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PorterShed Celebrates 7th Birthday with Official Opening of Market St Location

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Galway, Ireland - Simon Coveney, TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, today, Thursday April 20, officially opened PorterShed A Dó, on Market Street,

The official opening coincides with the organisation's 7th birthday. Founded in 2016 the PorterShed has to date supported the creation of more than 835 high value jobs in the region. The new building, funded by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment through Enterprise Ireland's Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) initiative, will become home to an additional 200 indigenous tech startup members, offering a collaborative innovation space, production studio, boardroom podcast studio, rooftop garden, and conference rooms.

Maurice O'Gorman, Chairperson of PorterShed, said: "We are thrilled to be celebrating our 7th birthday by opening this new building, which will provide even more opportunities for tech startups to innovate and grow. We are grateful for the ongoing support of Enterprise Ireland who have been pivotal partners and funders for the PorterShed since 2016.

PorterShed has already established itself as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship under the banner of Galway City Innovation District, creating a down-town Innovation Community in the heart of Galway City.

The new building will help support the growth of even more indigenous tech startups in the region. The innovation space will provide opportunities for members to come together and share ideas, while the production studio and podcast studio will offer state-of-the-art facilities for content creation. The rooftop garden and multiple conference rooms will provide space for events and meetings, making PorterShed a Dó the perfect location for any tech startup looking to take their innovation driven enterprise to the next level.

Speaking at the official opening, Minister Coveney said he continues to be impressed by the growth of the tech sector in Galway and acknowledged the impact of the PorterShed in the region since it first opened in 2016.

“I am delighted to be here today to officially open PorterShed a Dó in the heart of Galway city. This remarkable state-of-the art facility in the former iconic Connaught Tribune Building will play a central role in enabling the growth of scaling enterprises in the West and further afield.

The first PorterShed located close by is firmly recognised as a best in class innovation hub, currently home to 65 innovation driven globally focused tech start-ups and in the last three years has supported a further 240 through pre-accelerator programmes. The new innovation and space at PorterShed A Dó will accommodate up to 100 people and will accelerate entrepreneurial activity in Galway providing space for tech start ups to meet, collaborate and ideate with access to cutting edge technology including a production studio, podcast studio and AV equipment and support.

The opening of Portershed a Dó, supported by over €2.9m in funding from my Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund, will further cement Galway’s reputation as hub for innovation and provide high potential businesses with the space and support they need to flourish and prosper. It is an example of one of the many enterprise initiatives the Government has supported throughout the country. The West Regional Enterprise Plan is responsive to the opportunities and needs of the region and focuses on regional collaboration. PorterShed is an example of the power of that collaboration, and I hope and expect that it will inspire similar initiatives in the region. I wish the centre and all the companies and entrepreneurs that avail of the facilities on offer every success for the future.”

Enterprise Ireland’s Regional Director for the West and Northwest, Meabh Conaghan added that, “PorterShed a Dó has been supported by Enterprise Ireland through the Regional Enterprise Development Fund which provides funding for innovation and collaborative projects with the aim of creating sustainable job creation in the regions. I would like to congratulate the Galway City Innovation District company on the official opening today and in providing tailored space for existing and start-up companies. Building on the success of the original PorterShed, and PorterShed a hAon, the new centre located on the old Connacht Tribune site in the heart of the city will help support an increase in value-added activity, collaboration and innovation by offering technical support and facilities, and links to training to strengthen the start-up community within the region. We look forward to working with the entrepreneurs and businesses that will develop their enterprises in this new collaboration hub, with the possibility of one day becoming an Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start-Up.”

The PorterShed has been backed by AIB since its inception and the bank has extended its sponsorship until 2026.

AIB’s Head of Galway and Mayo, Barry Cooley, said: “AIB has backed PorterShed on every step of its journey, from its inception in an abandoned storage shed to the impressive facilities it offers today. To coincide with the opening of PorterShed a Do and the 7th anniversary celebrations, I am delighted to announce that AIB has committed to extend its backing of PorterShed as it supports the development of cutting edge innovative tech in the West of Ireland. While being embedded in the Galway community, our friends in PorterShed offer their start-ups a gateway to the rest of the world.”

The PorterShed is also supported by sponsors KPMG, Siro Vodafone all of whose contributions have helped make this expansion possible.

Sheila Kavanagh, Network Director at Vodafone Ireland said: ‘’It is fantastic to see hubs just like the PorterShed continue to go from strength to strength. Today’s opening of PorterShed a Dó, demonstrates the continued value, demand and need for smart working hubs throughout the country. Through our Gigabit hub initiative our goal has always been to empower local business’ and communities through connectivity. The PorterShed is a shining example of what’s possible when we look at how connectivity can enable and enhance the work life balance of the people it serves, ultimately allowing them to pursue their careers within the area they are from, without sacrificing their quality of life or being forced to move to larger cities or abroad.’’

"We are pleased to be a part of the PorterShed story,"  John Keaney, CEO of SIRO, said. "Launched in 2017, the GigaBitHub Initiative has enabled digital hubs across Ireland to thrive by providing enterprise-grade symmetric, full fibre broadband. In 2022, the Portershed became the 17th hub to join the initiative, and we are proud to have played a role in supporting the growth and development of startups and innovative businesses in the Galway region. We look forward to continuing our partnership with PorterShed and supporting their mission to foster a culture of innovation in the community."

About PorterShed:

PorterShed is a collaborative workspace for startups and entrepreneurs located in Galway, Ireland. Since its founding in 2016, PorterShed has become a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, offering members access to resources and mentorship to help their tech businesses grow. The PorterShed commissioned a Socio Economic Impact Report in December 2022 which details the impact of The PorterShed on the West Region (KPMG REPORT HERE)

The PorterShed is also supported by AIB SIRO / Vodafone, KPMG and the WDC

For more information about PorterShed and its new building, please visit www.portershed.com.

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