Ireland's leading programme for business start-ups is currently recruiting participants for their second programme. The closing date for applications is January 26. Eighty participants will be asked to commit three hours on one evening a week over the next two months in Dublin or Kerry. This phase of the programme is open to founders with business ideas and co-founders with expertise in a range of disciplines that will complement the business.
Endeavour 2011 has access to finance to make your business a reality. It will make small seed investments in every business that enters Phase 2 of the programme. At the end of Phase 2, there will be an investor week where Endeavour participants will pitch to Silicon Valley and London VCs. This is a real opportunity for people to turn their ideas into reality.
Endeavour was launched last year. The first Endeavourees have a current combined funding valuation already well in excess of €10m based on investments closed or imminent. Amongst the first batch of Endeavourees are three Galway men, Warren Healy from Carna, Connemara, John McGuire and Phillip McNamara, Galway City.
Since completing Endeavour, Mr Healy’s company Locallotto.ie has increased their clients by 32% and tripled their revenue since this time last year. They have re-branded their company to Myclubfinances.com and hired two new programmers to assist in software developments. They are also in the process of partnering with sales associates across Ireland and the UK to further expand their client base.
Phillip McNamara has had similar success with TapMap. His company has been selected by Plug and Play Technology Centre in Silicon Valley as a high potential start-up. He says Endeavour gave him the focus and guidance he needed to move his idea along,
“The Endeavour Programme helped us to completely alter the structure of the business. The fact that we had to pitch our business ideas to some of Ireland’s leading start-ups required a big shift in focus. We have now created commercial partnerships with some of the biggest retailers in the US and one of the largest online e-commerce companies.”
John McGuire’s company, Active Mind Technology is another success story from last year’s programme. Active Mind Technology captures real time sports data and then displays that data in an analytical and social platform. Their first market is golf and they have developed the platform imeeGOLF.com McGuire is currently in Silicon Valley engaged in investment talks,
“The network that this programme opens up to those willing to take the opportunity is phenomenal. Endeavour gives you both the solid foundation and the fuel to build that successful global business – to build a dream,” he said.
Phase Twol of the programme brings with it unique access to a personal mentor and also access to the US and Asian mentor teams lead by the Collisons and Liam Casey [PCH International]. Stan McCarthy, CEO of Kerry Group is a mentor on Endeavour along with Hugh O’Donnell, Dave Bobbett, Anne Heraty, Michael Dawson, Pat O’Flynn, Michael Carey, Jim Breen, Dave Roynane, and Frank Salmon.
Active Mind Technology is developing technology that captures real time sports data and then displays that data in an analytical and social platform.
For anyone thinking about starting, growing or joining a start-up business then check out the successful Endeavour Programme at www.endeavour.biz It’s an opportunity for students, founders, techies, tired managers to meet and bounce your ideas off seasoned business people from Ireland, US and Asia, and develop your project further. If you and your idea is good enough, then you can get development time with a personal mentor, acquire new skills, and access seed investment funding to help make it a success.
