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Minister Bruton announces expansion of Google’s Tech Hub Network to Dublin, partnering with Dogpatch Labs

27th August 2015

Dogpatch first Irish member of Google for Entrepreneurs Tech Hub Network

Today (Thursday), the Google for Entrepreneurs Tech Hub Network is expanding to Dublin by partnering with Dogpatch Labs, one of Ireland’s leading startup organisations. As Dublin’s tech community has grown, so has its entrepreneurial spirit and startup culture with the city now home to some of the most promising startups in Europe, including Trustev and Logentries. The announcement was made by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton T.D. at an event in Dogpatch Labs.

Dogpatch Labs is a physical space for startups to work from and for community events. The goal with the Google Tech Hub partnership is to open new doors to mentorship, investment and growth opportunities, and to help developers and entrepreneurs launch new ideas and turn them into thriving young companies. Dogpatch Labs members will now also have access to Google Tech Hub coworking spaces in over twenty locations globally, including London, San Francisco and Tel Aviv.

Minister Bruton said: “Two thirds of all new jobs in the Irish economy are created by start-ups – that is why supporting more people to start businesses is at the heart of all of our jobs plans, and to that end I am delighted to see a sharp jump of 11,800 in the numbers setting up by themselves as recorded in the QNHS release by the CSO yesterday. This is well ahead of the growth rate in employment generally and is exactly the type of activity we want to see more of. As I have said in the past, we have great entrepreneurs in Ireland, but we just don’t have enough of them. Building on the numbers from the CSO release yesterday, a key part of our plan is to provide more soft supports like co-working spaces and mentoring for start-ups, and today’s announcement of a new partnership between Google and Dogpatch is a great boost for this. This project will provide more co-working space and more supports for more entrepreneurs in Dogpatch, through the Google for Entrepreneurs network. I am delighted to welcome this really important boost for the start-up environment in Ireland”.

Patrick Walsh, Managing Director of Dogpatch Labs had this to say “Our partnership with Google will allow us to increase our already significant outreach into Dublin’s startup community. It will bring many benefits to Dublin’s startups, including mentoring programmes and access to Google engineers and experts. One of the things that really excites me about this partnership is the Google Tech Hub International Passport. This means that if you are member of Dogpatch you now can hotdesk across a range an incredible co-workspaces and communities that are Google backed around the world from San Francisco to Tel Aviv to London and across Asia.”

Ronan Harris, Head of Google Ireland, said: “As a former startup ourselves (opening with just 5 employees in Dublin, rising to 5000 today), a passion for entrepreneurship and innovation is in our DNA. With Dogpatch Labs and our Google for Entrepreneurs program, we hope Dublin’s world-class startup community will grow that much faster, building transformative products and companies that will take the world by storm. We can’t wait to see what new ideas come out.”

For startups working with Dogpatch Labs, the Tech Hub Network puts new resources at their fingertips, including funding, training and mentorship opportunities, and access to Google programs and products throughout the network including:

  • Mentorship from Dublin Googlers (in 2014, over 200 Googlers mentored Irish startups)
  • Eligibility for Google product offers relevant to startups; and
  • The Google for Entrepreneurs Global Passport, where entrepreneurs from each hub can work for free at spaces designated at any other hub in the network.

Google’s partnership with Dogpatch Labs builds on its commitment to support the startup community through programmes like Adopt a Startup and Startup Weekend, as well as partnerships with Enterprise Ireland and Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur. Google’s Tech Hub Network is the first formal startup network of its kind, and at a little over a year old, there are now 20+ Tech Hubs and four Campuses around the world. 

ENDS

Notes to Editor - Partnership Benefits

The Google Tech Hub Network

The Google Tech Hub Network is a community of independent partner tech hubs around the world. The Tech Hub passport will allow Dogpatch Labs Members to access over 20 Google for Entrepreneurs (GFE) Tech Hubs globally. Members will be able to land at any of the hubs and Google campuses, placing themselves at the centre of the tech eco-system in each city. Dogpatch Labs members can work at any of the Tech Hubs for free. Google Tech Hubs include:

Google Mentoring & Workshops

Dogpatch Labs and Google will work together to grow Dublin’s startup community. The Google funds will allow Dogpatch Labs to expand its outreach into the wider startup community. Google experts and Dogpatch Labs will co-host mentoring sessions and workshops, not just for Dogpatch residents but also the wider startup community.

Google Corner

As part of the partnership, Google will design, fund and deploy a ‘Googley Space’ in Dogpatch Labs. This will be referred to as the ‘Google Corner’ and be used to host workshops for Dublin’s startup community. 

Media Contact Details

Dogpatch Labs

Kate Lynch, Allison & Partners - kate@allisonpr.com, +353 (0) 87 695 2179

Google Ireland Press Office

Celine Crawford, MKC Communications - press-ie@google.com, +353 87 8235777

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