The Rubicon Centre, Ireland's leading business innovation hub yesterday celebrated the graduation of twelve entrepreneurs who successfully completed the 2013 New Frontiers Programme. The New Frontiers Programme is supported by Cork Institute of Technology and Enterprise Ireland as well as a strong working partnership across the business and economic development sectors in Ireland, with the showcase event being supported by The Irish Examiner.
The twelve graduate entrepreneurs cover a range of markets and sectors including ERP solutions, e-learning, talent selection software, food products, and the infant and preschool market. Each availed of supports from the Rubicon Centre which transformed their businesses into commercial enterprises that will have the potential to trade internationally and attract interest from the investment community.
Speaking at the graduation and awards ceremony, Dr. Brendan Murphy, President, CIT said, "This evening's ceremony is an event which inspires and provides great hope for the future of entrepreneurship in Ireland. Each of our 2013 New Frontiers graduates have made personal sacrifices in the hopes of building a brighter future for themselves and all of them have made huge progress since June of last year. I have no doubt that we will be seeing and hearing much more from them in the years ahead and I wish them every success in the future."
The overall winner of this year’s New Frontiers Programme was Pat Dineen of Platform Avenue, which provides talent management software to businesses and organisations and allows real time video interviews to be conducted. The company which is already hiring six people is on track to expand in to international markets this year. Speaking of the award Dineen said "I enrolled on the programme as an apologetic start up but can now say that I run an ambitious company with the capacity to do business internationally. A major part of that is down to the guidance I have received from the Rubicon Centre through the New Frontiers programme."
Margaret Shine, owner of one of the Rubicon Centre's most successful graduate companies, Sensory Research Limited (SRL) also received a special alumni award which will see her become the 2014 Ambassador for the Rubicon New Frontiers Programme.
John O' Doherty, regional director AIB, who chaired the judging panel said "Speaking on behalf of my fellow judges , each year we are encouraged to see a new group of start up companies with strong business cases and this year were delighted with the range and quality of the presentations. This is AIB's second year involved with the New Frontiers Programme and builds on our long-standing relationship with the Rubicon Centre providing outstanding support to all associated entrepreneurs. At AIB we always welcome the opportunity to outline AIB Business Start-Up Programme and how we can support each business through the entrepreneur journey".
Also speaking at the event, Peter Finnegan, Peter Finnegan, Case Manager of the New Frontiers programme in the Rubicon said" the New Frontier accelerator programme brings together entrepreneurs and a wide range of support from Enterprise Ireland , the county enterprise boards and the investment community to provide a launch pad in a targeted way. The 12 companies today join the alumni of the Rubicon and the New Frontiers Programme who have created 2,500 jobs and €100 million worth of investment to the Irish economy." He also went on to thank the sponsors of the programme as well as the Irish Examiner, media partner for the event.
The new 2014/2015 programme is now recruiting for entrepreneurs. Successful applicants will avail of access to CIT’s innovation ecosystem, a panel of trainers, advisers, access to Enterprise Ireland’s
mentor programme, €15,000 of financial support, peer-to-peer networking and support from the members of the Rubicon team.
