HPSU programme, what is it and how can companies be defined as High Potential Startups?
Ireland is known as one of the best Countries in the world to start a new business. In a few years, it has become one of the most important global hubs for tech and innovative startups.
For this reason, the Irish Government decided to make it easier for both local and foreign entrepreneurs to set up a company in Ireland.
As a result, early-stage startups and companies have access to a lot of services provided by the Irish Government, such as support programmes, funding and investment opportunities.
One of these is the HPSU programme. But what is it and how companies can be defined as High Potential Startups?
- What is a HPSU?
- HPSU Requirements: Can You Become a HPSU?
- How to Apply
- Step (Startup Entrepreneur Programme)
- HPSU Companies
What Is a HPSU?
The HPSU programme is promoted by Enterprise Ireland (EI), the government agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in the global markets.
According to the agency, a HPSU can be defined as “a company that is internationally focused and has the potential to employ at least 10 persons within 3 years of starting and to generate revenues of at least €1 million”.
Following the definition given by EI, High Potential Startups are all of those young companies who have the potential to develop an innovative product or service that will be traded in international markets.
HPSU Requirements: Is Your Company a HPSU?
In order to enter the programme, startups must respect some requirements. Companies who don’t meet all of these criteria, won’t be able to enter the programme.
Here is the list of the binding conditions for startups in order to be considered HPSUs:
- introduction of an innovative service or product in the international market;
- involved in international trading or in manufacturing;
- able to create 10 jobs in Ireland;
- generate €1 million within 3 years of starting up;
- led by an experienced management team;
- headquartered and controlled in Ireland;
- less than 5 years old since registration
How To Apply
If your startup respects all HPSU criteria and you want a further evaluation of your business proposition, you can complete the Outline Business Proposition and send it to: HPSUenquiries@enterprise-ireland.com .
Then, business advisors of Enterprise Ireland will evaluate your proposition and will reply within 5 working days.
Once they acknowledge that a startup is eligible to be considered as an high potential startup, entrepreneurs can benefit from different development services, such as:
- Mentor assignment
- Overseas Office Support
- SPRINT Programme
- Excel at Export Selling series
- Investor Ready Panel & Training – contact your Development Adviser
- Investor Ready Business Plan with Business Innovation Centres – contact your Development Adviser
In addition, Enterprise Ireland offers funding support for high potential startups. Some of the funding opportunities are:
- HPSU Feasibility
- Competitive Feasibility Fund
- Innovation Voucher
- Competitive Start Fund
- Innovative HPSU Fund (iHPSU)
The High Potential Start-Up showcase was supported by Department of Jobs through Enterprise Ireland #HPSU #EIstartups pic.twitter.com/ARVcMeQIFd
— Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (@EnterInnov) February 18, 2015
STEP (Startup Entrepreneur Programme)
The Startup Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) is the most popular Irish programme addressed to startup’s foreign founders and owners and it’s strictly related to the HPSU Programme.
Under the STEP, foreign entrepreneurs may obtain a temporary residence permit in Ireland if their start-up project is considered a High Potential Start-Up venture.
The Programme was established by the Irish Government in 2012 to stimulate productive investment in Ireland and offer residency. It provides that migrants with a proposal for a high potential startup in the innovation economy and funding of €75,000, can be given residency in Ireland for the purposes of developing their business.
Successful applicants and their nominated family members will be granted residence in Ireland for two years which will be renewable for a further three years. After 5 years residence, participants under the programme will be eligible for long term residence in the State.
No initial job creation targets will be set as it is recognised that such businesses can take some time to get off the ground.
A similar permission is also available for all students that come from outside of the EU, who studied and graduated in advanced STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and want to create their own startup.
HPSU Companies
Many startups underwent the HPSU programme: here are 4 examples of successful companies who took part in the programme.
Abodoo
Abodoo is the only free to access site for employers and smart workers. It is a smart matching careers platform for people and companies interested in permanent remote, flexible, hybrid or co-working roles.
Find your local hot desk via Abodoo!#coworking #hotdesk #abodoo #smartworking #remotejobshttps://t.co/YPgFVdPJ54 pic.twitter.com/nt5lwioESS
— abodoo (@abodoojobs) December 3, 2019
AID:Tech
AID:Tech is a company who provides blockchain solutions that offer multiple applications. In particular, it helps users to own, control and monetise their personal identity metadata.
Delighted that @aidtechnology CEO @JosephThompson has been named @wef @schwabfound Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2019. A unique opportunity to showcase game-changing tech that empowers users with data privacy & control. #SDI19 #blockchain #digitalidentity #decentralization pic.twitter.com/kLjkySSWgk
— AID:Tech (@aidtechnology) September 24, 2019
Pointy
Pointy is an Irish startup that lets local retailers put their stock online so that they can be discovered via search engines.
It combines hardware and a software platform to help local retailers easily establish a presence online in order to drive more people to their store.
In other words, this is about fighting back against e-commerce giants and helping local retailers drive more footfall, but with very little additional overhead.
Pointy co-founder @mark_cummins speaking on the centre stage at Web Summit ? pic.twitter.com/vogyVvuvaQ
— Pointy (@pointy) November 7, 2018
Lightly Technologies
Lightly Technologies was formed in January 2016 as a reaction to the unfulfilled promise of OLED lighting technology.
Their flagship product is Hikari SQ. It is an ultra-thin light source with the appearance and design benefits of OLED lighting, but the superior performance and manufacturing of LED technology.
Cutting-edge lighting design, made possible thanks to Hikari SQ: the ultra-thin LED light source from @lightlytech. For inspiration visit https://t.co/acRamlBYb9
— Lightly Tech (@lightlytech) March 20, 2019
Photography: Gavriil Papadiotis @gavriiLux#lighting #SDS19 #lightschool #surfacedesignshow @SurfaceThinking pic.twitter.com/uBC7Uk7NYk
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(Image credits: Disertel)