‘People create jobs, not the government’

People create jobs, not the government, more than 100 entrepreneurs and business people were told at Start-Up Night Limerick.

“I hate seeing announcements by the government that they created jobs. People create jobs, not the government,” Niall McGarry, founder of Joe.ie and Her.ie, told the audience.

He said start-ups and companies are having to pay a lot of tax, between corporation tax and employers PRSI.

“Employers PRSI could be the difference between someone being in the red or black.”

He said people need to move away from “parish-pump politics”, adding it is what is wrong with this country.

“Everyone is only looking after themselves.”

The event also heard from Mark Campbell, founder of Pocket Anatomy, which doctors have described as the "Google Earth of the human body".

The start-up’s app allows patients to understand more about healthcare.

“We only remember 10 per cent of what doctors tells us after we have walked out of the GP surgery as a lot of us are visual learners.”

Michelle Crehan, owner of The Kitchen restaurant, advised entrepreneurs at Start-Up Night Galway to "try to surround yourself with good people to build a team with – when you're not there they'll represent you."

She also told of the path to setting up her own business.

“My husband was involved in the construction industry and he lost his job in the property crash. I found myself as the mother of three children asking how I can contribute. I did a chef immersion course at GMIT.

“I was given four days to make up my mind. We didn’t have a penny and no one would give us a penny. I rang the guy to say no and found myself saying yes.”

OnePage CRM founder Michael FitzGerald said ignorance is an important element when setting up a business as early-stage entrepreneurs can often over-analyse things.

However, he stressed the importance of getting customer feedback early-on.

“We developed an accounting app. We then went to accountants and they said it wasn’t good.”

Start-up Nights : What are they about?

Start-up Nights are where the start-up community gets together to network and hear some of Ireland’s most successful entrepreneurs speak.

The events are not just for established entrepreneurs, those considering making the leap into business should also come along and tap the community.

The nights have been designed to help entrepreneurs and aspiring start-ups find potential collaborators and investors.

The next event is in Dundalk on June 12th at the Spirit Store. Guest speakers will be Horseware Ireland managing director Tom MacGuinness and Frockadvisor’s Sonya Lennon.