Addleshaw Goddard launches its AG Elevate programme for Regional Tech Start Ups

Addleshaw Goddard has launched its search for the best high-growth tech businesses in Ireland to join its AG Elevate programme –a fast-track 10-month programme designed to advance tech businesses in all sectors of the economy through legal challenges that arise as they grow. Originally a programme focusing on UK-based startups, Addleshaw Goddard has extended the scope of the programme to include Irish tech startups following the firm’s merger with Eugene F Collins in 2022.

Commenting on the launch, Mark Walsh, Addleshaw Goddard Head of Ireland, said:

“As a business we are committed to offering new innovative solutions and support to our clients so we are really pleased to announce the expansion of the AG Elevate programme to Ireland, which will empower us to help tech startups achieve their objectives for growth and financial success. Our team of legal mentors have comprehensive knowledge of the priorities and potential obstacles that fast growing and scaling tech businesses in Ireland encounter which provide substantial benefits to AG Elevate members beyond just legal input. Their extensive knowledge of the sector, and experience in handling investments and acquisition in this space ideally positions us to support these startup businesses in achieving their commercial objectives.”

He added: “As innovation and disruption continue to be in high demand across all sectors, we are excited to help Irish tech startups scale up to meet these challenges on the next level of their journey. Ireland’s indigenous tech sector has a strong international reputation, and we look forward to supporting continued innovation and growth through the AG Elevate programme.”

A Success Story

Since it launched in 2017, the programme has supported almost 50 high-growth businesses. Back in 2019, Scotland-based Amiqus was one of nine businesses selected to join AG Elevate and has since not looked back – it now counts the firm, which gave it the opportunity on AG Elevate, as one of its newest clients.

Amiqus is a market-leading compliance platform helping businesses digitally manage onboarding and compliance for new clients and staff and is one of the UK’s fastest growing Fintech companies. The business began when CEO and founder Callum Murray noticed a gap in the market for a solution to complex, time-consuming and expensive compliance challenges, for businesses across sectors.

As all entrepreneurs know, the journey from the Eureka moment to having a successful, sustainable business is fraught with difficulty and rarely follows a straight path. For the business, which specialises in the legal sector, being selected to participate in AG Elevate was an opportunity that came at the perfect stage in their growth journey.

Amiqus applied for a place on the programme and was selected by an independent panel for the 2019 cohort. If that was good fortune, giving Amiqus’ product the opportunity to get insight behind the scenes at an international law firm was invaluable.

Along with the rest of the cohort, Amiqus was assigned a legal mentor and a package of legal support. Successful applicants also receive access to professional industry networks, bespoke resources designed by AG and the chance to build networks with like-minded people and businesses in the tech ecosystem.

That was in June 2019. Since then, Amiqus has seen its turnover double year-on-year and its client list grow to include leading organisations and professional services firms in the country.

To Apply

The application process for businesses that would like to be considered for the 2023 AG Elevate programme is open and can be found on the Addleshaw Goddard website.

To qualify for consideration for a place on the programme, businesses need to have existing plans for high-growth and have received external funding.

The package of support includes:

• An assigned legal mentor who will meet with you every month
• 25 hours of free legal advice on specialist areas
• Access to AG’s legal seminars and networking events.
• Access to AG’s legal updates and other publications
• Access to regular insight sessions hosted in collaboration with business mentors in our AG network
• All other legal advice offered by AG will be provided at 30% discount.

To find out more about the AG Elevate programme, including how to apply for a place, visit: https://www.addleshawgoddard.com/en/ag-elevate/

See more stories here.