Limerick IT

Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre

LIT485

The Hartnett Enterprise Centre facilitates the transition from education, research and employment to startup success by assisting clients in a number of complimentary areas: research commercialisation, early-stage enterprise startup and internationalisation.

The centre provides business development services to clients via one-to-one mentoring and business plan reviews with the Enterprise Development & Business Liaison Manager, the New Frontiers Programme Manager and a panel of subject matter experts. Providing links to Enterprise Ireland and other enterprise support agencies is a critical dimension of the Hartnett Centre service, as well as links to investor networks across Ireland, Europe and the USA.

The centre has incubation units – ready-to-go shared office solutions, hot desks or virtual incubation services – available to promoters of early-stage companies. For companies that are starting to grow, some of the offices can open out into a space for 8 – 10 people.

Hartnett Centre website ￫

sustainable companies created

people employed by participants since 2012

million euros raised by Participants since 2012

What does the Hartnett Centre offer?

18 units of approx. 25m² accommodating up to four people, shared office space and hotdesks. Reception, restaurant, boardroom and meeting room.

IT support and broadband, managed print facility and videoconferencing.

Access to the LIT Enterprise Ladder, LIT International Network and invitations to dozens of events to help inspire, motivate and build networks and relationships and to take part in competitions.

Access to collaborative research with LIT. Shannon ABC, TEMPO and ACORN research centres are based in the centre.

Gallery

Enterprise Ireland Recognition Award From Left to Right: Vincent Cunnane - President, LIT, Jerry Moloney - Regional Director Midwest Enterprise Ireland. Photo credit Shauna Kennedy

Mark Cochrane - Startup of the Year Award From Left to Right: Mary Casey- New Frontiers Programme Coordinator, Mark Cochrane - Trackplan Software Simon O’Keeffe, New Frontiers Lead Trainer, Jerry Moloney, Regional Director Midwest, Enterprise Ireland. Photo credit Shauna Kennedy

Enterprise Team From Left to Right:Derek Blackweir - LIT, Liam Brown -Vice President LIT, Mary Casey, New Frontiers Programme Coordinator, Professor Vincent Cunane - President LIT, Dick Meaney -LIT, Gillian Barry-Head of Innovation & Enterprise & Simon O’Keeffe- New Frontiers Lead Trainer, Photo credit Shauna Kennedy

The Hartnett Centre team

The New Frontiers Programme Manager at Limerick IT is Mary Casey. She holds a BA degree from the University of Limerick, and qualified with the Chartered Insurance Institute while working in that sector. Mary has worked in a variety of private and public sector roles, and shares her considerable practical experience with Limerick’s programme participants, as she steers them towards success through each phase of New Frontiers. Mary thrives on the collaborative environment that the New Frontiers programme develops, and helping new entrepreneurs find their feet by drawing on the expertise of LIT’s New Frontiers alumni and consultants.

Mary Casey

New Frontiers Programme Co-ordinator

061 293 830

Gillian Barry

Enterprise Development and Business Liaison Manager

061 293 151
@GillianBarry

You are surrounded by other entrepreneurs, which is excellent from the point of view of being able to bounce things off others and simply having other people there in your position. We knew we were not alone and had all the encouragement we needed.

John Twomey, Emutex

Staff are always happy to connect you to others in your field or put you in touch with potential customers, in addition to offering ongoing advice and guidance. It is a stimulating environment where you benefit regularly from sharing with other entrepreneurs and LIT staff.

Rose Lenihan, Dionergy

Some of our previous participants

Paul Gough, Nualtra – delivery of food for special medical purposes
Fintan Ward, Golf Voyager – golf vacations website
Charlie Glynn, Glynn Technical Diamonds – innovative synthetic diamond products
Conan McDonnell, BeeActiv – premium bee-centric products
Evan Talty, Wild Irish Sea Weed – providing sustainable, hand-harvested seaweed
Leonie Lynch, Juspy – high protein postnatal recovery drink
Mark Cochrane, Trackplan – facilities management software

The latest news from the Hartnett Centre

SFA National Small Business Awards

Congratulations to New Frontiers alumna, Hannah Wrixon of Get the Shifts, who was recognised in the Emerging New Businesses (under 2 years) category at the SFA National Small Business Awards 2019.

Clare National Enterprise Awards 2019

Congratulations to New Frontiers participant Ivan Tuohy (Congray) who won Best Innovation Award and Overall Winner at the Clare National Enterprise Awards. He will represent Clare at the national awards in May. Congratulations also to New Frontiers alumna, Hannah Wrixon (Get the Shifts), who won Best Startup.

Have a startup idea? Register your interest in New Frontiers and one of our Programme Managers will be in touch soon!

Further reading

Still not ready to apply? We have some useful links that might help:

the Hartnett Centre website
more information about the New Frontiers programme
see our Frequently Asked Questions
check out our 10 tips for entrepreneurs thinking of applying to New Frontiers