“Ireland and Scotland have strong start-up ecosystems, but there is real opportunity to achieve more by connecting them” – James Trotman, CodeBase
CodeBase, the Edinburgh-based growth platform and tech incubator, has agreed a cross-border partnership that will enable Scottish start-ups to build links in Ireland and access EU markets.
The tie-up with Dublin-based Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC) comes amid renewed debate over the UK’s future relationship with the European Union.
James Trotman at CodeBase said: “Ireland and Scotland have strong start-up ecosystems, but there is real opportunity to achieve more by connecting them. Our partnership with Guinness Enterprise Centre is about breaking down barriers and giving ambitious founders access to a much wider network of customers, investors, experienced operators, and commercial opportunities.”
The initiative will also give start-ups based in Ireland access to local networks, universities and market entry support from CodeBase, across the UK, and internationally.
“By combining GEC’s deep roots in the Irish ecosystem with CodeBase’s reach across Scotland, the wider UK and international markets, we can create new pathways for founders in both directions,” added Trotman.
Founded in 2000, the Guinness Enterprise Centre supports start-ups and scaling companies through workspace, business support and connections to national and international networks.
In May, CodeBase announced a partnership with Republic of Work, an innovation hub in Cork, and launched Celtic Link, a cross-border pilot programme designed to help start-ups and smaller businesses expand between the UK and Ireland.
Niamh Collins, centre director, Guinness Enterprise Centre, said: “When start-ups scale into new markets, they often don’t know where to begin. They are tasked with finding new customers, team members and growth opportunities in places where they may know very few people.
“The UK is a natural next market for many Irish companies, but international expansion is a significant undertaking for a start-up. By partnering with established hubs like CodeBase on the ground, we can reduce some of those barriers and give founders a much stronger starting point.”