The Innovation in Business Centre (IiBC ) at GMIT, Castlebar, has launched the 2013 New Frontiers Entrepreneur Programme which is open to ambitious people with an innovative business idea.
Two information sessions will take place at the IiBC on Thursday, March 7, at 5.30pm and at 7pm with the programme due to commence in April 2013.
Two companies which have directly benefited from this programme in the past spoke to the Mayo Advertiser this week to highlight how their companies have grown and developed thanks to the structures in place within New Frontiers.
Colm Rochford of PowerSavvy has been based in the IiBC since 2009 after being made redundant. He had set down roots in Castlebar and despite being a Kerry native wanted to continue his family life in Mayo. This electrical engineer found that there were not many opportunities for him locally, but he had been treated very well in his redundancy and had a financial cushion to develop an idea.
Fortunately for Mr Rochford there was a New Frontiers Programme starting at the time and he was accepted onto it. “Nothing can prepare you for going from being employed to being self employed, and you have to take every opportunity available to help make that transition,” he explained. Things like doing jobs you are not comfortable with such as accounts, marketing and sales, can be daunting for any budding entrepreneur.
Mr Rochford’s business PowerSavvy evolves around a simple premise: Helping people to save money on their electricity bill by reducing or cutting out wastage, and given the economic climate the time was right for him to launch his company with households and businesses actively looking for ways to cut their costs.
“It’s very beneficial to be based in a place like this [IiBC],” Mr Rochford added, explaining that the expertise available gives more credibility to your business.
Another successful graduate of New Frontiers is TransSolve, headed by Jens Hellberg and his wife Sorcha. This South African native started the business in his native country but wanted to expand into Europe and after doing much research decided on Ireland as a base.
He too operates from the IiBC. His online platform enables a commercial vehicle salesperson, not from an engineering background, to graphically configure a vehicle (or combination, including trailers, bodies, and accessories ), to calculate axle weight distribution and maximum legal payload which helps identify the best vehicle configuration for a prospective client.
The Hellbergs applied to be part of New Frontiers and found that it gave them the extra skills to market the business. He admits that following the programme does take a bit of time but at the end you come away with a “way broader perspective and knowledge”.
According to Jens Hellberg: “If more people knew about the supports available to businesses there would be more people starting their own businesses.”
Qualifying entrepreneurs in New Frontiers will receive €15,000 in funding subject to satisfactory development reviews.
The programme is fully supported by experienced mentors and support is on hand from concept phase right through to commercialisation. Information is available at http://www.gmit.ie/iibc/new-frontiers.html
