New Programme hopes to bring out best in start-ups

Hosted by it@cork, European Tech Cluster (sponsored by Bank of Ireland) DealStart is the first initiative of the Upstart programme, which aims to help fledging business grow faster, smarter and more profitably.

Focusing on business development and sales support for young companies, it will bring together representatives from big multinationals with start ups to share information, in sights and expertise.

"DealStart is about industry collaboration at its best. The technology and business community here want to see local start-ups suceed globally", said Denis Collins, Chairman of it@cork, European Tech Cluster and Global Executive with IBM.

"For Start-up companies landing that first deal with a large multinational can be invaluable when it comes to building credibility, having a key reference site, and understanding the complex procurement processes in large organisations and how to best navigate them, and we can also learn from each other."

DealStart will give start-ups and global corporations tighter access, allowing them to learn from each other, as well as looking to fast-track success in winning deals, or potential teaming models, said Collins. Local heavyweights involved in the project include IBM, EMC, VMware, Moof, McAfee, Dell, Voxpro, Laya Healthcare, Abtran and Trend Micro.

Other Upstart initiatives will include training and mentoring. "While there are a number of funding schemes and support programmes available to start-ups, the UpStart programme and in particular DealStart, is responding to a need for direct assistance in the area of sales and business development for new companies," said Denis Collins.

it@cork, was founded over a decade ago by technology companies operating in the region. Collins, a native New Yorker, said the organisations members are now numbered 300 member companies, driving €300 billion worth of revenue globally and €1 billion in Ireland. "We are a unique industry led organisation, driving a model of collaborative leadership, integrating industry, large and small, with government, public sector and academia for commercial, social and academic achievements," he said.

it@cork Tech Cluster has been selected by the EU's seventh Framework Programme (FP7) as part of the BeWiser project. The project will deploy funding for research and technological development activities, for innovation and teaming across several EU clusters, including SME companies in the Munster region, Collins said. "This will further enable our cluster to work, share, learn and integrate with other selected clusters across Europe in a programmatic process and model within the EU," he said.

"It is exciting recognition as a leading European cluster and will align us with other EU clusters in an integrated, programmatic model, where we can team and share for growth. We are also discussing potential replication with Silicon Valley and San Francisco which is twinned with Cork."

The cluster's Smarter Senses programme - developed for preschool children with autism received an outstanding achievement award last year from Shine Ireland, a Cork charity that provides services to children with autism. The cluster also runs an ongoing Adopt A School scheme where 30 participating schools are "adopted" by companies who host lessons in software development and trouble shooting sessions, donate IT equipment and organise work experience for transition year students.

it@cork works with Forfas and the Expert Skills Group to help shape public policy and has been referenced in many programmes for government reports. It has also established YouTube channel Global Cluster TV (GCTV) to promote its message that a real and definable economy recovery is under way in Cork. The group also runs a weekly tweet-up for innovation and collaboration, every Thursday at 8pm, under #techcluster, @itcork, and @denisjco. It is starting to trend nationally, and we will grow it to global levels over the coming months", said Collins, a native New Yorker.

"A critical element of that recovery will be the IT industry as well as entrepreneurship and the start-up sector. The IT industry is vibrant in the region, and the start-up sector is also very strong. This area is a hotbed of activity in both areas. "Cork is uniquely positioned. It has all the attributes of Ireland Inc for a balanced, successful 'work, learn, live' ecosystem - an integrated leadership team, major city environment, industry, large and small, globally recognised academic institutions serving all disciplines, easy access to diverse nature geographic attributes of beaches, rivers, ocean, mountains, and open landscape for lifestyle choices. "The region is very marketable globally. It could almost serve any master."

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