DealStart 2.0

The tech start-up programme "DealStart" set up by it@cork, European Tech Cluster, has announced it's second round of support for business in the Munster region. 

The programme matches tech start-ups with multi-nationals in the Munster region to drive key sales and business development. 

The DealStart programme helps fledging businesses to grow faster, smarter and more profitably with a large company mentor in the area of procurement and business development. DealStart enables the organisations involved to share information, insights and expertise on procurement with small enterprises. 

"In order to fuel economic growth and increase job, we must drive an effective ecosystem focused on tangible results. The collaboration of FDI multi-nationals and indigenous start-up companies is innovative and powerful. The first DealStart was a huge success, with a number of SMEs securing global access, sales, references, advise to grow their business. The MNCs also learned and received potential solutions for their strategies. This is industry collaboration at its best, and our Cluster will continue to lead the way with thoughtful leadership", explains Denis Collins, Chairman it@cork, European Tech Cluster..

"For start-up companies, landing that first deal with a large multinational can be invaluable when it comes to building credibility and understanding the complex procurement processes in large organisations and how to best navigate them. DealStart gives start-ups access to global corporations and fast tracts them to success in winning deals with large organisations" says Robert O'Donoghue, ,EMC an programme co-ordinator.  

"Already an impressive number of global organisations, alll of whom have a strong presence in Munster, have pledged their commitment to the programme, EMC, IBM, Trend Micro, VMware, Qualcomm and Dell.  This initiative is totally unique in Ireland, it's a symbolic partnership between multinationals and start ups that can potentially offer tremendous benefit to both parties. Large organisations can learn agility, new models of innovation and responsiveness to market trends, while start-ups can experience the process of a large organisation and get valuable insights into winning that crucial first 'big name' commercial engagement. 

"DealStart is proving to be a catalyst for start-ups, providing them with access to management and procurement teams in global organisations, jump starting their engagement with multinationals," he added. 

Recruitment of the start-ups is under way with a deadline of the end of May. To participate in the programme, applicant companies must be in business no longer thatn three years. Interested parties should visit www.itcork.ie and complete the application form online.