Technology entrepreneur John Dennehy, the driving force behind companies like Zartis and Upstart Games, is back in the start-up game and has built an HR app for businesses based on the Windows Azure platform.
His new company, AssemblyPoint, has already scored its first client, Bandai Namco Networks Europe, the London-based publishers of the Pac-Man Mobile app.
The company in recent days just closed its first funding round of €300,000 involving AIB Seed Capital Fund, Enterprise Equity, Enterprise Ireland and Dennehy’s own personal investment.
Dennehy is the entrepreneur who established companies like Zartis and Upstart Games. A publisher of games for mobile devices, Upstart Games was acquired in 2006 by Sun TV Shop, a new media company with strong Irish connections that is listed on the AIM.
Assemblypoint.com is an online HR tool for SMEs. Its key product, HR Locker, allows companies to manage timesheets, annual leave and absence information online. Companies can also use it to store employee details.
“We launched HR Locker.ie two weeks ago. It allows SMEs in Ireland to create a legally compliant staff handbook in five minutes for €200. Employees can log onto the site and electronically sign the handbook. It replaces the whole paper process.
“The E-commerce Act of 2000 facilitates the provision of the electronic signature. There are also a lot of reporting tools built into the application,” Dennehy explained.
All HR content is provided by Graphite HRM, one of Ireland’s largest HR consultants.
“We built the app on Windows Azure so it’s hosted in Microsoft’s new US$500m data centre in Dublin. Both Microsoft and Graphite have been fantastic partners to work with.
“We’re currently localising the application for the Chinese market which we expect to have completed before the end of April,” Dennehy said.
By John Kennedy
Photo: Technology entrepreneur John Dennehy
