CorkBIC launches the Global Investor Challenge
12 July, 2016
12th July 2016 – AxisBIC, an organisation specifically set up to identify and build knowledge intensive companies, in the South West of Ireland is launching their first Global Investor challenge for early-stage companies. The challenge kicks off in July with the launch of the first-round application and will conclude with finalist pitches in November. The Global Investor Challenge forms an integral part of the Global Startup Gathering and the GEN Startup Nations Summit coming to Cork and Europe for the first time this November.
The GEN Startup Nations Summit will take place in Cork as part of the Global Startup Gathering 2016, which will run from 18-20 November 2016 and will feature events, mentoring and incubation labs as well as competitions all with the aim of promoting entrepreneurship and showcasing Ireland’s startup sector to a global audience.
AxisBIC has been working with Entrepreneurs and Investor ready startups for over 25 years and in the last 6 years alone, AxisBIC Initiatives in particular the Entrepreneur Experience® and the Venture Academy® have assisted 165 companies, developed 45 HPSUs (High Potential Startups) and raised over €41 million in investment.
The Global Investor Challenge (which is part of the Growth Pathway Programme*) will seek to find the most investible Entrepreneurs and present them at the Startup Nations Summit in Cork in November 2016. This is a competition for Startups and Entrepreneurs who are seeking investment and are investor ready. There will be regional finals held across Ireland in the week leading up to the summit (Nov 14-18) with the Grand Final in Cork on Saturday November 19th.
Speaking at the launch Michael O’Connor, CEO, AxisBIC said ”This is a huge opportunity for Ireland given that it is the first time the GEN Startup Nations Summit has come to Europe. AxisBIC are delighted to support this initiative with the Global Investor Challenge and look forward to welcoming Entrepreneurs and Startups from across the world.”
AxisBIC’s Startup clients created 670+ NEW jobs during 2014 and 2015 and in 2015 AxisBIC worked with 88% of all High Potential Startups in the South West region.
*The Growth Pathway programme is a unique process involving SMEs, Start-ups and top Irish business leaders focused on building the next generation of high performance companies, supported by Bank of Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council.
About AxisBIC
AxisBIC is an organisation specifically set up to identify and build knowledge intensive companies based on promising technology and capable innovative people. It plays a hands-on role helping entrepreneurs navigate the minefield of raising finance, sorting out business propositions, arranging agreements with shareholders and investors, and, perhaps most important of all, finding customers.
About GEN
The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) is a year-round platform of programs and initiatives created by the communities that celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week each November. Aimed at creating one global entrepreneurial ecosystem, GEN helps people in 160 countries unleash their ideas and turn them into promising new ventures—creating jobs, unearthing innovations for society and strengthening economic stability around the world.