Start-up businesses on the rise

There was a significant jump in the number of new business start-ups in 2008, which have experienced their strongest growth in over eight years, despite the economic downturn.

The Dublin Business Innovation Centre says there was a 45% rise in the number of new hi-tech start-ups when compared with the previous year’s figures.

Chief executive Desmond Fahy has advised potential entrepreneurs to pursue their projects despite gloomy economic forecasts for 2009.

“People who have an idea that would bring new benefits to clients and customers should just go ahead and realise their ambitions and consider that this is a good time to go about controlling their own destiny,” he said.