Rising Star category open to start-ups in Deloitte Fast 50


22 Aug 2011

Two up-and-coming technology companies in business less than five years are to be recognised in the Rising Star category of the Deloitte Fast 50 Technology Awards this year.

There are two weeks left to enter the 2011 competition, which recognises and ranks Ireland’s indigenous technology companies with exceptional growth in turnover over the past five years.

Previous winning companies include Daft Media, PulseLearning, Lincor Solutions, and most recently 2010’s winning entry Software Asset Management Ireland (SAMI), a supplier of software and information technology solutions to the education and voluntary sector.

The company, which was set up in 2003, achieved an aggregate growth rate of 5,505pc over the previous five years. In addition, the company also achieved a top 10 spot in the 2010 EMEA Fast 500 ranking, coming in at position 8.

Companies that want to enter the programme, but haven’t been in business for the minimum five years, may qualify for the Rising Star category on satisfaction of the following criteria:

  • Entrants must have been operating for a minimum of three years and less than five years, with turnover of at least €30,000 for 2008.
  • Entrants can be public or private companies but the parent company must be headquartered in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Subsidiaries or divisions do not qualify.
  • Each entrant must be a technology company defined as producing technology; manufacturing technology-related products; being technologically intensive or using technology in problem-solving; or devoting a high percentage of effort to the research and development of technology.

This year the awards will take place in the Convention Centre in Dublin on 21 October 2011. The closing date for entries is 1 September.

Photo (left to right): Norman McBrien, COO, Software Asset Management Ireland, the 2010 Fast 50 winner and David O’Flanagan, partner, Deloitte