Latest news with #MartinaFitzgerald
RTÉ News
30-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
NEIC Start Up Entrepreneur class of 2025 graduate
The NEIC (North East Inner City) Start Up Entrepreneurship programme's graduation ceremony for its 2025 programme at a "Dragon's Den" style event was held at the headquarters of aircraft lessor Avolon today. Participants pitched their new business ideas to a panel of dragons including former Dublin GAA football player Paddy Andrews and Scale Ireland CEO Martina Fitzgerald. Business ideas planned by the graduates included the hire and repair of sustainable e-scooters, AI-powered predictive energy management and blockchain-based cybersecurity software solutions. The NEIC 10-week programme provides the opportunity for young people aged between 18-30 to develop their business idea and build their competencies as an entrepreneur. The programme was created in a partnership that included the NEIC Initiative, TU Dublin Growth Hub, Inner City Enterprise, Open Doors Initiative, Dogpatch Labs and Avolon. "We are committed to maximising educational, training and employment opportunities. Through NEIC Start Up, we empower young people to explore self-employment, unlocking business ideas and building a brighter future for the NEIC Community," Jim Gavin, Chairperson of the Programme Implementation Board for the NEIC Initiative, said. Tom Cooney, Professor of Entrepreneurship at TU Dublin, said the NEIC Start Up Programme is a powerful example of how TU Dublin and community partners are unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of young people in Dublin's inner city. Fionn Crowley, Chair of Avolon's CARE Committee, said the programme provides participants with tangible skills to succeed as they look to take the brave step of launching their business idea. "Avolon started its life 15 years ago and has grown to be one of the world's leading lessors, and we welcome the opportunity to celebrate this group of young people on their entrepreneurship journey," he added.
RTÉ News
08-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Access to funding biggest concern for start-ups
Access to funding remains the biggest concern for the founders and CEOs of start-up companies according to new research. Scale Ireland's "2025 State of Start-ups Survey" also found that start-ups are harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence with almost 90% of respondents deploying or preparing to deploy AI. The recruitment and retention of staff remains a major challenge, according to the study. More than half of founders said staff retention was as difficult as the previous year, while almost 17% found it more difficult. Over half of respondents rated the contribution of non-EU workers as "very significant". Overall, nearly two-thirds of start-up leaders feel Ireland is not doing enough to help indigenous tech firms attract and retain talent. The survey of 235 CEOs and founders was conducted by Scale Ireland, an independent not-for-profit representative organisation which advocates on behalf of Irish tech start-ups and scale-up companies. "At this time of uncertainty globally, our findings reinforce the need to bolster our indigenous sector," the CEO of Scale Ireland, Martina Fitzgerald, said. "It is vital that we mobilise private capital to ensure Irish companies can scale globally and remain here in Ireland," Ms Fitzgerald said. The survey is being released to coincide with Scale Ireland's Regional Start-up Summit which takes place in Athlone today.
