CorkBIC Celebrates 25 years of Building the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
20 June, 2014
AxisBIC Celebrates 25 years of Building the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
19th June 2014 – Today AxisBIC celebrated 25 years of Building the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs and high growth businesses. Over 100 people joined AxisBIC including Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, clients, friends, supporters and partners.
Speaking at the event Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said “AxisBIC has played and continues to play a pivotal role in encouraging entrepreneurship in the Cork and Kerry region. The work they do is crucial in ensuring that businesses harness the opportunities both in Ireland and across the globe. AxisBIC has worked closely with Enterprise Ireland over the past 25 years; this is testament to the number of HPSUs we see in the Cork region.”
Pictured at the event: Arun Kapil, Green Saffron; Veronica Kenneally, Veronica's Snacks; Pat Ryan, Abtran; Julie Sinnamon, Enterprise Ireland and Michael O'Connor, AxisBIC
Beginning in 1988, AxisBIC has been working with entrepreneurs creating high growth companies. Key is the creation of initiatives, programmes and events that stimulate entrepreneurship, growth and investment in the region as well as encouraging businesses to think globally with strategic alliances in Europe and beyond.
Some of the initiatives that AxisBIC have been involved in, include; founding it@Cork in 1997; developing the funding consortium to establish National Software Centre in 1998; first Enterprise Start delivered by AxisBIC and Enterprise Ireland in 2004; Launching the Business Angel Partnership with the Irish BICs in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Inter Trade Ireland in 2007; supporting the formation of CoderDojo in 2011; First Entrepreneur Experience® in 2011 and many more. These initiatives have assisted in the following:
- AxisBIC Business Angel Partnership has completed 46 investment deals locally raising €16m and creating 204 jobs (2007- 2013)
- In 2013 AxisBIC worked with 84% of the EI HPSUs in its region
- AxisBIC Venture Academies alone have assisted 34 companies raise €10.32m, with 16 of them becoming EI HPSU’s
- The AxisBIC 24 hour ‘deep immersion’ coaching event called the Entrepreneur Experience® has assisted 68 companies, 16 of which became HPSUs, 7 received CSF funding and €12.45m investment was raised
Speaking about his experience with AxisBIC, Paul Prendergast, founder Inhance Technology said “AxisBIC is an incredible resource for start-ups in the region. They have been a great resource to Inhance Technology over the past number of years and provide a real focal point for our company at our different stages of development. The team at AxisBIC have all built businesses and know how tough it is , they provide real support across a wide variety of areas that are all key to a company’s success.” Inhance Technology was founded in 2005 employs 50 people in Cork, UK and the US.