Entrepreneurs starting a business today need the help and support of many people to help make things happen. Raising finance and achieving first sales are crucial to any business start-up and one key element of support is a partnership.
The Rubicon Centre, based on campus in CIT has an excellent reputation for assisting business start-ups to take their projects to the next stage. In June 2011the Rubicon formed a successful partnership with AIB, which has directly led to the awarding of finance to several clients who are located in the Innovation Centre. This positive collaboration will allow entrepreneurs and start-up companies to further develop and grow their business in 2012 and reach their full commercial potential.
Since opening its doors in 2006, the Rubicon has assisted many business start-ups to take their projects to the next stage, providing support to people who present a unique idea or highlight a market niche which they believe they can target.
The relationship with AIB has provided critical working capital and banking finance to several Rubicon clients including; Documatics, (www.documatics.com) Ferfics (www.ferfics.com) DirecteBooks (www.directebooks.com/) and Nova Language Solutions (www.novalanguagesolutions.com). All of these clients started their business while participating on the Genesis Programme. Genesis is the Rubicon’s flagship development programme and its main focus is to provide supports to businesses which will enable them to grow and increase employment.
Commenting on the collaboration with AIB, Paul Healy said “We are delighted to have the support of AIB for our clients here in the Rubicon Centre and recognise the incredible contribution working capital has to play in start-up and early stage Companies. In these difficult times, starting a new business has never been more challenging and gaining access to sources of finance continues to be one of the major obstacles facing today’s entrepreneurs. Our relationship with AIB allows us to work closely with our clients with a view to securing adequate funding to ensure their business or service becomes and remains commercially viable.”
John O’Doherty, Regional Director for AIB Cork says ‘AIB and the Rubicon have a strong partnership and we’re delighted to continue to work together to support and develop entrepreneurs starting new knowledge based companies. We are very aware of the difficulties facing start up businesses and entrepreneurs all over Ireland and facilities like the Rubicon Centre are needed now more than ever.’
Rubicon based businesses are at different stages of development, from concept stage to completing their first customer orders and many have already secured International customers. Employing 220+ people, companies operate across a wide range of sectors, using technologies and expertise found in the South West region.
Further details can be obtained by contacting Paul Healy, General Manager (021) 4928900 or online www.rubiconcentre.ie.
