Introduction
Scale Ireland is an autonomous non-profit organization that focuses on the support, consulting, and advocacy of tech innovation-driven enterprises in order to help them start off or scale up their business. In general, these companies operate in multiple sectors and are involved in medical and financial technologies and enterprise solutions. Other commonly presented sectors include industrial technologies, cleaning technologies, entertainment, travel, e-commerce, educational technologies, agricultural technologies, advertising, telecommunications, and security. The purpose of this paper that may be regarded as a report is to analyze Scale Ireland, its competition, similar companies worldwide, relevant government policies, and the general economic environment in order to develop how the organization may be developed in the future on the basis of its currently performed activities.
Organization
Scale Ireland is an Irish independent not-for-profit organization that aims to make the country a leading and the most suitable location for entrepreneurship and innovations. The company defines its mission as support, representation, and advocacy on behalf of local tech start-up and scale-up firms for the creation of “the most advantageous conditions” for their success (Scale Ireland, n.d., para. 1). In other words, it provides practical support in relation to major policy areas, constructively represents tech start-up and scale-up companies’ interests, and engages with their main stakeholders in order to create the most appropriate condition for businesses (Scale Ireland, n.d.). Scale Ireland is supported by large successful local companies, including TechIreland, IVCA, NDRC, and Halo Business Angel Network (Scale Ireland, n.d.). As a matter of fact, Scale Ireland’s team introduced the term “innovation-driven enterprises” (IDE) to address particular scale-ups and start-up driven by innovations in multiple sectors, including information and communication technologies, biotechnologies, medical devices, and financial technologies. At the same time, for the understanding of Scale Ireland’s scope of activities, it is highly essential to differentiate tech start-up companies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).
In general, cash flows play a highly important role in SME’s efficient performance – when it grows over the course of time, the company is developing (Afrifa & Tingbani, 2018). However, IDE typically face considerable challenges related to negative cash flows in the early stages of their functioning due to investment in innovation. Thus, having common issues and characteristics, these companies require individual approaches and unique representation with policy solutions. With Scale Ireland, Irish start-ups focused on innovations receive an opportunity for stable development even in the case of a financial “j-curve” at the beginning of their performance (Scale Ireland, n.d.).
Regardless of the fact that there are other companies in Ireland that support and advocate on behalf of various companies, the distinguishing characteristics of Scale Ireland is determined by the type of companies it works with. For instance, similar to Scale Ireland, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland aims to support entrepreneurs “on every step of their journey” as well, however, it promotes only social projects (“About Social Entrepreneurs Ireland,” n.d.). Founded in 2004, it is the first Irish organization that helps people develop innovative solutions in order to address various contemporary environmental and social issues, including social inequities, poverty, and a lack of quality health care (“About Social Entrepreneurs Ireland,” n.d.). The organization is entirely funded by private business leaders, local and international corporations, and prominent entrepreneurs.
In turn, there is a range of companies that support entrepreneurs by affording them multiple digital products and services to make their start-up as efficient as possible. Titan Keystone is an Irish digital agency that provides software solutions for its partners and clients to maintain, develop, and grow their digital presence (Titan Keystone, 2018). As a matter of fact, it may work with tech start-up and scale-up companies. In addition, there are companies that help to organize human resource, digital, and property management – for example, Innk Worldwide performs as companies’ partner for multilingual support development IT staffing (Innk Worldwide, n.d.). It offers solutions for businesses on the basis of innovation, reliability, creativity, accountability, quality, competitive prices, and fast response. The company’s team responsible for consulting and stuffing understands the enterprise’s business processes in order to represent its values, brand, and culture in the most appropriate manner and attract the most qualified specialists. At the same time, these companies differ from Scale Ireland that is a not-for-profit organization.
Another considerable competitor of Scale Ireland Enterprise Ireland, the governmental organization that is responsible for the growth and development of Irish enterprises (Enterprise Ireland, n.d.). It works in partnership with companies in all sectors in order to help them start, innovate, grow, and be competitive in the global market. Enterprise Ireland supports secure employment, regional development, and sustainable economic growth. Thus, it is clear that what makes Scale Ireland from other supportive companies is the combination of its main features – it is private, not-for-profit, and address only local tech start-up and scale-ups driven by innovations.
In this case, the competition cannot be regarded in its usual sense as all organizations share the same goals of promoting Ireland as the best business location and aim to contribute to the local enterprises’ success. On the other hand, these organizations may consider their reputation and efficiency in comparison with others associated with the competitive market of tech start-ups. For example, national competitions with substantial technology funds are regularly organized for Irish start-ups by international IT companies to promote their efficiency and competitiveness both in the local and international markets (Ardill, 2021).
Similar Organizations Across the Globe
In the United Kingdom, non-profit companies that support entrepreneurs and the development of their projects include Tech Nation and Nova. Tech Nation supports tech entrepreneurs and offers particular free growth programs to solve their business challenges (Tech Nation, n.d.). Similar to Tech Nation, Nova provides access to tech start-up investment opportunities and expert mentorship for ambitious founders and teams (Nova, n.d.). In the United States, one of the most well-known non-profit organizations that support entrepreneurship and help startups bring their ideas to the market is America’s Seed Fund. Since 1977, the company has offered funding development and research in the early stages and provided access to its network of industry experts and innovators (America’s Seed Fund, n.d.). America’s Seed Fund works with small businesses and start-ups across technology markets and areas, including energy, artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, medical devices, and many others. Australian organizations that support entrepreneurs, mainly financially, include Entrepreneurs’ Programme, Biomedical Translation Fund, and CSIRO Kick-Start.
Relevant Government Policies
As previously mentioned, Enterprise Ireland is a governmental organization that helps Irish companies develop and stay competitive in the global market. IDA Ireland is “an autonomous Statutory Agency set up under the Industrial Development Acts 1986 – 2019” (“About IDA Ireland,” n.d., para. 1). Operating under the authority of the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and in accordance with the Act’s provisions, IDA Ireland aims to encourage foreign-owned companies’ investments into Ireland (“About IDA Ireland,” n.d.). The organization is empowered to issue policy directives and provide funds to achieve its goals initiative business activities of foreign enterprises in the territory of Ireland. Finally, Generation Ireland is an organization that transforms “education to employment systems to prepare, place, and support people into life-changing careers that would otherwise be inaccessible” (Generation Ireland, n.d., para. 3). The company provides access to educational programs for adults regardless of their age, skills, and employment status. In addition, Generation Ireland assists employers in the solution of multiple related challenges, including reskilling needs, skilled talent shortages, and high turnover rates.
All organizations, including Scale Ireland, provide help for entrepreneurs, provide consultancy, funding, and programs of development. All of them act in accordance with Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility 2017-2020 and its established vision that sounds as “Ireland will be recognised as a Centre of Excellence for responsible and sustainable business practice through the adoption and implementation of best practice in CSR in enterprises and organisations” (“Corporate Social Responsibility,” n.d., para. 1). Moreover, all organizations value responsible employment and employees’ inclusion. They partner with various departments and agencies, business representatives, and communities to raise the awareness of employers concerning people with disabilities and promote their increased employment. In addition, they focus on personal approaches of support in order to help people, regardless of their age, gender, and ethnicity, develop personally and professionally. Organizations emphasize the significance of appropriate working conditions that increase employees’ motivation and reduce turnover rates.
References
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America’s Seed Fund. (n.d.). We invest up to $2 million in seed funding. And take zero equity.Web.
Ardill, L. (2021). Typetec and Microsoft call on Irish start-ups for €25,000 competition.Siliconrepublic. Web.
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Innk Worldwide. (n.d.). What we do. Web.
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Titan Keystone. (2018). Introducing Titan Keystone [Video]. YouTube. Web.