By Today, in front of an audience of entrepreneurs at The Digital Hub, Dell launched a new initiative to support the start-up community in Ireland. Following its huge success in the US and more recently, the UK, the Dell Centre for Entrepreneurs is now launching in Ireland. The programme will provide access to funding, mentoring and Dell's technical expertise and world class infrastructure to help Irish start-up businesses grow and scale quickly. A fund of up to ¤10m to help support the deployment of technology solutions is being made available to the Irish companies. The funding will be managed by the Irish headquartered Dell Financial Services.
Through the programme, Dell is aiming to meet the needs of established start-up businesses with a technology focus by giving them access to the resources, expertise and solutions they need to get to market more quickly. Entrepreneurs are being encouraged to log onto www.dell.ie/entrepreneurs to learn more about the opportunity the programme has to offer or follow #dellcfe #ireland on Twitter to keep up to date.
Welcoming the announcement by Dell, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said: "Today's announcement is a great commitment by Dell to Ireland's start-up community. As I have said before, we have amazing entrepreneurs in Ireland - we just don't have enough of them. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-up businesses - that is why we have put in place a range of measures to create the environment where more entrepreneurs will take the risk.
"This programme provides practical support, guidance and access to finance which is to be welcomed - but also provides our start-ups with access to some of the best technical minds in the world. This initiative could be a real difference to a company being a success or a failure. I commend Dell on this initiative and wish all involved every success.
Aongus Hegarty, President, Dell EMEA said: "Michael Dell founded the company almost 30 years ago and ever since, creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit have been the hallmarks of our business and company culture. We believe that technology is a necessary part of growing a thriving business and strive to help entrepreneurs leverage technology to take ideas from start-up to success. Our new Dell Centre for Entrepreneurs allows us to do just that.
"We're looking to attract start-up businesses with a technology focus. Through the programme we'll hopefully be able to help them fast track their route to the market place. Ireland has large numbers of entrepreneurs, we hope that through our investment in this programme we can act as a catalyst to growth for these companies and help them to scale and go global at a pace that wouldn't otherwise be possible.
In 2011, Dell announced the launch of its Entrepreneur-in-Residence programme in the US, hiring Ingrid Vanderveldt, an influential entrepreneur, to identify how Dell could better serve the needs of start-ups. Ingrid now oversees global entrepreneurship initiatives for Dell and was pivotal in creating the Centre for Entrepreneurs in both the US and the UK, and now in Ireland.
Ingrid Vanderveldt, Dell's Entrepreneur in Residence, said: "Dell isn't your typical global technology company. It has supported entrepreneurs and business owners for years, sharing its technology, capital, expertise and networks. Whether it's helping a business get to market, or rolling out a new service, Dell understands the value of having a real and comprehensive relationship with entrepreneurs. It's good for business - and necessary for innovation.
"With over hundreds of companies founded last year, a lively tech start-up scene and a host of government-backed and private sector funding schemes, Ireland has a thriving entrepreneurial community. I am really looking forward to getting to know this community better and to delivering solutions and supports that are needed by this community to help support growth, job creation and international success. Over the next few months, we also look forward to selecting three companies that will get the opportunity to locate on the Dell campus - one in Cork, one in Limerick and one in Dublin. We look forward to really getting under the skin of these companies, giving them the benefit of our technology and marketing expertise to help ensure their success.
Edel Flynn, Chief Executive of The Digital Hub, said: "Edel Flynn, Chief Executive of the Digital Hub Development Agency, said: "I was delighted to be approached by Dell to join the advisory council for the Centre for Entrepreneurs in Ireland. It's great to see a multinational like Dell leading by example with an initiative like this. Over the past 10 years, The Digital Hub has worked to support start-ups and growing digital enterprises to develop their business in Ireland. I will draw on this experience in my new role on the advisory council of the Centre for Entrepreneurs.
Lisa Vaughan, Manager of the Scaling and High Potential Start-up Division, Enterprise Ireland said: "The Centre for Entrepreneurs is an ambitious programme by Dell to nurture our start-up community. The value that Dell can give to this community and the three potential companies which will be housed at Dell is invaluable. I'd encourage people to get involved with the programme and take the benefits of networking with likeminded people.
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