Ireland as a Startup Island

​Accenture supporting Start-Ups in Ireland

Overview

Accenture is delighted to partner with Startup Ireland to support the Startup Gathering. At Accenture we are passionate about the need to build bridges between the Startup community and big business as a tangible way to drive innovation. We also fully subscribe to playing our part in strengthening the startup ecosystem and want to walk the talk and take part.

We believe Ireland is uniquely positioned to become a global Startup hub and a Startup Island by 2020 and we look forward to taking part in Startup Gathering 2015

#StartupConnect
Accenture Ireland has developed the #StartupConnect concept as part of its continued focus on innovation and our commitment to drive engagement with the Startup community in Ireland.

#StartupConnect is an internal Startup Club for Accenture employees offering them a platform to engage with the Startup Community in a mentorship role through Accenture’s Startup programmes including Leaders of Tomorrow and The FinTech Innovation Lab Dublin.

Through #StartupConnect Accenture in Ireland is supporting and encouraging other organisations and research centres to establish their own #StartupConnect which in time will result in a much richer and larger ecosystem for Startups in Ireland.

Just think of the power and the potential impact of connecting several #StartupConnects acwalross Ireland. We are up for the challenge. Are you?

Leaders of Tomorrow

In association with NDRC and The Irish Times, The Accenture Leaders of Tomorrow Award is designed to nurture and develop innovative ideas or concepts which may positively impact some of the challenges facing Ireland today.

Our ambition is to develop the next generation of talent that will help in shaping the public, private and social landscape of Ireland in coming years.

This competition is open to undergraduate students who have a Startup idea or a Startup as well as recent graduates who have a Startup idea or a Startup (1 year out).

The overall winner(s) are taken on the Leadership and Innovation Tour to one of Accenture’s Global Innovation Centres. These Centres are strategically located in cities of significant start-up activity where participants receive access to mentoring and an opportunity to expand their network.

The FinTech Innnovation Lab Dublin

During Startup Gathering, Accenture will launch the second FinTech Innovation Lab Dublin. In partnership with Enterprise Ireland the programme is looking for Ireland’s best early stage tech companies to join the 12 week accelerator programme.

The goal of the programme is to bring early stage Irish companies to the next level and, for those who are ready to scale and go global, link them with leading financial services and technology companies. The programme is run by Accenture and includes partners from Irelands leading Financial Services and Payments companies.

At the end of this programme there are 2 investor days the first of which is in Dublin and the second in London giving opportunity to pitch to a wider set of investors in London

Accenture Ireland Entrepreneur In Residence Programme

The new Accenture Ireland Entrepreneur in Residence is a six month programme to support Accenture’s commitment to drive innovation through engagement with the local startup community.

The Accenture Entrepreneur in Residence will;

  • champion our existing startup programmes (Leaders of Tomorrow, The FinTech Innovation Lab and #StartupConnect)

  • directly engage with the local startup community and universities

  • facilitate workshops with our employees and clients

Supporting Startup Talent

We believe that supporting startup talent is a tangible way bigger organisations can play their part in strengthening the local ecosystem.

Connecting and co-creating is at the heart of innovation and we look forward to teaming with the Accenture EIR to work alongside our teams in the new Centre for Innovation and those who go on campus visiting 3rd level organisations around the country.

Who is the inaugural Accenture Ireland Entrepreneur in Residence?

Sean Judge is the Founder of UniTuition a platform to help college graduates source grinds from top talent within University. Sean’s co-founder is Orla McCallion.

In the short time since launch UniTuition has grown to over 5,000 users in Ireland and the UK, operating in 15 universities. The company has recently won the LaunchBox accelerator, and is taking part in Enterprise Ireland's Access Silicon Valley program in San Francisco in November. UniTuition was offered pre-seed funding and a place on the NDRC Launchpad programme.

How will Accenture support the Entrepreneur in Residence?

Accenture will provide office space, funding, mentoring and access to Accenture’s global network.

For further information on Accenture Ireland Startup initiatives contact Eithne.harley@accenture.com