Hothouse program www.hothouse.ie offers:
* Free incubation space for 1 year
* Ten sessions with a business mentor
* Workshops on key topics
* Access to funding
The next program is starting in mid Sept. and they are currently accepting applications.
Hothouse Venture Programme, is a year-long comprehensive support and incubation programme for entrepreneurs with technology based business ideas. The programme offers a number of supports including:
- Incubation space
- Management development training
- Strategic business counselling
- Access to an enterprise and investment network
- Access to funding through Enterprise Ireland CORD grant which could provide you with up to 50% of your previous years salary paid to you on a monthly basis over the course of the Programme The guideline requirements for CORD are...
* Potential to have turnover of e1million and 10 employees within three years
* Have strong export potential.
* Have some new or unique technology
Note you can still come on Hothouse without being eligible for CORD.
The workshops are run once a month for 12 months on a Friday and Saturday 10am – 5pm. They are generally very practical in nature. Lots of collaborative work, case studies and active participation. The cover topics such as Business strategy, Legal, Market research, Finance, Pitching to customers and/or investors, Sales, time management, and HR. So a broad range of the relevant topics in setting up a successful business.
We also organise mentors. These are professional people most often from the industry relevant to your business. They have great experience and often great contacts.
You can apply by emailing info@pdc.ie with a description of your business, what stage your service/product (e.g. proto type, trial customers, trading etc). Also any market demand feedback. A copy of your CV is also useful. More details on the Hothouse brochure www.pdc.ie/pdf/Hothouse.pdf
Contact: Brendan Ring
Programme Manager
DIT Hothouse
Dublin Docklands Innovation Park
128-130 East Wall Road, Dublin 3
Tel: +353 (0)1 240 1307
Fax: +353 (0)1 240 1310
Email: brendan.ring@pdc.ie
Web: www.hothouse.ie