iGAP3 has started and the IGA is delighted to be involved - sincere thanks to Arthur Cox, Realex Payments, exetop, worky, PaddyPower, QualComm and KPMG for their continued and kind sponsorship of this years programme.
Over the last two
years a number of colleagues and I have been involved in the Internet Growth
Alliance (www.alliance.ie). The group
aims to help build and maintain a large and cohesive network of Irish internet
businesses and people. We work closely with Enterprise
Ireland
discussing and supporting new development and funding programmes.
Tomorrow, (Wednesday 11th May) we will be going along to Enterprise Ireland offices in East
Point, Dublin,
to hear pitches from 19 Irish Internet businesses. These are the businesses
enrolled in the second Internet Growth Acceleration Programme – also known as
iGAP – follow #igap on twitter to see the comment and links to articles about
the programme.
iGAP 2 – the second of the Enterprise run Internet Growth Acceleration
Programmes kicked off in October 2010. This year, 19 businesses made the cut
from over 70 applications. They are:
Excellent news - The Internet Growth
Acceleration Prgoramme - iGAP 2 is now open for applications. Get your
application in before the 6th September 2010.
The second iGAP or iGAP 2 is now open for
applications. Follow this link
where you will find all the information needed along with the application
process.
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 second programme will be intensive.
Yesterday, Thursday 21st April was the iGAP finale. Simply
put, it was fantastic. The fifteen businesses all completed seven minute
pitches to a panel. The presentations were of extraordinarily high standard –
across the board. The change and uplift that each business had achieved over the
programme was very evident. The internet entrepreneurs were clear, concise and subjected
to three minutes of questions from the panel.
The panel consisted of Ray Nolan (worky.com), Colm Healy (Xiam), Breon
Corcoran (paddypower.com), Rob Corbet (Arthur Cox) and me – Colm Lyon (Realex
Payments). Brain Caulfield, who was the programme lead for iGAP was ash cloud
stranded, which was a shame. Brian’s input for the programme has been instrumental
and I mentioned that he has done an incredible job – both in terms of the
content and his own leadership to inspire people.
All the participating businesses on the Internet Growth Acceleration Programme (iGAP) have now completed the six modules. Feedback from the attendees has been excellent. Speakers and presentations covered a wide range of topics all geared towards building and growing internet businesses. The finale, at which each business will make a pitch will take place on Thursday 21st April 2010. The finale is being sponsored by Arthur Cox and the IGA would like to extend a large thank you to all the other sponsors - Qualcomm, Realex Payments, Paddy Power and Worky.
The programme has been a great success and sincere thanks to Brian Caulfield and all the people in EI who have worked so hard to make this happen - We look forward to hearing about your future plans :-)
If you are on this programme please add a comment.
The great news is that the Internet Growth Acceleration Programme kicked off this week with fifteen Irish internet businesses on baord. The following companies made the shortlist and well done to each of you.
Over the last few months the Business Advisors from the Internet Growth Alliance and Enterprise Ireland have been working on developing and creating a comprehensive programme of learning aimed towards Irish internet businesses that wish to scale.
Today sees the launch of the Internet Growth Acceleration Programme. It is comprehensive, intensive and it will provide Irish internet entrepreneurs with access to a host of learning and networking opportunities - both local and worldwide. Download a pdf on the programme here. The programme will run from November 2009 to April 2010 and EI are now accepting applications - see www.enterprise-ireland.com/igap for details and the application process.
Sincere thanks to the people in EI for working on this project and in particular a big "thank you" to all the business advisors who gave up their time to support and input to the creation of this programme - I have no doubt that this programme will help many Irish Internet businesses as they devise and implement their international growth strategies. See Press Release here. Please spread the word about this programme! Colm.
Just a brief update to let you know what's been happening with the Internet Growth Alliance. We held our second meeting on Friday 10th July and made a lot of progress. Representatives from the Irish Internet Association, the Irish Software Association, the Digital Hub, Enterprise Ireland and the Institute of International and European affairs attended along with all the business advisors - Colm Lyon, Ray Nolan, Pat Phelan, Dylan Collins, Damien Mulley, Colm Healy, Breon Corcoran and Rob Corbet. Web 2 Ireland are now also involved with the Alliance.
We had Expertise, Funding, Networking and Policy on the agenda.
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