An alternative route to Funding.

The State of Funding in 2009 was a blog post I put together a few days ago.

It’s not meant to be definitive and there are other ways to get funding.

I think we should recognise the efforts of one local entrepreneur who managed to energise a local MLA into seeking funding for his startup from two local property developers. This sort of ad-hoc business angel network should be taken as an examplar. Never before have I known a local politician to take the plight of startup entrepreneurs so seriously. Would it be that other politicians would follow suit and assist us in the building of an incubator and seed fund for startups.

So. I mentioned yesterday that a small group of interested do-gooders are opening an incubator and starting a fund.

We reckon that businesses will stay in the Incubator for 6 months – 1 year and then will be able to graduate to other premises (for example CoreBelfast or many of the Serviced Offices around the province).

The fund is going to be made up by interested do-gooders. It’s small amounts individually but it only takes small amounts to get a startup off the ground. We’re going to talk to some ‘professionals’ about the legals of this obviously (recommendations welcome)