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Kerry company selected for €17m national startup programme
CONTRACT: The RDI Hub team Reidín O'Connor (Member and Community Manager), Liam Cronin (CEO), and Fionnuala O'Callaghan (Operations Manager) have secured a contract to run State-backed start-up accelerator, NDRC.
Kerry's RDI Hub has been selected by the Irish Government to run Ireland’s national startup accelerator programme, the NDRC.
Alongside Dogpatch Labs, Portershed Galway, and Republic of Work Cork they’ll deliver accelerator and pre-accelerator programmes to globally ambitious entrepreneurs across every county in Ireland.
They will deliver mentorship-driven accelerator and pre-accelerator programmes, and pre-seed funding to entrepreneurs across Ireland. They will also invest in globally-focused, ‘high impact’ startups, to create world-class internationally scalable Irish companies.
Established in 2006, the NDRC is a Government initiative to invest in very young digital enterprises and start-ups. Following a competitive process, Dogpatch Labs, supported by its partners RDI Hub Kerry, Republic of Work Cork and Portershed Galway has been awarded the €17m contract to manage the service for the next five years. Ignite, which is the UK’s most active regional accelerator, also supported the bid and will provide international support and knowledge sharing with the network.
RDI Hub based in Killorglin is backed by Fexco, Institute of Technology, Tralee and Kerry County Council. A first of its kind, RDI Hub focuses on commercialisation of innovation and research in the technologies’ sectors and helps both indigenous and international start-ups and corporates scale their business.
The new NDRC programmes will take place in Kerry, Cork, Dublin and Galway, with applications opening in Q1 2021.
“This will ensure the best investors, advisors, researchers and technologists are accessible to all our globally ambitious entrepreneurs, regardless of where those entrepreneurs are in the country,” Liam Cronin, CEO RDI Hub, Kerry said.
Startups have faced a challenging year, with COVID-19 impacting funding levels significantly. In response RDI Hub launched Founder’s Circle with Scale Ireland supporting over 100+ founders solve problem together.
HARVEST TIME: Service users Andrew Alade and Jessica O’Connell from the Kerry Parents and Friends Association (KPFA) proudly displaying the results of their spring vegetable planting in Kilcummin. Included in the photo are Sheila O’Sullivan (Kilcummin Looking Good), Helen Moynihan (Kilcummin Looking Good), Catriona Maloney Johnson (KPFA), Jessica O’Connell (KPFA), Batt Stewart Healy (KPFA), and Andrew Alade (KPFA). Photo: Patricia O’Mahony
Healy-Rae calls for discussion following Dublin attack
Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae is back in Kerry following an assault in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon, calling for a “robust conversation on toxicity” directed towards public representatives.
Gardaí confirmed that officers from Kevin Street responded to an incident on Cork Street shortly after 4pm on September 16. A male motorist in his late 50s was approached and assaulted by a lone male while stopped in traffic.
The Kerry deputy was taken to Kevin Street Station and subsequently treated at St Vincent’s Hospital. His injuries were confirmed as non-life-threatening.
Following the incident, Deputy Healy-Rae thanked emergency services, hospital staff, and well-wishers across the country.
“Whatever the intention behind this attack, I will not be deterred from continuing my work or from representing the people of Kerry to the very best of my ability,” Healy-Rae stated.
“However, we do need to have a serious conversation about the growing toxicity directed towards politicians and public representatives. Disagreement and robust political debate are entirely legitimate, but personal abuse, intimidation and violence can never be accepted or normalised in a democratic society.”
He added: “I’m back in Kerry, I look forward to getting back to work in the coming days and trust the Gardaí will find the perpetrator and bring him to justice.”
HARVEST TIME:
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