Pioneering Dublin social-networking company Weedle is to create 50 new jobs as part of its quest to enable users to showcase any skill, expertise or talent they have to family, friends and social and professional contacts.
The investment into new jobs, announced by Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe TD, will be supported by Enterprise Ireland.
Thousands of people from more than 50 countries are using Weedle to help them be found by people who need their skill.
These include artists, accountants, architects, beauticians, carpenters, copywriters, doctors, designers, electricians, photographers, vets and others.
The company, which already employs 19 people, will create the 50 jobs in the development of next-generation web applications over the next three years.
Weedle leverages social media and semantic web technologies for the new platform.
“Weedle typifies the strong capacity of indigenous Irish firms to innovate in niche markets with high-potential online platforms that can spur the next generation of global internet brand leaders,” said O’Keefe.
“Internet giants such as Google, Facebook and eBay have already hubbed in Ireland.
“Now Weedle, an exciting Irish innovator in the internet sector, is an export-oriented firm the Government is keen to support in moving Ireland up the value chain.
“Importantly, the company is collaborating with focused higher education research activity, commercialising it and bringing it to market – and that process of commercialisation is key to the Government’s ‘smart economy plan.’
Brains behind Weedle
Weedle’s founders are Iain MacDonald, former chief executive of broadband provider Perlico, and Michael Gallagher, who has worked in telecommunications and financial services in the US and Ireland.
“In Ireland, the US and globally, there is a wealth of highly skilled people with great expertise,” said MacDonald.
“But despite there being significant demand from people who need these skills and expertise, there is no free large-scale simple way to match people with skills to those who need them.
“At Weedle, we are using the power of the internet and the trusted communities aspect of social media to make searching and connecting easier and to generate increased demand for skills and expertise worldwide,’ MacDonald said.
People offering professional services, trades, crafts, skills and other expertise can join Weedle free. The website has been online for three months now.
“Enterprise Ireland has worked closely with Weedle and we welcome today’s announcement,” said Enterprise Ireland’s head of High Potential Start-ups and Scaling, Greg Treston.
“A key element of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy is to grow a strong base of innovative indigenous companies with the products, services and business development strategies that enable them to carve out their own place in global markets and drive jobs and export sales at home.
“We look forward to working with Weedle on their continued global growth strategy,” Treston said.
