The AWS Startup Loft is a home for technology startups in one of AWS’s Dublin city centre offices in Charlemont Street. This co-working space is free to use for startups and is equipped with open seating, phone booths, WiFi and coffee to keep startups fuelled.
The loft regularly hosts office hours and talks with venture capital, legal and accounting firms. Every Wednesday and Thursday startups can sit down with an AWS solution architect or account manager for ‘Ask the Expert’ sessions. This could be an opportunity to discuss a startups technology roadmap, architecture guidance or cost optimisation.
Minister of State in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Minister Dara Calleary who officially opened the Startup loft said:
“The Start Up Loft initiative is an important addition to the entrepreneur and start up ecosystem here in Ireland. This space and others like it play a vital role by supporting early stage and start-up companies test out their ideas, pitch for investment, and build their networks. I’m pleased to support the launch today which will complement the range of government supports and schemes available through our enterprise agencies, including the Local Enterprise Office network and Enterprise Ireland, to help Irish start-ups scale up, grow, and succeed both at home and on the global stage.”
One of the startups based in the AWS Startup Loft is KowRoo founded by Sheelagh Brady and they offer Travel and Corporate Security. Sheelagh commented ““Putting a company together from scratch is a hugely complicated and exciting project. The Startup Loft gives me a dedicated space to expand my business while learning from other entrepreneurs as we move our projects to the next stage. Having access to VCs and AWS experts is an added bonus. ”
Mike Beary the Country Manager, AWS Ireland said:
“At AWS, one of our leadership principles is to “Think Big”. Here in Dublin, we want to enable a culture of “thinking big” by providing some of Ireland’s brightest entrepreneurs with a space for their ideas to grow. This new Startup Loft will create the ideal forum for new companies to meet other founders, interact with VCs, and discuss how to take their businesses to the next level.”
Kate Fullen from Elkstone added:
“Spaces like this give the VC community a chance to work with some of the most interesting founders in the country as they get their new companies up and running. The AWS Startup Loft is a great addition to the business ecosystem in Dublin.”
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