Funding and Practical Support
Smartstart pool your bright idea, passion and vision with our mentors, advisory services and finance. Every business starts with a good idea...read more
Present Plan and Pitch
We only want the best companies in the country. Only the elite need apply. Being accepted onto Smartstart is very difficult and this is only the...read more
Experienced Team Interested In You
Smartstart talent pool is made up of investors, mentors and fanatical serial entrepreneurs. Between us we have funded and mentored hundreds...read more
We have had a huge response to the call for the programme and have just lots of applications to get through.
Its going to take us longer than expected and we are therfore pushing the start date a wee bit!
All applicants will be contacted in the days ahead and we will organise a sit-down session with those short listed by the end of the Month.
Phew … now back to reviewing apps!
Great News! – Belfast-born Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur David Kirk @dhkirk – who has himself invested quite a lot of money in the North’s Budding Tech Start-ups has agreed to join with smart start in making the next two programmes in Northern Ireland and The Republic Of Ireland even better! Known for his straight talking approach (he should fit right in!) David will get involved right from the off, with early programme activity, and help for our fledglings to dust off their shyness and really examine the business viability….. So looking forward to this!
Thanks to the great work of Conn and the Team from the Small Business Show we have posted one or two of the interviews from the guys on the night in the vids section. All five Companies now have very strong expressions from angels and syndicates in attendance on the evening. We even know that one or two have other expressions of interest from thos who could not attend. Well done to all. Oh … watch this space more video to come!
Following on from The Success of Round One of Smart Start, we have decided to add two more programmes to the list in the months ahead, yes thats right … TWO!
One cohort in the South of Ireland and for the First time ever, one in Northern Ireland!
So if you have a bright start-up idea and want to get it off the ground quickly and funded then apply today! – Easy!
The applications form – is here …. and applications close on the 30th of September.
We will announce the selection list in the second week of October and Begin work straight away!
Have you got what it takes?… Apply Now!
The Demos and Dough Event in the Shelbourne Race Track went off well, despite some last minute technical hitches!
All five companies presented on the night and all five have now got themselves follow up meetings with angels and or syndicates.
A well attended event saw each pitch over a ten minute period with follow up around their demo tables.
Strong leads were generated and our thanks goes to all who made the evening a suceess
Gavin Duffy of the Dragons Den and his wife Orlaith, Ian Shearer from the TEchExecs Angel Syndicate, Cian Hughes – ITLG, Colin Machale Country Manager for Intel, Raomal Perera from One Thousand Seeds, Michael Culligan from DBIC and the Business Angels Network, together with many other individual angels and their affiliates.
Our Media partner for the was the Small Business Show and pod casts and video from the event can be seen and Heard in the coming weeks on the Small Business Show from Focussmeireland who were on hand to capture the entire proceedings. Thanks Conn!
Last week saw a great leap forward on the investment trail for AquaFresh and Founder Adrian Flynn.
Flynn and Smart Start Founder had some very indepth discussions with an investment syndicate in Malta who have expressed an interest in raising the finance required to get the project up and into production!
Well done Adrian, hope all goes well!
The chosen participants, who represent a range of industry sectors, are:
We have arrived at a shortlist for the Spring Intake.
After many late nights, presentations, and conversations we have arrived at a shortlist for the Spring Intake of Smart Start and will be presenting the companies to the Press on the 11th of the Month.
Stay tuned for more in the days ahead!
Ger O’Mahoney – Cork Based, Regional Partner in Charge in Deloitte – has described their involvement in Smart Start as exciting!
He went on to describe how his team will be involved in a number of aspects of the programme and how they are looking forward to working with the SmartStart Team, the Entrepreneurs and the Investors.
Looking forward to a ”Full House” in terms of applicants Smart Start, has lots planned for the team from Deloitte.
What a great first day here, some great comments on the site and some real interest in the programme both from Founders and Investors.
If you or anyone you know has a Smart Idea and needs funding to move it along why not fill out the application and let’s start the process?
Thanks to all those who Tweeted, Liked or Updated their status for us today. Keep it up.
