Here are a few simple steps to help craft the perfect 60-second business pitch
Life's a pitch - but are you pitch ready? Life's a pitch - but are you pitch ready? Regardless of whether you're a startup, staff member or ceo, you need to be able to pitch your idea, yourself or your company any time, any place, anywhere. You may not even realise the many opportunities you get in a day to pitch. It doesn't have to be a formal networking event or even a pitch competition; it's often just a conversation with the right person at the right time. Pitching can be


Entrepreneurs invited to showcase their success at Bank of Ireland Startup Awards 2017
Irish entrepreneurs are invited to showcase their business success at the sixth annual Bank of Ireland Startup Awards 2017. The competition recognises and rewards companies and organisations across 13 categories including digital, food and drink, retail and fintech, health & healthcare and technology. Companies that are in business for three years or less at the closing date, with up to 30 employees can enter the awards - free of charge - on their own behalf or can be nominat

229 small companies share €32m in Enterprise Ireland subsidies
Mark Bennett and Wawrzyniec Wawro, co-founders of BikeLook, one of the companies that Enterprise Ireland invested in More than 220 startup companies received an average of €140,000 each in Enterprise Ireland subsidies last year, new figures show. In all, the State agency invested €32m in 229 small young companies adjudged to have growth potential. Half of the companies were Dublin-based, while 28pc were female-led. Of those startups, 128 received money under 'Competitive Star


Accelerator programme aims to aid business owners over 50 seeking to scale-up
At the launch of ‘Ingenuity’ were David Merriman, head of enterprise development at Bank of Ireland; Peter Dunne of Carbon Conversion Technology, a previous participant in the ISAX mentoring programme; and Anne Connolly, chief executive of ISAX Ireland Smart Ageing Exchange (ISAX) has launched 'Ingenuity', a new accelerator programme targeted at business owners aged over 50 who are seeking to scale-up their businesses. The programme is running in conjunction with the DCU Ryan


Problem Solver: Concentrate on market that will bring greatest return
Q: I run an online business which is growing steadily and is about to move into profitability for the first time since I started six years ago. While we cover all the major centres of population in the urban areas, Dublin is growing at a more rapid rate. In terms of focus, can you give me any tips? A: I am delighted to hear things are going well and it is inspiring to hear about online businesses being successful. To some degree, the answer is in your question. Dublin has a


Frontline launches €60m fund for 'early' startups
Dublin-based tech investment firm Frontline Ventures has announced a new €60m fund dedicated to backing early-stage business software startups. Company directors say that they will use the money to invest in eight to 10 early-stage software startups every year for the next four years. It's the second major round raised by Frontline. A €50m fund raised by the company in 2013 was invested in 27 Irish and UK startups. Frontline typically invests between €200,000 and €3m in early


Analysis: It's a good day for small Irish software firms
This is a serious shot in the arm for Irish tech startups. Up to 40 young companies will get at least some access to this new €60m fund. Looking at Frontline's investment history, the majority of these will be in Ireland. It's keenly needed. There has been a tightening of venture cash available to small Irish tech firms in recent years, with many forced to look abroad. The situation has improved in the last 12 months, but many startups still complain of too-rigid criteria fro

