Comments for Damien Mulley

Comment on Don’t be at your desk, don’t be in Cork, don’t be in Ireland by Paraic Hegarty

Paraic Hegarty — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:41:38 +0000

I actually don’t know what Trustev’s business model is but it seems to me they might look like a consumer-oriented startup now but that they’re actually an enterprise software sale to businesses in the payment chain. The fact that there are no customers for that in Ireland might explain the travel.

Your points re not building in Ireland are pretty valid if you’re talking about consumer-oriented startups that can scale quickly and if you think that VC funding is necessary to do that. Of course, if you do believe those things, then you’re probably building an exit rather than a company.

My own company is selling to Higher Ed. We have a viable market in Ireland for a 2-person company. Happily, the market value in the country next door is 30 times bigger. Even more happily, the 48 countries in the European Higher Education Area makes that market 10 times bigger again.

There are also lots of founders, wannapreneurs and startholes out there doing their own fair share of bleating about lack of funding and skilled workers instead of landing customers. I don’t include the @trustev guys in that camp.

Comment on Don’t be at your desk, don’t be in Cork, don’t be in Ireland by Robert Bushnell

Robert Bushnell — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:05:18 +0000

If start ups concentrated on making a product or solution that the market actually wants and is willing to pay for instead of “going to Silicon Valley” for no obvious reason they would be better off. Some “stars” like the Collisons need to go there, most companies should spend their time and money on making a product/market fit. There is a huge market on your doorstep – U.K. and Europe. Many commentators in the U.S. now acknowledge that a start up can grow to a fair size based anywhere int eh world that has talent, broadband and peace.

Comment on Don’t be at your desk, don’t be in Cork, don’t be in Ireland by Vinny

Vinny — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:25:56 +0000

Agree with quite alot of this. Tech start up of the week is a dangerous almost ludicrous affirmation to be made but then log on to most “industry” sites this AM and you will see just that. Our ability to sustain most of even the credible few of these companies is just not here. We don’t and won’t have it. We don’t have companies willing to invest to get critical mass of testers either – real testers. The focus is fixed in the wrong place. A real look at the supporting role of education in broader areas, like engineering, sciences and process driven people needs to be looked at. Re skilling for those who are our of work. Lots of talk about ecomm too and it is generally aimed in the wrong areas. No real support or knowledge still in the country.

Comment on Don’t be at your desk, don’t be in Cork, don’t be in Ireland by Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:38:11 +0000

Good post –
Ireland is just too small – you really have to be looking at bigger markets and solving bigger problems – have the talent in Ireland but unless you get on a plane and get into those markets you are making it very difficult and limiting you customer base

Comment on Don’t be at your desk, don’t be in Cork, don’t be in Ireland by Paul

Paul — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 06:31:24 +0000

Fair points Herr Mulley. I think you can stay in Ireland, even Cork at the start, but you have to be prepared (and financed) to be on a plane every week and go to where the money / partners are. Eventually you would need to spend more and more time away from Ireland to where it makes sense not to live there anymore. Obviously this depends on the potential scale and market of your business.

For those thinking of going check into the Startup Visa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startup_Visa

P.S. would love to hear the real EMC story someday.

Comment on Don’t be at your desk, don’t be in Cork, don’t be in Ireland by Maurice

Maurice — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:59:18 +0000

I was talking to someone just back from silicon valley. They’ve an Irish start up. But they know they’re going to have to go where the money and the experience is and that is probably the west coast of the states. He was making the point as well that silicon valley is 40 years ahead of Ireland – they have the start up infrastructure, the venture capital, everything you need to get ahead of the game. Sure, people can come back but it’s where we need to go to make things work. Same guy will be heading out again in a little while. Best of luck to him I say, and lets see more irish folk heading west.

Comment on Don’t be at your desk, don’t be in Cork, don’t be in Ireland by Don’t be at your desk, don’t be in Cork, don’t be in Ireland | project deathstar

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:54:15 +0000

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Comment on Don’t be at your desk, don’t be in Cork, don’t be in Ireland by Roger O'Keeffe

Roger O'Keeffe — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:46:40 +0000

I could take issue with some of your arguments, but love the honesty of the tail end.

Comment on What is porn site juggernaut Manwin doing in Ireland? by Dara

Dara — Tue, 28 May 2013 10:32:19 +0000

I had heard in a report, a suggestion that their was some tax advantage. But the report did also say that they would be creating employment.
That is to say, employment in technology side of things. As Ireland has been making itself a popular location for games developers. It has just been a matter of time before a company like this located here.

Comment on Fluffy Links – Monday November 5th 2007 by Less Sexy Back, More Non Sexy and Gack with Mangroomer - Beaut.ie - The Irish Beauty Blog

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:09:26 +0000

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