The document discusses the Telecommunications Software and Systems Group (TSSG) at Waterford Institute of Technology. It provides an overview of TSSG, including that it is an international research institute with over 140 staff that is fully self-funded. It discusses TSSG's areas of expertise and its focus on turning research into economic impact through supporting startups. The document also outlines TSSG's approach to developing startups, including lessons around ensuring products solve customer problems, targeting large markets, understanding competition, and building strong management teams. Finally, it discusses the supports TSSG provides to startups through its startup platform.
Tech Cocktail_2012 startup accelerator reportEugene Kim
20-page startup accelerator report that outlines five key factors for startups to consider when choosing an accelerator. Accelerators offer entrepreneurs a chance to spend several months intensely focused on their product and business – fueled by funding and mentorship, and often in shared office space – before pitching in front of investors at “demo day.”
Topics discussed include: Does location matter? Which programs are more hands-on? Which ones have the biggest networks? The report also includes a list of 70 accelerators around the country.
Startup Success. Creating a World Class Eco system. Gary A. Fowler, GVA Launc...Riga High Tech University
10:00, 14 July 2015, Altum conference room, 4 Doma laukums, Riga
Half-day conference
Venture Capital for tech startups in Latvia 2015. Demand vs supply
Details:
http://www.labsoflatvia.com/events/venture-capital-for-tech-startups-in-latvia-2015-demand-vs-supply-2
Tech Cocktail_2012 startup accelerator reportEugene Kim
20-page startup accelerator report that outlines five key factors for startups to consider when choosing an accelerator. Accelerators offer entrepreneurs a chance to spend several months intensely focused on their product and business – fueled by funding and mentorship, and often in shared office space – before pitching in front of investors at “demo day.”
Topics discussed include: Does location matter? Which programs are more hands-on? Which ones have the biggest networks? The report also includes a list of 70 accelerators around the country.
Startup Success. Creating a World Class Eco system. Gary A. Fowler, GVA Launc...Riga High Tech University
10:00, 14 July 2015, Altum conference room, 4 Doma laukums, Riga
Half-day conference
Venture Capital for tech startups in Latvia 2015. Demand vs supply
Details:
http://www.labsoflatvia.com/events/venture-capital-for-tech-startups-in-latvia-2015-demand-vs-supply-2
The "Startup Visa" an Innovation in Immigration Policy for the Digital AgeNatalie Novick
States have long courted international entrepreneurs in an effort to attract investment and capital to their countries. However, existing immigration legislation is poorly equipped for evaluating today's digital companies. Startup visa policies were developed in an effort to meet the needs to tech founders who wish to bring their companies to new markets. However, they often remain ill-suited for digital startups, and the impact thus far has been limited. While these visa programs aim to lower the barriers of entry for today’s technical entrepreneurs, new innovations in the evaluation process have created additional hurdles that have impacted success. A growing private role in the evaluation of these visa applications has created a new and unique challenge for prospective entrants, while fundamentally changing the way that immigrant visas are granted.
In April 2015, the Softchoice Innovation Executive Forum made a stop at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, Florida, bringing together senior IT leaders from across industries to share a dinner and their stories from the field. What follows is a distillation of 9 key findings that were unveiled, offering insight into best practices and challenges for those working in the innovation department, everywhere.
Sitar Teli - Why Focusing on UX Makes Business SenseTuring Fest
Companies that focus on user experience from the very beginning and put it at the centre of what they do build better businesses more efficiently. A lot of business advice focuses on business model, marketing, sales, etc, but not nearly enough focuses on user experience and its impact on KPIs and business efficiency — this talk does!
Accelerating innovation process of start-ups (ISPIM2015)Accelerate Project
Komi et al. 2015. Accelerating innovation process of start-ups
- Business Incubator and accelerator services in Finland. Presentation at ISPIM 2015, Budapest.
Quick pitch Introducing Aston iT Finance to tease mentors in the Fintech Innovation Lab ;)
Accounts Receivables Analytics, Cloud based Saas Platform,White-label holistic optimized management of Invoices for corporation, Banks and Credit Insurers credit risk open account credit terms
IBM BC2016 - Nordea - Nordea startup accelerator IBM Sverige
This program offers you a unique opportunity to accelerate the development of your business idea together with Nordea experts, Nestholma and some of the best FinTech experts in the Nordics.
Speaker: Jan Sirich, Head of Experimentation & Learning Solutions & IT, Digital Banking, Nordea. (English)
The "Startup Visa" an Innovation in Immigration Policy for the Digital AgeNatalie Novick
States have long courted international entrepreneurs in an effort to attract investment and capital to their countries. However, existing immigration legislation is poorly equipped for evaluating today's digital companies. Startup visa policies were developed in an effort to meet the needs to tech founders who wish to bring their companies to new markets. However, they often remain ill-suited for digital startups, and the impact thus far has been limited. While these visa programs aim to lower the barriers of entry for today’s technical entrepreneurs, new innovations in the evaluation process have created additional hurdles that have impacted success. A growing private role in the evaluation of these visa applications has created a new and unique challenge for prospective entrants, while fundamentally changing the way that immigrant visas are granted.
In April 2015, the Softchoice Innovation Executive Forum made a stop at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, Florida, bringing together senior IT leaders from across industries to share a dinner and their stories from the field. What follows is a distillation of 9 key findings that were unveiled, offering insight into best practices and challenges for those working in the innovation department, everywhere.
Sitar Teli - Why Focusing on UX Makes Business SenseTuring Fest
Companies that focus on user experience from the very beginning and put it at the centre of what they do build better businesses more efficiently. A lot of business advice focuses on business model, marketing, sales, etc, but not nearly enough focuses on user experience and its impact on KPIs and business efficiency — this talk does!
Accelerating innovation process of start-ups (ISPIM2015)Accelerate Project
Komi et al. 2015. Accelerating innovation process of start-ups
- Business Incubator and accelerator services in Finland. Presentation at ISPIM 2015, Budapest.
Quick pitch Introducing Aston iT Finance to tease mentors in the Fintech Innovation Lab ;)
Accounts Receivables Analytics, Cloud based Saas Platform,White-label holistic optimized management of Invoices for corporation, Banks and Credit Insurers credit risk open account credit terms
IBM BC2016 - Nordea - Nordea startup accelerator IBM Sverige
This program offers you a unique opportunity to accelerate the development of your business idea together with Nordea experts, Nestholma and some of the best FinTech experts in the Nordics.
Speaker: Jan Sirich, Head of Experimentation & Learning Solutions & IT, Digital Banking, Nordea. (English)
소자본 창업을 준비하는 사람들을 위한 강의안입니다.
1장에서는 입지의 중요성, 왜 소자본 창업은 외식업에 몰리는지에 대한 궁금증을 풀어드립니다.
2장에서는 손님이 모여드는 맛집에 비결을 CASE위주로 설명합니다.
3장세서는 창업시 준비해야할 기본적인 사항에 대한 이해를 돕습니다.
http://blog.naver.com/maru7091
Consumer Driven Contracts and Your Microservice ArchitectureMarcin Grzejszczak
My talk from SpringOnePlatform about Spring Cloud Contract
Links:
* http://martinfowler.com/articles/consumerDrivenContracts.html - article about Consumer Driven Contracts by Ian Robinson
* https://github.com/marcingrzejszczak/springone-cdc-client - code for the client side of the presented example
* https://github.com/marcingrzejszczak/springone-cdc-server - code for the server side of the presented example
* https://cloud.spring.io/spring-cloud-contract/spring-cloud-contract.html - documentation of the Spring Cloud Contract project
My books- Hacking Digital Learning Strategies http://hackingdls.com & Learning to Go https://gum.co/learn2go
Resources at http://shellyterrell.com/emoji
An immersive workshop at General Assembly, SF. I typically teach this workshop at General Assembly, San Francisco. To see a list of my upcoming classes, visit https://generalassemb.ly/instructors/seth-familian/4813
I also teach this workshop as a private lunch-and-learn or half-day immersive session for corporate clients. To learn more about pricing and availability, please contact me at http://familian1.com
In an earlier Linkage webinar delivered by Lonney Gregory, we explored behaviors to develop an innovative mindset and stimulate creativity. We believe in order to stay ahead of the competition, individuals and teams must be creative and innovative. And while that is true, creativity and innovative behaviors alone won’t guarantee innovation initiatives will succeed. But what if you could hedge your bets on innovation and increase the likelihood of success; would you do it? In addition to engaging in ways of thinking that inspire breakthroughs, repeatable organizational processes, cultural adaptations, and clearly defined approaches for integrating it all, including handling risks, will significantly increase the likeness of success for innovation in your organizations. This next session on innovation will introduce three basic concepts that lead toward successfully enabling an innovation capable organization; one that drives innovation throughout the organization.
In this session, participants learn about:
1. Identifying market opportunities using one of the most profound approaches for understanding what consumers and non-consumers want by defining what Clayton Christensen calls the “Job to be Done”
2. How to lead ultra-productive solution seeking sessions based upon the world famous IDEO Design Thinking methodology.
3. Applying principles to overcome what Steven Shapiro calls the performance paradox and for growing high performance teams.
Presentation on developments in hiring and fintech for HKU Executive certific...Kok Tong (K.T.) Khoo
Slides for my guest speaker session at the HKU executive certificate in Internet Finance. Covering personal observations in startup markets and careers, Hong Kong vs Singapore, hiring trends and business models.
You've got to ace the "why" question! Whether it's a document capture & recognition project or another initiative to automate processes, you must learn to reframe the value proposition in quantifiable business terms. Join Tony Peleska, Chief Information Officer at Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, as he shares winning talking points that will make each of your stakeholders care. From the CIO’s perspective, he’ll show you how to:
- ask permission to embark on your Capture/Imaging project
- overcome internal resistance
- be the champion, to get the right people involved and excited to move the project forward
Be inspired to innovate, innovate to stay relevant. These were some of the main themes in Cynthia's presentation
Complete with numerous examples of how innovation can be actuated both from a personal and organisational standpoint. Cynthia reminded us that innovation is a process and not merely an outcome
Slides of the lecture "Web-based business models" taught by Eduardo Larrain at HEC, a French business school (Strategic Management Master) and for web professionals during workshops
1 - Let’s all talk the same language!
- What’s the web?
- What’s a business model?
- What’s a startup?
2 - What are the key elements of a business model?
- Value proposition and revenue streams
- How’s the music, video games and book publishing industries going?
- Customer channels, customer relationships, key partners, activities, resources, cost structure
3 - What are the business models of Internet heavyweights publicly traded?
- Google (139), Facebook (148), Twitter (161), Linkedin (167), Groupon (172)
4 - What are the business models of the most valuable web-based companies privately owned?
- What is Crowdfunding? Kickstarter (182), Wiseed (187) and Prosper (189)
- What is the Internet of Things? Breathometer (194), Sen.se (196), Nest (199) and Akimo (201)
- What is the sharing economy? Uber (208), Blablacar (211) and Airbnb (214)
- LaRuchequiditoui (218), ZocDoc (220), SnapChat (222)
Conclusion and farewell
Enterpreneurship opportunity in it[Nigeria]Obi David
With the fast rate of development in ICT, so many Africa countries continue to merry in the "Dark Age".
ICT is so big and wide to solve un-employment in any Nation.
The future of the business landscape: What's in store for companies?Deloitte United States
The forces of the Big Shift are driving both fragmentation and consolidation, fundamentally changing the nature of the relationships among businesses.
Many large companies are on shaky ground. Seismic waves are already shaping the landscape. The winners among large companies in coming decades will be those that position themselves on more solid ground in areas of the economy that will continue to support scale and scope economics. The evolving landscape, reshaped and reformed, is opening up large areas that will favor smaller, more focused, enterprises—creating opportunities for all of us to build viable small businesses that tap into our creative potential, but only if we know how to focus. Companies large and small have to be thoughtful about where they position themselves to be sustainable. Strategies of position are back with a vengeance. The time to act is now, before the ground shifts any further.
To read the full report, please visit: http://deloi.tt/2wg4k35
This presentation is for the TCN Venture Fast Track. Please review the slides in conjuntion with the below video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALjvwVHHzh8&feature=share
Rethinking Welcome (Visitor Information) Centers - New GuidelinesBronwyn White
Carolyn Childs presented her findings of a recent study and analysis of available research at the 2016 Travel and Tourism Research Association International Conference in Vail, Colorado.
In this presentation she talks about the challenges and critical success factors for mobile and pop-up Welcome / Visitor information Centers.
Similar to 'Driving Business Forward' Startup Gathering 2015, TSSG & South East Bic (20)
This year sees businesses continue to respond to the pandemic and adjust to the new EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, while at the same time addressing issues like climate change and digitalisation.
As such, Enterprise Ireland has identified the following strategic priorities for 2021:
• Strengthen Irish enterprise to respond to market shocks and disruption in response to COVID-19 and Brexit
• Drive transformational change and the pace of innovation transitioning to new business models, digitalisation and the low carbon economy
• Scale and Grow the export and start-up base, across regions and sectors and grow companies of all sizes.
Enhancing, nurturing and leveraging the research and innovation ecosystem is key to Enterprise Ireland achieving these objectives.
There are many ways Walton Institute and TSSG Technology Gateway aligns with Enterprise Ireland, and promotes Irish industry.
Drug-delivery to the Brain using Neural CommunicationsWalton Institute
This presentation describes the potential use of the vagus nerve to transmit modulated data pulses to an embedded drug-delivery system in the brain. Energy harvesting is used to power both the transmitter and receiver. The system has a high degree of biocompatibilty and operates within medical safety limits.
TSSB Brain Initiative - Overview of Nano and Molecular Communications and Bra...Walton Institute
This was a presentation given by Dr. Sasitharan Balasubramaniam, Director of Research at TSSG, in which he presented his current research in developing miniature devices for Brain implants. The talk focused on two types of implants, which includes (i) nanoelectronics that are used to stimulate neutrons, (ii) engineered cells that transfect and communicate to neurons. The talk will also touch on the potential applications for these types of devices.
Dev Dives: Train smarter, not harder – active learning and UiPath LLMs for do...UiPathCommunity
💥 Speed, accuracy, and scaling – discover the superpowers of GenAI in action with UiPath Document Understanding and Communications Mining™:
See how to accelerate model training and optimize model performance with active learning
Learn about the latest enhancements to out-of-the-box document processing – with little to no training required
Get an exclusive demo of the new family of UiPath LLMs – GenAI models specialized for processing different types of documents and messages
This is a hands-on session specifically designed for automation developers and AI enthusiasts seeking to enhance their knowledge in leveraging the latest intelligent document processing capabilities offered by UiPath.
Speakers:
👨🏫 Andras Palfi, Senior Product Manager, UiPath
👩🏫 Lenka Dulovicova, Product Program Manager, UiPath
GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using Deplo...James Anderson
Effective Application Security in Software Delivery lifecycle using Deployment Firewall and DBOM
The modern software delivery process (or the CI/CD process) includes many tools, distributed teams, open-source code, and cloud platforms. Constant focus on speed to release software to market, along with the traditional slow and manual security checks has caused gaps in continuous security as an important piece in the software supply chain. Today organizations feel more susceptible to external and internal cyber threats due to the vast attack surface in their applications supply chain and the lack of end-to-end governance and risk management.
The software team must secure its software delivery process to avoid vulnerability and security breaches. This needs to be achieved with existing tool chains and without extensive rework of the delivery processes. This talk will present strategies and techniques for providing visibility into the true risk of the existing vulnerabilities, preventing the introduction of security issues in the software, resolving vulnerabilities in production environments quickly, and capturing the deployment bill of materials (DBOM).
Speakers:
Bob Boule
Robert Boule is a technology enthusiast with PASSION for technology and making things work along with a knack for helping others understand how things work. He comes with around 20 years of solution engineering experience in application security, software continuous delivery, and SaaS platforms. He is known for his dynamic presentations in CI/CD and application security integrated in software delivery lifecycle.
Gopinath Rebala
Gopinath Rebala is the CTO of OpsMx, where he has overall responsibility for the machine learning and data processing architectures for Secure Software Delivery. Gopi also has a strong connection with our customers, leading design and architecture for strategic implementations. Gopi is a frequent speaker and well-known leader in continuous delivery and integrating security into software delivery.
Connector Corner: Automate dynamic content and events by pushing a buttonDianaGray10
Here is something new! In our next Connector Corner webinar, we will demonstrate how you can use a single workflow to:
Create a campaign using Mailchimp with merge tags/fields
Send an interactive Slack channel message (using buttons)
Have the message received by managers and peers along with a test email for review
But there’s more:
In a second workflow supporting the same use case, you’ll see:
Your campaign sent to target colleagues for approval
If the “Approve” button is clicked, a Jira/Zendesk ticket is created for the marketing design team
But—if the “Reject” button is pushed, colleagues will be alerted via Slack message
Join us to learn more about this new, human-in-the-loop capability, brought to you by Integration Service connectors.
And...
Speakers:
Akshay Agnihotri, Product Manager
Charlie Greenberg, Host
Neuro-symbolic is not enough, we need neuro-*semantic*Frank van Harmelen
Neuro-symbolic (NeSy) AI is on the rise. However, simply machine learning on just any symbolic structure is not sufficient to really harvest the gains of NeSy. These will only be gained when the symbolic structures have an actual semantics. I give an operational definition of semantics as “predictable inference”.
All of this illustrated with link prediction over knowledge graphs, but the argument is general.
Epistemic Interaction - tuning interfaces to provide information for AI supportAlan Dix
Paper presented at SYNERGY workshop at AVI 2024, Genoa, Italy. 3rd June 2024
https://alandix.com/academic/papers/synergy2024-epistemic/
As machine learning integrates deeper into human-computer interactions, the concept of epistemic interaction emerges, aiming to refine these interactions to enhance system adaptability. This approach encourages minor, intentional adjustments in user behaviour to enrich the data available for system learning. This paper introduces epistemic interaction within the context of human-system communication, illustrating how deliberate interaction design can improve system understanding and adaptation. Through concrete examples, we demonstrate the potential of epistemic interaction to significantly advance human-computer interaction by leveraging intuitive human communication strategies to inform system design and functionality, offering a novel pathway for enriching user-system engagements.
Securing your Kubernetes cluster_ a step-by-step guide to success !KatiaHIMEUR1
Today, after several years of existence, an extremely active community and an ultra-dynamic ecosystem, Kubernetes has established itself as the de facto standard in container orchestration. Thanks to a wide range of managed services, it has never been so easy to set up a ready-to-use Kubernetes cluster.
However, this ease of use means that the subject of security in Kubernetes is often left for later, or even neglected. This exposes companies to significant risks.
In this talk, I'll show you step-by-step how to secure your Kubernetes cluster for greater peace of mind and reliability.
Elevating Tactical DDD Patterns Through Object CalisthenicsDorra BARTAGUIZ
After immersing yourself in the blue book and its red counterpart, attending DDD-focused conferences, and applying tactical patterns, you're left with a crucial question: How do I ensure my design is effective? Tactical patterns within Domain-Driven Design (DDD) serve as guiding principles for creating clear and manageable domain models. However, achieving success with these patterns requires additional guidance. Interestingly, we've observed that a set of constraints initially designed for training purposes remarkably aligns with effective pattern implementation, offering a more ‘mechanical’ approach. Let's explore together how Object Calisthenics can elevate the design of your tactical DDD patterns, offering concrete help for those venturing into DDD for the first time!
Slack (or Teams) Automation for Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Soluti...Jeffrey Haguewood
Sidekick Solutions uses Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Solutions Apricot) and automation solutions to integrate data for business workflows.
We believe integration and automation are essential to user experience and the promise of efficient work through technology. Automation is the critical ingredient to realizing that full vision. We develop integration products and services for Bonterra Case Management software to support the deployment of automations for a variety of use cases.
This video focuses on the notifications, alerts, and approval requests using Slack for Bonterra Impact Management. The solutions covered in this webinar can also be deployed for Microsoft Teams.
Interested in deploying notification automations for Bonterra Impact Management? Contact us at sales@sidekicksolutionsllc.com to discuss next steps.
Transcript: Selling digital books in 2024: Insights from industry leaders - T...BookNet Canada
The publishing industry has been selling digital audiobooks and ebooks for over a decade and has found its groove. What’s changed? What has stayed the same? Where do we go from here? Join a group of leading sales peers from across the industry for a conversation about the lessons learned since the popularization of digital books, best practices, digital book supply chain management, and more.
Link to video recording: https://bnctechforum.ca/sessions/selling-digital-books-in-2024-insights-from-industry-leaders/
Presented by BookNet Canada on May 28, 2024, with support from the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Software Delivery At the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests In AI-Powered QualityInflectra
In this insightful webinar, Inflectra explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming software development and testing. Discover how AI-powered tools are revolutionizing every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), from design and prototyping to testing, deployment, and monitoring.
Learn about:
• The Future of Testing: How AI is shifting testing towards verification, analysis, and higher-level skills, while reducing repetitive tasks.
• Test Automation: How AI-powered test case generation, optimization, and self-healing tests are making testing more efficient and effective.
• Visual Testing: Explore the emerging capabilities of AI in visual testing and how it's set to revolutionize UI verification.
• Inflectra's AI Solutions: See demonstrations of Inflectra's cutting-edge AI tools like the ChatGPT plugin and Azure Open AI platform, designed to streamline your testing process.
Whether you're a developer, tester, or QA professional, this webinar will give you valuable insights into how AI is shaping the future of software delivery.
Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey 2024 by 91mobiles.pdf91mobiles
91mobiles recently conducted a Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey in which we asked over 3,000 respondents about the TV they own, aspects they look at on a new TV, and their TV buying preferences.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 3DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 3. In this session, we will cover desktop automation along with UI automation.
Topics covered:
UI automation Introduction,
UI automation Sample
Desktop automation flow
Pradeep Chinnala, Senior Consultant Automation Developer @WonderBotz and UiPath MVP
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
The Art of the Pitch: WordPress Relationships and SalesLaura Byrne
Clients don’t know what they don’t know. What web solutions are right for them? How does WordPress come into the picture? How do you make sure you understand scope and timeline? What do you do if sometime changes?
All these questions and more will be explored as we talk about matching clients’ needs with what your agency offers without pulling teeth or pulling your hair out. Practical tips, and strategies for successful relationship building that leads to closing the deal.
2. Agenda
• Overview of the TSSG.
• TSSG Innovation Platform.
• TSSG approach to developing start-ups and some
lessons learned.
• TSSG Start-up Platform.
• Q&A.
13/10/2015 www.tssg.org 2
3. 3
TSSG
• International Research Institute hosted by WIT.
• Founded by Prof Willie Donnelly in 1997 and led by CEO
Barry Downes.
• Has 140+ staff and is 100% self funded.
• Expertise in key areas relevant to EI/IDA TIME cluster:
• networks,
• mobile and
• communications services.
The Telecommunications Software and Systems Group (TSSG) at WIT
• Completed over 110 direct industry projects for start-ups in
Ireland over the past 3 years and has spun out a number of
leading international start-ups such as FeedHenry Ltd.
EXPERTISE
• On doing world class research and innovation -
then turning this into economic impact in the South
East and Ireland by supporting EI and IDA clients
and by creating and supporting start-ups.
FOCUS
IMPACT
4. Networks
Network Virtualization
Software Defined
Networking (SDN)
Mobile
Mobile Cloud Platforms
(PaaS) and advanced
mobile applications
Communications
Services
Communication Services
Platforms (PaaS) and
applications e.g. Web RTC
TSSG Core Focus Areas
5. Cloud
Software Platform and
Infrastructure as a Service
Virtual and
Augmented Reality
VR/AR Communications, 3D
User Interfaces, Education,
Simulation and enabling
hardware
Data Mining
Predictive Analytics
Social Network Analysis
Data Security
TSSG Core Focus Areas
6. •Knowledge and IP
•Publications in Leading Journals
•PhD Students and Graduates
•Academic Network around the World
•Powering Industry’s R&D Centres
•Solving Industry Problems
•Identification of Future Problems
•Driving EU Research Networks
•Establishing Technology Roadmaps
•Providing Innovative Solutions.
•Setting European Policy.
•Defining European R&D Agenda.
•Living at the Heart of Europe
•Building Innovative Companies
•Impacting Irish SME’s
•Transforming the Local Ecosystem
Co-Directors SFI
Connect Research Centre
TSSG Innovation Platform
8. Product & Customer Focus
• Our focus is on building software product
companies that can scale internationally.
• Key questions include: What’s the problem we
are trying to solve and for who?
• Does the product offer benefits, in the
customer’s minds, different from and superior in
some way – e.g. better, faster, cheaper to
what’s currently offered by other solutions,
including the status quo?
• Find out – go talk to the target customer (lots of
them).
• Build an MVP and get feedback.
• Then rapidly refine to increase the value offered
in each release – ie customer driven
development.
13/10/2015 www.tssg.org 8
Ref : Steve Blank (2005) Customer Driven Development
Ref: Eric Reeis (2011) Lean Start-up
9. Market Focus
• Ideally the market for the start-up
is large and rapidly growing.
• Looking for big opportunities, often
where we can disrupt existing
ways of doing business or serving
customers needs.
• A high potential business in a
huge, rapidly growing market will
require venture capital to support
growth.
13/10/2015 www.tssg.org 9
Adapted from Everett Rodgers (1962, 2003) and Geoffrey Moore
(1991, 2013)
10. Industry Focus
• We believe it is important to understand
the industry we are competing in and
understand how attractive or unattractive
is it.
• If the industry is a poor performer overall
and are there persuasive reasons why,
how we will fare differently?
• Industry structure can be overcome but
requires a real understanding of the
critical success factors and honest
assessment before trying to.
– e.g. Music industry
– Selling directly to Telcos
www.tssg.org 10
Ref: http://www.imro.ie/music-creators/music-industry-links/structure-of-the-music-industry-in-ireland/
Porter, M.E. (1980, 2008)
12. Competition
13/10/2015 www.tssg.org 12
What is our unfair advantage?
• How much will it cost to acquire and retain customers?
• e.g. mobile games.
• Will margins be adequate to cover the cost structure?
• Will revenues be adequate in relation to the capital
investment needed and the margins generated?
• How much cash must be tied up in working capital
(inventory or other) for how long?
• e.g. IoT hardware products.
• How quickly will customers pay?
Is the business model economically
viable?
Competition is dynamic!
• Patents, trade secrets and so on – that other firms
cannot likely duplicate or imitate to compete?
• Superior organizational processes, capabilities or
resources that others would have difficulty in duplicating
or imitating?
• Superior product benefits that are difficult to replicate.
• Network effects.
• Competitors react!
• Now image dynamic competition for FeedHenry from
the previous slide …
Osterwalder, Pigneur (2010)
13. The Start-up Management Team
13/10/2015 www.tssg.org 13
Building the Team
• Can the team identify the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) in
the industry?
• Can they demonstrate that they can deliver on these
CSFs.
• What are the gaps and how can they be addressed?
Can the team execute?
Connectedness
• The need for a team.
• The need to have different skills and creative tension but
be able to get on the same page re strategy.
• Work ethic - Start-up’s require ferocious work and hours.
• Drive and Passion!
• Who does the team know:
• up the value chain: suppliers and partner?
• down the value-chain: customers?
• across the value-chain: competitors and substitutes?
• The more connected the better.
14. Putting it all Together
13/10/2015 www.tssg.org 14
Ref: John Mullins (2003)
15. Finance
• Be frugal…. as if its your own money.
• Beg and borrow before you spend.
• Manage cash-flow aggressively.
• Build relationships with the Revenue, customers, suppliers,
your bank, and your corporate council.
• Get Audited from day one.
• Manage the company so that its easy to do an investment due
diligence and secure investment.
13/10/2015 www.tssg.org 15
16. Other Considerations
• Exhaust your network and every option to hire great talent.
• Can’t complete with Google / facebook on salary or brand but you
can exploit the flexibilities of a small company.
• Reward with shares, options, holidays, bonus, travel opportunities,
working from home.
• Make your start-up a great, fun and exciting place to work.
• Communicate all the time and let everyone know what’s going on
(easier said than done).
• Leverage the supporting agencies – e.g. SEBIC, LEO, Enterprise
Ireland.
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22. Funding
• For high-growth technology start-ups that target
international markets funding is key:
• There are a range of funding supports from start-
up, to seed, to scaling:
– New Frontiers, LEO, BIC, HBAN, the Banks, Enterprise
Ireland and Venture Capital.
• But how do you access them?
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