The Startup Gathering programme of almost 400 events gets underway in the Google Foundry today with the Dublin Startup Island 2020 Forum, which will include guest speakers from Startup Commons Global, Intel’s Internet of Things, Dell, and Startup Gathering sponsor Bank of Ireland.

The event will be addressed by Richard Bruton, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation  and Ged Nash, Minister for Business & Employment. Supported by Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the Action Plan for Jobs 2015 and sponsored by Bank of Ireland, the Startup Gathering 2015 is set to be one of the biggest startup events in the world.  The aim of the Startup Gathering is to promote entrepreneurship and help develop word-class regional startup hubs as well as highlighting Ireland’s startup sector to global entrepreneurs, innovators and research and development teams.

Close to 400 gatherings will take place in 5 cities over 5 days – Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway, giving participants the opportunity to showcase their startups, connect to the supports and services they need, take part in networking opportunities and collaborate with other startups and established corporates.  There are also extensive Startup Gathering programmes taking place in the North East and North West.

Speaking at Startup Island 2020 Forum, Minister Richard Bruton, said “As I have said before, we have great entrepreneurs in Ireland, we just don’t have enough of them. Two thirds of all new jobs across the economy are created by startups – that’s why it is so crucial that we get our policies on entrepreneurship right. We have put in place a startup plan aiming to create almost 100,000 extra jobs from startups over the coming years, and we have created new mentoring supports, new incubation spaces, new tax measures and a new competition to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur.

The Startup Gathering is a major part of this plan, and the response to the initiative to date is more evidence of the huge potential that exists. I would encourage anyone with an interest in starting a business to get involved, and I look forward to an exciting programme of events across the country over the next week.”

Minister Ged Nash, who chairs the Steering Committee of the Startup Gathering, said “The next week is a fantastic opportunity for those who are thinking of starting a business, those who want to scale their business or others who might want to invest in startups to come together, be inspired by each other and share new ideas during the 400 events taking place.  I have championed the idea of the Startup Gathering from the outset and am very pleased to see such an array of events right across the country celebrating our startup ecosystem and, more importantly examining how Ireland can truly become a startup hub, to rival any other country globally.  I would encourage any entrepreneurs or those with an entrepreneurial spirit to get involved and support the Startup Gathering.”

Some of the speakers throughout the week include;

   · Eoin Costello, CEO & Co-Founder Startup Ireland

   · Oscar Ramirez Munoz & Valto Loikkanen, Startup Commons Global

   · Philip Moynagh, Vice President, Intel Internet of Things

   · Niamh Townsend, General Manager, Dell Ireland

   · Dermot Berkery, Delta Partners

   · Elaine Lavery, Co-Founder Improper Butter

   · Carl Power, National Digital Research Centre

   · Shane Lynn, Founder & COE KillBiller

   · David Tighe, Head of Innovation, Bank of Ireland