The “Internet Growth Alliance” is a business led initiative that aims to support, in a practical way the international growth ambitions of Irish Internet businesses. We believe that the Irish Internet industry is a key area of potential growth opportunity. There are many excellent role models, experts and associations involved in the industry.

The Alliance brings together some of the key stakeholders in the Irish Internet Industry - industry associations, public bodies, role models and experts who will work together to form a common vision for internet growth and agree ways in which these businesses can be supported. The associations involved include the Irish Internet Association, Enterprise Ireland, the Institute of International and European Affairs, the Irish Software Association, Web2 Ireland and the Digital Hub. Our focus will be on practical ways to support such potential businesses - whose ambitions are international expansion. It is aimed towards internet and not traditional software businesses. A number of internet business people are actively involved - Colm Lyon, Ray Nolan, Dylan Collins, Pat Phelan, Damien Mulley, Rob Corbet, Fergus Burns and Breon Corcoran. The Alliance aims to bring together the key stakeholders in the Irish Internet industry.

Internet Growth Acceleration Programme Launches

The IGA and Enterprise Ireland are delighted to announce that the Internet Growth Acceleration Programme has now started. This is a new multi-module programme for Irish Internet businesses that wish to grow internationally. It will run over six months allowing participants to complete a deep and intensive review of their internet businesses, resulting in a finale at which each participant will make a pitch to some of the IGA advisors. Download the pdf here.

The programme has been developed and the first version is now being run by Enterprise Ireland - see http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/igap. The current programme is underway and applications are not been accpeted at this time. Press Release is here.

International and local instructors will be involved as will the business advisors from the IGA giving participants the chance to network with both experienced and emerging internet entrepreneurs. Competition for places on this first programme was intensive and nearly four times oversubscribed. Download the full details here. The blog has the list of businesses currently enrolled.

About the Internet Growth Alliance

We are actively progressing activity under three headings - Expertise, Funding and Networking.

In relation to expertise we worked with Enterprise Ireland to create the Internet Growth Acceleration Programme (iGAP). This is a multi module development programme that runs over several months covering everything from strategy, monetising your web application, preparing for investing etc. It gives participants an opportunity to get a deep understanding of these issues and help businesses to formulate aggressive growth plans. Many business advisors are supporting the Internet Growth Acceleration Programme and each participant will have an advisor assigned for the duration of the course.

It is the most comprehensive internet development programme undertaken to date.

The issue of funding is central to building this sector and the dynamics of funding have changed in recent times. Work has commenced on exploring the various and numerous funding options that are possible. The overall aim is to find a practical way for a large number of early stage internet businesses to get access to relatively small amounts of funding. The aim of these early investments and/or grants is to achieve strategic milestones and not necessarily revenue. This work is ongoing.

Finally when it comes to networking we are looking to create and run an event that will promote collaboration among the key internet industry stakeholders. We will bring new and budding entrepreneurs to meet "seasoned" internet people, investors and role models, breaking down barriers and finding mutual ways to accellrate growth.