Driving Innovation in the South West
17th May 2024
AxisBIC has been driving innovation and fostering the growth of start-ups in the South West for 35 years. Last year, it worked with a record number of High Potential Start-Ups (HPSUs).
The company worked with 17 HPSUs from across the Cork and Kerry region, more than double the number from the previous year. Working alongside their partner, Enterprise Ireland, AxisBIC’s vision is to unlock the potential within their expanded region, empowering high growth innovators to drive positive impact.
The 17 HPSUs were among 85 that featured in the ‘Class of 2023’ at this week’s Enterprise Ireland Start-Up Day. There were also 71 Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) investments with 11 of these having worked directly with AxisBIC.
Enterprise Ireland confirmed recently that the Irish state agency invested a total of €24 million in start-ups last year with €4 million going towards the 17 HPSUs that worked with AxisBIC.
One of those HPSU start-ups was Peigín Crowley, founder of Ground Wellbeing. Peigín has worked with AxisBIC in developing her spa brand idea into a successful business. She said;
“It’s really encouraging to see so many female led start-ups, especially in the Cork and Kerry region, but I think we need to try to increase that number even further. I would strongly recommend anyone in business to contact AxisBIC for support.
Setting up your own business can be very daunting but the team at AxisBIC have been so helpful working with me on my business plan as well as providing invaluable advice along the way.
Last October, I attended the AxisBIC Entrepreneur Experience which was really beneficial as it offered entrepreneurs unparalleled access and mentoring from some of the country’s most successful business leaders,” she concluded.
Larry O’Donoghue, CEO of AxisBIC said; “We have been working with start-ups for the past 35 years and it is heartening to work with people like Peigín Crowley as they develop an idea into a thriving business. We had a particularly successful year in 2023 and we hope to continue to increase the number of high potential start-ups that we work with in 2024, especially in our expanded territories now including Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.”
