MERITS Profile

Positive New Development for

Tech StartUps in Kildare

MERITS (The Mid-Eastern Region Innovation Think Space) is a new REDF funded initiative coming soon to a new premises in Naas.

Initiated by Kildare LEO, Kildare County Council and Maynooth University and supported by County Kildare Chamber, Wicklow LEO and Meath LEO, funding was secured to build a purposely designed 1,200 square metre, two-storey building adjacent to Áras Chill Dara and to recruit a small management team. The company will establish an active ecosystem for national and international digital and technology companies and entrepreneurs. In addition to providing a physical location for up to 120 people, the centre will provide mentorship and support, including access to the full resources of Maynooth University through MaynoothWorks, and linkages with the funding community (for early stage and growth capital) and established companies (for beta testing and validation). Although the building will open in early 2021, MERITS is currently actively seeking to build its network of partners and companies interested in becoming members. The facility will be an ideal location for High Potential Start Up companies looking for a vibrant, interactive, workspace, already networked into an array of supports and key stakeholders. It will also cater for larger companies seeking to place a smaller project team into a creative environment where conceptualisation can be turned into commercialisation. Joe O’Carroll, a native of Kildare, has recently been appointed as General Manager of MERITS and has travelled the “StartUp, ScaleUp, Exit” journey with his own companies previously. He will oversee its transition from construction project to its operational phase. He will also be an active mentor and facilitator for member companies, as well as introducing them to sources of finance appropriate to their stage of development and scale of ambition. Working space options include Hot Desks, Dedicated Desks in a co-working space or individual company offices ranging in size from 2 to 10 people. The team is also building a nice range of Member Benefits with the support of some of the world’s leading tech companies, so choosing MERITS as your companies’ springboard will be quite a compelling case. A large conference room will be available to host gatherings of up to 100 people, with provision for appropriate on-site catering. The building is designed to encourage interaction so that people can feed off each other’s energy and innovativeness.

Interested companies, in the digital, tech and internationally traded services sectors, are welcome to contact MERITS now to discuss the options for locating there. Email JoinUs@ MERITS.ie for further details.