GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP NETWORK PRESIDENT VISITS IRELAND

The President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), Jonathan Ortmans, visited Ireland this week to meet with key stakeholders in Ireland’s startup ecosystem.  With a mandate to create a global entrepreneurial ecosystem, GEN has been engaging with Startup Ireland since 2014, and especially following the successful Startup Gathering in 2015.

“GEN sees that Ireland is successfully creating a model for entrepreneurship, working regionally, nationally and internationally to support the startup community, through policy, programs and promotion”, said Eoin Costello, CEO and Co-Founder of Startup Ireland.

Pictured at the visit to Startup Ireland this week, is Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) President  Jonathan Ortmans, who met with Startup Ireland, Cork Innovates, IBEC, Chambers Ireland and American Chamber of Commerce among other groups supporting the startup sector in Ireland. Photography: Conor Healy Photography

Cork innovates Project Director Siobhan Finn commented, “Today’s visit by the President of GEN highlights a new chapter in the growth of Ireland’s startup sector, and moves us another step closer to our objective to becoming a world leading startup hub.  We are committed to driving regionally balanced economic growth and it is very excited to be working closely with the Global Entrepreneurship Network on this agenda.”

The schedule for the GEN visit included meeting with the US Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O’Malley, GEN Ireland, Startup Ireland, Cork innovates, Chambers Ireland, The American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, IDA, CoderDojo, IITD and representatives from Dept. of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, as well as third level institutes.

“Startups are critical to every economy in the world.  Not only do startups create almost two thirds of all jobs in the domestic economy, they are hotbeds for innovation and are increasingly important to larger corporations and multinationals.  Our vision is to create a startup conducive ecosystem globally through the network of global entrepreneurship,” said Jonathan Ortmans, President of the Global Enterpreneurship Network (GEN) in Dublin this week.

The schedule of meetings for GEN also included leading government and industry representatives including the American Chamber of Commerce, Chambers Ireland and GEN Ireland as well as entrepreneurs, investors, founders and educators in Ireland.