Suggestions for Business Incubators in Ireland
01 Sep 2009 by fredherrera
- Don’t market your services in exchange of shareholding in client companies
- Define R&D strategy both as an Incubator and as a broker for client companies
- Get your consultants/contractors to engage with potential client companies in your pipeline and spec services over 12 months period.
- Sort out your current systems: 100% uptime needed for commercial requirements
- Think like three types of SMEs (individual, company with 2-8 employees, company with more than 8 employees) to understand what you have to offer. This thinking is fast-changing and makes the difference.
- Promote business development beyond your client companies. Ireland is small and targeted partnerships are needed to gain scope.
- Don’t promote services that create paperwork for client companies
- Buy coffee/tea and bake pastries on Fridays. Nice for tenants and great for weekly update chats.
These suggestions are based on my direct personal experience of 3 incubators since 2000 and overall knowledge of the concept of business incubation both nationally and in Europe.
Fred
