establish Working Groups to help deliver change - The working groups will be lead by key figures and will focus on the issues fundamental to the growth of a successful startup community, including funding, working space, access to accelerator programmes, etc.

Phase 3 ObjectivesStrategic Plans for each city - Commencing with Dublin our objective is to hold one-day workshops in each city to bring together in one room key representatives from the higher education sector, investors, mentors, service providers, Government and large companies that are active in supporting the startup ecosystem. Themes for discussion will revolve around the issues fundamental to the growth of a successful startup community including funding, working space, access to accelerator programmes etc. The goal will be to create practical action plans by those that have the power to see change through which will facilitate significant growth in the startup communities in each city.

Training in High Impact Startup creation using short, weekend type programmes such as Launch48/Startup Weekend - Target audience is third level students and those considering entrepreneurship as a career choice – Potentially seek a partnership with Stanford’s Stuart Coulson to bring his d.school to Ireland.

Startup Community Awards - Shine a light on what is missing at a framework level in Dublin’s startup ecosystem at the moment by creating an award for Best Startup Legal package, Best Startup Financial package, Best Startup Investor, Best Community Strengthening Initiative etc.

Think Big Act Now Change Ireland Social Entrepreneurs Ireland

Long term plans - Startup Ireland’s #Vision2020To create a phase change in the number of successful startups being created in Ireland by 2020 we need -• A top 10 place in the Top 20 Startup Genome ranking• 5 X’s increase in the number of people taking entrepreneurship

programmes• 5 X’s increase in the amount of corporate venturing in Ireland• 5 X’s increase in the number of startups successfully scaling

from Ireland

FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE VERSION OF OUR VISION SEE http://startupireland.ie/vision2020/

“The Government’s ambition is for Ireland to be among the most entrepreneurial nations in the world and acknowledged as a world-class environment in which to start and grow a business.“

Action Plan for Jobs 2014

“All it takes to bring about real change is a couple of committed individuals.”

Brad Feld, Author of Startup Communities