An insider’s guide to help start-up firms progress

MUCH more needs to be done to help young innovators develop their business ideas if Ireland is to compete strongly for global investment funds.

This is the view of Kieran Moynihan, who was appointed as the first entrepreneur-in-residence to an Irish third-level college this week. He will be working hands-on with students and staff at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), offering practical assistance to potential start-up companies and helping with their business proposals.

The 40-year-old has been globe-hopping for almost a decade since he co-founded telecom network management company Comnitel in 1999. The Vallent firm that was formed when it merged with two other companies was sold to IBM in 2007 and Mr Moynihan was the computer giant’s vice-president in telecom software up to last month.