Impact Report Shows Irish BICs Engaged with more than 1,000 New Clients Between 2022 and 2024

Image caption: Martin Murray, Furthr; Conor O'Donovan, Enterprise Ireland; Aidan Shine, PropelorBIC; Fionnuala Wall, AxisBIC and John Brennan, WestBIC

Irish BICs (Business Innovation Centres), which supports start-ups to access funding, mentorship and specialised resources, has launched an Impact Report. This is the first time the four BICs from around Ireland have come together to launch the report. 

The report shows the four BICs engaged with more than 1,000 new clients over the three years from 2022 to 2024. The Irish BICs are supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. 

The report, which covers the period from 2022 to 2024 also highlights that during this timeframe, there were 143 successful Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) applications.

Figures show that 68% of companies awarded PSSF funding nationally worked with the Irish BICs. The report also shows that 59% of companies awarded iHPSU status nationally worked with the Irish BICs and there were 157 successful iHPSUs applications.

Chair of the Irish BICS, Martin Murray of Furthr, said: “This impact report is important as it highlights the crucial role played by the Irish BICs in helping innovative start-ups to grow and develop into a successful enterprise. The four BICs have been providing invaluable supports for more than three decades to start-ups right around the country. By coming together under the one umbrella, we are strengthening our message that our experienced mentors are on hand to help overcome all the challenges a new business faces.”

Conor O'Donovan, Head of Start-Ups and Entrepreneurship at Enterprise Ireland added: “The four BICs have been providing specialised supports and services to start-ups for 35 years. Enterprise Ireland partners with the BICs to accelerate the growth and development of ambitious Irish enterprises on their journey to compete and scale internationally. This report highlights the dynamic ecosystem in Ireland for supporting innovative startups such as Ground Wellbeing, Assiduous, Tailr and ByoWave. We hope their success inspires others to contact the BICs for assistance with developing their business proposition.”

As well as offering mentorship to innovative and scaling businesses, the Irish BICs provide support to early-stage companies applying to Enterprise Ireland for Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) and iHPSU (innovative High Potential Start-Up) funding. In addition, the BICs collaborate with Enterprise Ireland to deliver capability building programmes such as Prep4Seed, an investor readiness programme.

More information on the Irish BICs can be found on www.irishbics.ie

 ENDS

Note to editors:

The four BICs are:

• AxisBIC - Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick
• Furthr - Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Wicklow
• Propelor - Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford
• Westbic - Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath 

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT

Fiona Corcoran, Healy Communications on behalf of the Irish BICs

087 052 1488 or fiona@healycommunications.ie