This article is from page 76 of the 2007-10-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 76 JPG
AROUND 160 businesspeople from the region attended the first Mid West Entrepreneur Showcase, held in the Enterprise Acceleration Centre, Limerick Institute of Technology on Thursday last (October 4).
Among the innovative ideas on show were two from County Clare.
Eugene Crimmuins, Director, The Irish Bread Mix Company Ltd, which is based at Crimmins Bakery in Newmarket-on-Fergus, exhibited his easy-to-bake, additive-free bread mixes.
Although the company is at an early stage, the mixes are already selling to tourists in Bunratty Folk Park and at the Cliffs of Moher.
Liam Fahy of Fahy Analytical in Doora showcased his creative solu- tions to process problems in the med- ical and electronics areas. His com- pany provides cleaning for medical implants, and recycling services for used sandblast products. It also sup- plies lettering sand to stone masons.
Both men are participants in the Limerick Enterprise Acceleration Platform (LEAP) programme at EAC. As well as LEAP participants, other new and young companies in the mid-west exhibited. There were also stands for developments agen- cies, business associations, account- ants, banks, investors and other ad- visers.
The Showcase featured a half-day
seminar entitled “Funding for New and Established Start-Ups’.
Jerry Kennelly, the Kerry entre- preneur and founder of Stockbyte, which was sold in April 2006 for €110 million euro, gave a blow-by- blow account of how the business developed.
‘From a state support, infrastruc- ture, tax and can-do perspective, there has never been a better time to start a global business from Ireland,” | stemncyeB(Gm
David Boland, Managing Director of Documatics, revealed that his de- termination to set up his own busi-
ness was fuelled by having to work at a boring job during school holidays.
Documatics have developed a Busi- ness Process Management system using the Microsoft .NET platform.
Damian Young, head of the Small Business segment in Bank of Ireland, said that the environment for new businesses remains positive.
Drew O’Sullivan, an Investment Manager with 4th Level Ventures spoke on ‘Funding your Early Stage Venture – from BES to finding the right VC’.
Martin Corry, development advi- sor in Enterprise Ireland, said that the Showcase highlighted the range of business innovation in the region. He paid tribute to the late Dr Tony Ryan.
Dr Maria Hinfelaar, Director of LIT, who chaired the meeting, stated Merle MN ODM AYANOTSARCO1HuS OKC NENT. eee) tte omy could deliver a range of eco- nomic, regional and social benefits for Ireland.
The meeting was sponsored by Limerick based audit, tax and advi- sory providers, MGM Mulcahy Gor- man Mulcahy, and was part of Lim- erick Business Week.