TechHatch and GoGlobal:

Exciting New Programmes Available to Support Tech StartUps and ScaleUps in the Mid East Region

25th August 2021, Naas, Co Kildare, Ireland: MERITS and Kildare LEO unveiled details of two new programmes aimed at helping local entrepreneurs to create and develop their Digital Technology businesses.

#TechHatch is aimed at Market and Customer Validation for new business ideas and involves an intensive 7-week programme of modules delivered by sectoral experts, peer-to-peer meetings and individual mentoring sessions.  It concludes with a Demo Day where the entrepreneurs pitch their new business ideas to a team of experienced business people.

#GoGlobal is specifically for companies that already have a product or service in the marketplace and are seeking to rapid expand.  This 8 week programme is delivered by very experienced mentors and finishes with an Investor Pitch day where the businesses with pitch to active investors

Head of Enterprise at Kildare County Council, Jacqui McNabb welcomed the programmes being launched today, stating: “when developing the MERITS concept, we always envisaged a strong pipeline of regional Technology Companies being fostered and supported through MERITS.  Kildare LEO is delighted to support both the TechHatch and GoGlobal programmes as they give a strong helping hand to those emerging tech businesses in the Region and it really encouraging to see the diversity and richness of business founders coming through these programmes.”

General Manager of MERITS, Joe O’Carroll acknowledged the continuing support being received from Kildare LEO: “MERITS is extremely fortunate to have such a supporting relationship with Jacqui McNabb and the team at Kildare County Council and Kildare LEO.  This support has enabled us to support 22 companies to date, including Hub360, recently shortlisted for an International StartUp award in Turkey, AerNua, a pioneer of air purification systems to combat COVID and other pathogens, and Digital Motorsports, which was recently acquired by a Canadian listed eSports company”.

This is a chance for similar companies to benefit for these programmes and join the pipeline of successful Tech companies emanating from the Mid East Region.

About MERITS

An Economic Development initiative of Kildare County Council and funded by Enterprise Ireland under the Regional Economic Development Fund, MERITS has been established to Digital Technology support businesses through their StandUp, StartUp & Scale Up journey.  Working in tandem with Kildare Local Enterprise Office, MERITS runs programmes and offers support to entrepreneurs and new businesses that will help them to validate their target customers & market, find partners and source appropriate funding.  Key partners include KCC, Maynooth University, Kildare Chamber, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA.

The MERITS building, a 1,200 sqm purposely designed premises, will open in the coming months, but the initiative is already very active, running Incubation & Accelerator Programmes and events for  StartUps companies. MERITS is now open for membership from companies or entrepreneurs looking to base themselves in the building.

Pictured outside the new MERITS building launching the Programmes were (from L to R):

Joe O’Carroll, General Manager MERITS; Jacqui McNabb, Head of Enterprise KCC; Eshna Gogia, Programme Manager MERITS and Claire Dunleavy, Senior Enterprise Officer Kildare LEO.