Seedcamp investment and mentoring programme to make debut in Dublin

30 Apr 2014

A Seedcamp discussion at a previous event in Budapest, Hungary

One of Europe’s largest microseed investment and mentoring programmes, Seedcamp, is making its debut in Dublin to invest in promising local and international start-ups.

As part of the programme, more than 20 companies from Ireland and Europe have been shortlisted for a place in the Seedcamp Academy Programme. The winner is to be announced on 1 May at Google’s Dublin headquarters.

The eventual winner will participate in an intensive year-long programme of events focusing on all aspects of the company’s development, and will receive free office space in London and two US investor trips, along with a Founder Sponsor Pack worth €200,000. The Seedcamp team will then mentor the winner.

Each investment made from the Seedcamp fund is selected by a panel of more than 60 mentors and investors.

While the investor programme was launched in May 2007, this will mark the first time it will be hosting an event in Dublin.

Established by a group of 30 European investors, Seedcamp also runs initiatives to support the European start-up community, such as Seedhack and Seedsummit.

Naghmeh Reilly, senior marketing executive from Enterprise Ireland’s High Potential Start-up Division said it’s great to have Seedcamp in Ireland this week.

“We look forward to working with all the teams from Ireland and overseas. Of the 20 teams selected, more than half are from Ireland, which is a great testimony to the world-class innovative entrepreneurs here,” Reilly said.

John O’Dwyer, AIB’s head of technology, media and telecommunications banking, added this is a great opportunity for Irish start-ups to showcase their businesses to an international audience of venture capitalists, angel investors and corporates.

AIB is assisting the AIB Start-Up Accelerator Fund, ACT Venture Capital and Enterprise Ireland in bringing the event to Dublin.

ACT is an investor in Seedcamp. “Bringing this event to Dublin provides further evidence of Ireland’s attractiveness as a global start-up hub,” said ACT Venture Capital’s managing director John Flynn.

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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