VI

We’ve all worked hard over the last few months and I think that recognition is due. Every company that has entered StartVI has worked on something, invested in something, put their heart into something and as we approach the last few days of the programme, we are very encouraged to hear that some of the companies are pitching at HALO and others are going through the eSynergy process.

This programme was a pilot, it was designed to see whether we could drum up enough interest to find six globally-focused tech companies in Northern Ireland and I believe we more than succeeded. I have already received two enquiries about the 2011 intake so there is plainly demand.

Sadly the end of the programme coincides with the closing of the Marquis building, which made things a little more abrupt than I was expecting. The building landlords are insisting that every business in the building makes other arrangements as they are not willing to put the investment needed to make the building properly habitable. It’s a shame as the building itself is beautiful, filled with the history of entrepreneurship.

For 2011, we need more involvement. We will be inviting the 2010 ‘graduates’ to become part of our structure. We are also looking for interested individuals to fill out some of the pages listed above – we need more mentors, more partners and we need to populate the advisory board as well.

Special thanks to Marty from AirPOS Ltd (AirPOS), Rich from Crafty Devil (Planzai), Martin from Referalot (Referalot), Patrick from R8Technology (R8YourPolitician), Lyra from Newsrupt (Qluso) and Simon from Rumble Labs (Onotate) for being our guinea pigs – and I hope it was all worthwhile.