Kernel Capital is the independent manager of The Bank of Ireland Kernel Capital Funds, one of the largest and most active sources of equity finance for technology companies on the Island of Ireland. Kernel leverage their extensive network to enable portfolio companies recruit the highest calibre people, to break into new international markets and to generate revenues of scale. Kernel Capital is the only investment firm with venture capital Funds dedicated to each jurisdiction on the Island.  Investors include strategic partner Bank of Ireland; Enterprise Ireland; Invest NI; Galway University Foundation; The University of Limerick Foundation; The New York State Common Retirement Fund; and undisclosed Family Offices.  Kernel Capital Funds are industry performance leaders, having delivered Gross IRRs in excess of 20% per annum. Consistently delivering strong financial returns for investors Kernel have led more than 20 substantial trade sales to NASDAQ, NYSE and LSE listed corporations. 

The Accelerator Programme is designed to provide funding and support to internationally focussed early stage companies in the Republic of Ireland enabling an acceleration of their growth and development. This Accelerator Programme has the potential to provide support to up to 14 early stage companies based out of Cork region from 2017 to 2019. The Bank of Ireland Seed and Early stage Equity Fund has committed €300,000 of funding to this Accelerator Programme.

CorkBIC is a public private-sector led organisation, specifically set up to identify and build knowledge intensive companies based on promising technology and capable innovative people. CorkBIC plays a hands-on role helping entrepreneurs and startups navigate the minefield of raising finance, sorting out business propositions, arranging agreements with shareholders and investors, and, perhaps most important of all, finding customers.

CorkBIC manages HBAN (Halo Business Angel Network) in the South and Mid-West of Ireland. HBAN is an umbrella organisaion, operating on a regional basis, providing a matching service for private investors & pre-screened investment opportunities and developing Business Angel Syndicates. Since inception in 2007, HBAN Investments have grown year on year, closing 362 deals, raising over €186 million by the end of 2016.

155 million endpoints. 500,000+ companies worldwide. One security software company.
For nearly 30 years, Trend Micro’s unwavering vision has been to make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Security is our entire focus, and it shows. This single-minded passion has inspired our innovations that keep up with the bad guys despite a changing IT landscape, riskier user behaviour, and constantly evolving threats.
The depth of our experience remains unmatched. From the endpoint to the network to the cloud, we’ve got you covered with a connected threat defence recognized by analysts, customers, and industry gurus of all kinds. Trend Micro is quoted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, has over 5700 employees worldwide and annual revenue of over $1.2bn.

Bank of Ireland Enterprise and Innovation programmes are specially designed to foster enterprise and entrepreneurship in Ireland.  The Enterprise Development programmes include Bank of Ireland Enterprise Town which will visit over 120 locations this year, bi- annual National Enterprise Week which takes place in May and November provides key insights and expertise across various sectors & industries and aims to help businesses diversify their reach and connect with new customers. The Bank of Ireland innovation team has pioneered the development of Workbench spaces within branches which support startup companies and entrepreneurs. Workbenches offer working and meeting spaces free of charge and there are spaces in Dublin (three), Cork, Limerick and Galway – and also internationally (New York). In addition Bank of Ireland have partnered with co-working spaces in Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry and Dublin serviced by a Bank of Ireland Community Manager. StartLab – a start up incubator – also based in Galway and Dublin, and designed to incubate high potential start-ups to scale rapidly. StartLab New York to support scaling Irish business in the US.

Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. Enterprise Ireland work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. In this way, they support sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment.

Cork City Council (Irish: Comhairle Cathrach Chorcaí) is the authority responsible for local government in the city of Cork in Ireland. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture, and environment. As a partner to the Accelerator, Cork City Council has agreed to provide Cork City Centre office space to accommodate the Accelerator and the Teams.  This initiative also incorporates the supports of the Local Enterprise Office, Cork City, the first stop shop for anyone establishing a business in Cork City. 

GAN (Global Accelerator Network), was started in 2010 by Techstars to connect the top mentorship driven seed stage accelerators around the world.  This exclusive club has 70 top industry accelerators across 6 continents and 100 cities amongst is membership. Through its CEO Patrick Riley from Techstars, Michael O’Connnor as a Director of EBAN negotiated an MOU between EBAN and GAN and latterly membership of GAN.  Two of the proposed mentors – Connor Murphy from Cork and Eamonn Carey from Dublin have worked with the team.  Connor an EOY finalist started mentoring post Datahug in 2013 before getting involved in Techstars. Eamonn has been involved in Techstars for 5 years and worked across several European programmes before heading up it's flagship NYC accelerator 

EBAN is the pan-European representative for the early stage investor community, gathering 197 member organisations in 59 countries. Established in 1999 by a group of pioneer angel networks in Europe with the collaboration of the European Commission and EURADA, EBAN represents a sector estimated to invest €6.1 billion Euros a year while playing a vital role in Europe’s future, notably in the funding of SMEs. EBAN fuels Europe’s growth through the creation of wealth and jobs.

The Entrepreneur Experience® is a 24 hour ‘bootcamp’ event and a unique opportunity for 24 Emerging Entrepreneurs to gain unparalleled access and advice from 24 Irish and International Business leaders. The 24 hour experience includes networking, workshops and presentations.

Over the past six years the Entrepreneur Experience® has gone from strength to strength.

150 Emerging Entrepreneurs have participated from 10 countries

Over 80 Seasoned Entrepreneurs have participated

The top 20 Seasoned Entrepreneurs have an average turnover of €54m and their average number of employees is 400

Over €40.5m has been raised by 45 companies 

HBAN is an all-island Irish umbrella group responsible for the development of business angel syndicates and to increase the number of angel investors who are interested in investing in early stage companies. CorkBIC manages HBAN in its region and has a wide network of Irish and International Business Angel Investors as well as access to numerous HBAN syndicates located all over Ireland and Internationally. 2016 was a record-breaking year for business angel investment in Ireland, with €13.6 million invested in 50 early-phase businesses. Those investments leveraged a further €20.5 million from other public and private funds, bringing the total invested to €34.1 million. Since 2007, HBAN angels have invested €73 million in 362 separate deals. When the €113 million invested by other funds in those deals is added, this is an overall total of €186 million invested in Irish start-ups in the last 10 years.

CorkBIC is a member of EBN, the European Business & Innovation Centre Network, set up in 1984. EBN have implemented a rigorous EC approved certification and quality system enabling the development of a network of excellence. Globally connected but regionally focussed, with over 200 full Members active and strategically integrated in over 200 Regions, EBN is, by far, the largest and most professional business support network servicing the innovative SME market across the EU.