Did you know?

• Homepage
• Chairman's Statement
• Chief Executive Officer's Report

• Section 1
  Achieving Export Sales
• Section 2
  Investing in Research and Innovation
• Section 3
  Competing Through Productivity
• Section 4
  Starting Up and Scaling Up
  • Connecting HPSUs and Investors
  • Start-up Class 2004
  • Opsona Therapeutics Ltd.
  • Delta Off-Site Solutions
  • Valista
• Section 5
  Driving Regional Enterprise

• Membership of the Board & Committees
• Organisation Structure
• Statutory and Other Notices
• Financial Statements
• Office Network

Start-up Class 2004

Enterprise Ireland hosted a showcase event to announce and profile the 65 new high potential start-up companies that were established in 2004 with Enterprise Ireland support. These companies are projected to create 1,900 new jobs within their first three years. The ‘Class of 2004’ event was hosted by Micheál Martin, TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Frank Ryan, CEO, Enterprise Ireland. It was also attended by representatives from venture capital firms and the wider investment community.

In addition to being a very important event for the investment community to meet these companies, the event also gives recognition to the important contribution these businesses make to the economy and acknowledges the ambition, determination and innovation of the entrepreneurs involved. The total investment in the 65 companies is €80 million across a variety of sectors, including biotechnology, functional foods, e-Learning and entertainment/media software.

Seven of the new start-ups, were created by expatriates returning to live in Ireland, a growing group that Enterprise Ireland is actively targeting and encouraging. In addition, 43% of the start-ups are located outside of Dublin. Many are located in regional cities while others have started up in more rural areas such as Roscommon, Leitrim and Tipperary. This spread of businesses contributes greatly to local economies encouraging balanced regional development, a key priority for Enterprise Ireland.

At Enterprise Ireland's Start-Up Class of 2004 were from left: Minister Micheál Martin, TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Pat O'Donnell, Lincor Solutions Ltd, Model Farm Road, Cork.

At Enterprise Ireland's Start-Up Class of 2004 were from left: Bryan Campbell, Lightstorm Networks; Minister Micheál Martin, TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Geraldine Kelly, Haptica Ltd.

At Enterprise Ireland's Start-Up Class of 2004 were from left: Sarita O'Carroll, Enterprise Ireland; Geraldine Kelly, Haptica Ltd; Ann-Marie Raftery, Pharmaplaz Ltd and Laura Shesgreen, Ntera.