Eammon Sayers, Guinness Enterprise Centre manager; Michelle Clarke, Dublin Launch48 ambassador; and Des Fahey, chief executive of Dublin Business Innovation Centre
The Guinness Enterprise Centre in Dublin will throw down an interesting gauntlet for 100 entrepreneurs at its Launch48 weekend in June – devise and launch a start-up idea within 48 hours.
The event, from 28-30 June, is open to anyone who has ever wanted to explore their entrepreneurial side but has yet to take the leap.
It will be attended by a mix of technical and non-technical would-be entrepreneurs.
One veteran of the process is Michelle Clarke, the Dublin Launch48 ambassador.
“I first participated in an incredible Launch48 weekend in the UK. Immediately I thought I had to volunteer to bring this event over to Dublin,” Clarke explained.
“I approached the Dublin Business Innovation Centre to partner with me to get this off the ground and with their huge support the idea took off. At a time when Ireland badly needs to create indigenous businesses, this weekend is the ideal vehicle to guide Irish people to create their own successful start-ups.”
The Dublin event is open to anyone who fancies they have an entrepreneurial streak and there will also be student-priced tickets available.
The event will kick off on the Friday evening with entrepreneurs giving a 60-second pitch and an elimination process will whittle the list down to 100.
On the Saturday morning, teams will be formed to combine technology, design and business skills and over the following two days will hammer out their ideas, gathering real customer feedback from the public all the time.
By Sunday evening, they will present their businesses to mentors consisting of the elite of the Irish start-up community and investors looking for opportunities to invest.
Below: Launch48 ambassador Mark O’Brien recently skydived to emphasise the leap of faith that comes with starting your own business
