Five companies which graduated through the Dublin Business Innovation Centre's (DBIC) entrepreneur programme last year, have tripled employment to 66 and raised €7.3 million in funding, according to the centre's annual review.
The companies are all technology based and include Big River, Screenclick.com, Jam Media, Odyssey Internet Portals and Trapedza Financial Systems Limited.
They recorded revenues of €3.3 million in 2006 and aim to grow this by nearly 50 per cent to €5 million in 2007.
DBIC, which manages the Guinness Enterprise Centre, is currently supporting 67 early stage companies employing 386 people.
The centre, which is backed by Diageo Ireland, DBIC, Dublin City Council, Dublin City Enterprise Board, Guinness Workers Employment Fund and Enterprise Ireland, provides support for start-ups through provision of incubation space in the enterprise centre, business advice and seed capital funding.
Hugh Governey, chairman of DBIC, said the movement of companies through the centre made more space available for new start-ups. "Entrepreneurs should know that support systems, including seed capital, exist in Ireland to get good ideas up and running," he said.
