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1 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
Startup Ireland Survey An Amárach Research Briefing
November 2015
2 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
Background & Methodology
This is the second year of the Startup Ireland
survey, conducted in partnership with
Amárach.
Last year, 295 startups participated in the
survey, this year we’ve had a total of 417
participants: 92% of this year’s respondents
are owner/founders of their businesses.
The survey was completed online, via a link
sent to members of Startup Ireland, and via
partners in incubators and on social media.
This report summarises the main findings,
including comparisons with last year’s
survey, and identifies key trends shaping the
future of the startup sector in Ireland.
Startup Profile
4 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
Starting to Change
This year saw a significant
increase in the share of female
startups in the total sample
We have seen a sharp
increase in the share of
startups run by people aged
over 35
There has been no significant
change in the share of
startups run by non-Irish
nationals.
Gender 2014 2015
Male 79 69
Female 21 31
Age 2014 2015
Under 35 44 30
Over 35 56 70
Nationality 2014 2015
Irish 85 86
Other Nationality 15 14
5 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
Repeat Entrepreneurs
Most startups are headed by
people who are running a
startup for the first time, and
the share has increased
slightly this year
There has been an increase in
the share of startups in our
survey who have been in
operation for 1-3 years,
suggesting that more are
surviving and moving into the
next stage of operation.
Startup Stage 2014 2015
Ideation/pre-startup 31 31
Started less than 1
year ago 33 27
Started less than 3
years ago 36 42
First Timers 2014 2015
My first startup 54 57
Involved in startup
before 46 43
6 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
Sectoral Shift
The sectoral focus of Irish
startups remains concentrated
in consumer/internet and
business/enterprise products
and services, while there has
been an increase (from a small
base) in life science/biotech
focused startups.
The startup sector has become
slightly more polarised in terms
of its location profile: the share
of those working from home
has gone up as has the share
in rented offices.
Sectoral Focus 2014 2015
Consumer/internet 46 38
Mobile/app 25 21
Business/enterprise 45 43
Cleantech/energy 5 5
Life Science/biotech 4 10
Hardware 5 5
Location 2014 2015
At home 40 49
In incubation space 17 14
On incubation/
acceleration
programme
18 10
In rented offices 25 27
Startup Experiences
8 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
Inspiration
Most entrepreneurs are
inspired to start their business
because of their own direct
experience of a problem and
related work experience
Research and other sources of
inspiration tend to be less
relevant in identifying ideas for
potential startups.
Sources of Ideas* 2015
From direct experience of the
problem 48
From personal work experience
in the area 42
From a discussion with a friend 16
From my research/masters/PhD 9
From something I read 7
* Not asked in 2014; multiple response allowed
9 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
Pressure Points
There has been relatively little change in the order of pressures on startups, though
the % experiencing problems accessing scaling supports has risen significantly
45%
78%
69% 72%
36%
48%
60%
45%
79%
71%
81%
37%
52%
63%
Access to suitable co-working/incubation
space
Access to early stagefunding
Access to staffingtalent
Access to scalingsupports to grow my
startup
Access to businessmanagement skills
Engagement with stateenterprise supports
Securing of earlycustomer sales
2014 2015
% of Startups finding each experience extremely or fairly difficult*
* Excluding those to whom it is not applicable
10 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
Support Experience – I
Just over half of startups feel they
have adequate access to startup
support networks that are easily
accessible – a large minority do
not
Over 4 in 10 startups received
mentoring through state or
voluntary initiatives such as Office
Hours, though nearly half did not.
Moreover, 7 in 10 startup
owner/founders in our survey said
they would be willing to volunteer
time to help other entrepreneurs.
Adequate Access to
Support Networks* 2015
Yes 52
No 40
Not relevant 8
Received Mentoring
e.g.: ‘Office Hours’* 2015
Yes 41
No 48
Not relevant 11
* Not asked in 2014
11 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
Support Experience – II
Nearly 3 in 10 startups have
availed of R&D supports such
as innovation vouchers or
Innovation Partnerships in
building their startups
But only 1 in 10 has availed of
supports from large corporates
when building their startups.
Availed of R&D
Supports e.g.: Voucher 2015
Yes 29
No 58
Not relevant 13
Availed of Supports
from Large Corporates 2015
Yes 11
No 76
Not relevant 13
12 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
Intellectual Property
There has been a modest
though encouraging
improvement in the share of
startups who have developed
or acquired patents, trade
marks or other intellectual
property in the course of
starting up their business
Nevertheless, the fact remains
that a large majority of startups
have not developed any
significant IP in their business.
Type of IP* 2014 2015
Patents 16 18
Trade Marks 23 25
None 67 64
* Multiple response allowed
Startup Nation
14 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
78%
68%
53%
47%
21%
22%
32%
47%
53%
79%
Ireland becoming a global hub for startups by2020 will help your business
There is a strong network of formal and informalsupports available to your startup in your area
The startup sector is as well representednationally as other business sectors are by the
Chambers of Commerce, SFA & ISME
Sufficient action is being taken to make yourlocality a hub for startups
The Irish startup sector is operating at its fullpotential
Disagree Agree
The vast majority of Irish startups do not think that their sector is operating to its full
potential yet, and just as many think it will be good if Ireland becomes a global
startup hub*:
* Excluding don’t knows
State of the Startup Nation
15 Startup Ireland Survey 2015
Summary
The 2015 Startup Ireland survey of Irish startups points
to a number of very positive trends: including higher
participation for women and older adults
There are also signs of improvement in terms of
building intellectual capital in startups, and a sizeable
minority are benefiting from R&D grants
However, there is little room for complacency given the
growing frustration with funding for expansion (beyond
very early stage finance), and this will require urgent
attention if Ireland is achieve our ambitions for the
startup future.
