Ireland’s President Mary McAleese gave an inspiring speech to Irish entrepreneurs at today’s Invest Ireland 2010 conference on innovation.
Invest Ireland 2010, the DCU Ryan Academy-hosted conference on innovation, continued today with presentations from Irish entrepreneurs aiming to get the attention of angel and venture investors – with the possibility of up to €30m funding to be secured.
Speaking at the conference, McAleese said: “This gathering of entrepreneurs with new and lively business ideas, and of professional investors with vibrant investment models, is an exciting concept and one that will be viewed with great interest in Ireland, particularly at this time as we intensify our efforts to increase our exports and stimulate our domestic economy.”
McAleese elaborated that only people with sound business plans generate jobs and the more State support these entrepreneurs receive the quicker the country will rise out of economic uncertainty.
Engines of endeavour
“Jobs are not created by spectators or by doing nothing. They are created by people with sound business ideas who can move their ideas skillfully from the drawing board to the factory floor. The more support, mentoring and encouragement those entrepreneurially-minded ideas people receive, the quicker will be the translation from good idea to decisive action. Both groups of people here today have much to offer each other – the insight and acumen that only experience can bring and the optimism and audacity of the fresh new entrepreneur. By bringing these together we can create mutually beneficial relationships which create the engines of endeavour through which economic activity begins and gains momentum,” she continued.
In total, 14 entrepreneurs presented to investors in the hope of securing a chunk of the seed capital that is ear-marked for investment with emerging growth businesses, start-ups, and university technologies all from Ireland.
The conference is being promoted through the DCU Ryan Academy, which exists to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. The iconic building in Citywest is growing to be a dynamic hub for entrepreneurs and researchers to develop ideas, learn new skills and network.
