Mar 12
I have justed added the complete list of Enterprise Ireland HPSUs to the Irish Startups Search Engine. Nip on over there and see if you can find yourself.
Mar 12
I thought it would be useful to document how I configure the http://Startup-Ireland.org blog as a useful guide to other businesses who are setting up a web presence.
- Register your domain name. I use GoDaddy because its cheap, but its not everyones favourite registrar.
- Find a hosting company, this blog is hosted on webfaction.com (I need some stuff that only webfaction supply) but normally I would recommend blacknight.com.
- Point your DNS name at the host you have purchased, you will need access to advanced DNS functionality for this. Get a geek to help you if you get stuck here.
- Install some blogging software. I’m a dyed in the wool wordpress guy. Both Blacknight and Webfaction have auto installers for wordpress which makes configuration very straightforward. The rest of this guide is specific to wordpress.
- Setup yourself as a user on the blogging software so your posts don’t appear under the user “admin”, this is a classic rookie mistake.
- Change the title and other settings to customise your blog to yourself .
- Pick a nice theme. Thre are plenty to choose from.
- Enable akismet the wordpress spam protector. For this you will need to register at wordpress.com and get a key.
- Burn your feed. This meana delivering your RSS feed through the feedburner interface. This will allow you to track your readers anc collect lots of other useful information about your blog. This requires two steps. First you should install the Wordpress Feedburner plugin. Then burn your feed and use the output to configure the plugin.
- Add the subscribe to comments plugin. This makes commenting more interactive and promotes better discussion on posts by sending all comments to all commenting participants.
- Configure Google Analytics. Setup an analytics account and then use the Ultimate Google Analytics package to configure it in Wordpress.
- Install the WP-Super-Cache plugin for when you get your techcrunch.com writeup.
Now go write some posts.
Mar 12
No better time than a recession to start a new business. if you are thinking of starting one then then there is no better place than a business incubator. Here are the ones I know about. Please add any I may have missed as comments.
| Program | Institution | Location | Duration | How To Apply |
| DIT HotHouse | DIT | Dublin | 12 months | Via email. Instructions. |
| M50 Program | ITT | Dublin | 12 months | Via email. Instructions. Form. |
| Invent | DCU | Dublin | 12 Months | Via email. Instructions. |
| LEAP | LIT | Limerick | 12 months | Via email. Instructions. Form. |
| Genesis | CIT | Cork | 12 months | Apply Online |
| SEEPP | WIT | Waterford | 12 Months | Via email. Instructions. |
| ERIC | IT Carlow | Carlow | 12 Months | Not clear. |
| MWEP | Galway Mayo IT | Galway | 12 Months | Via email. Form. |
| CEIM | LYIT | Letterkenny | 12 Months | Via email. Instructions. |
| RDC | DKIT | Dundalk | 12 Months | Via phone. |
All these programs will get you fast track to CORD funding and offer incubation space and a variety of training programs. However, their most valuable asset is exposure to like minded entrepreneurs for a 12 month period.
Mar 12
I’ve created a search engine dedicated to Irish Startups. It has a dedicated page, but its actually a Google Customised Search Engine.
I need your help to keep it up to date, so please add yourself as a collaborator and bung in your own Irish business website and any others you can think of.
Give it spin.
Mar 12
So welcome to Startup Ireland. This site is designed to centralise all the information that an Irish Entrepreneur might need to get started.
