Cork aims to become start-up hub
Entrepreneurs play a key role in not only attaining the stability of an economy but can quite often push an economy forward.
This week in Cork, the President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), Jonathan Ortmans met with key stakeholders in Ireland's startup ecosystem.
With a mandate to create a global entrepreneurial ecosystem, GEN has been engaging with Startup Ireland since 2014, and especially following the successful Startup Gathering in 2015.
"GEN sees that Ireland is successfully creating a model for entrepreneurship, working regionally, nationally and internationally to support the startup community, through policy, programs and promotion", said Eoin Costello, CEO and Co-Founder of Startup Ireland.
Cork innovates Project Director Siobhan Finn said the visit by the President of GEN highlights a new chapter in the growth of Ireland's startup sector.
"This moves us another step closer to our objective to becoming a world leading startup hub," said Siobhan Finn.
She said: We are committed to driving regionally balanced economic growth and it is very excited to be working closely with the Global
Entrepreneurship Network on this agenda."
The schedule for the GEN visit included meeting with the US Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O'Malley, GEN Ireland, Startup Ireland, Cork innovates, Chambers Ireland, The American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.
In addition, there were meetings with IDA, CoderDojo, IITD and representatives from Dept of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, as well as third level institutes throughout the region.
"Startups are critical to every economy in the world," said Jonathan Ortmans, President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN).
He said: " Not only do startups create almost two thirds of all jobs in the domestic economy, they are the hotbeds for innovation and are increasingly important to larger corporations and multinationals. "
Mr Ortmans said: Our vision is to create a startup conducive ecosystem globally through the network of global entrepreneurship." .
During his stay in Ireland, his schedule of meetings for GEN also included meeting with leading government and industry representatives.
This included many one-on-one meetings with the American Chamber of Commerce, Chambers Ireland and GEN Ireland.
There were also meetings with a number of 'home-grown' entrepreneurs, investors, founders and educators.
