Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
BEN & JERRY’S ICE CREAM co-founder Jerry Greenfield has joined a string of high-profile backers sinking their money into Irish social enterprise ChangeX.
The site, which launched in September last year, has raised €400,000 in seed funding from investors including Greenfield and one of the partners in venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which has over $4 billion under management.
ChangeX, based in Dublin’s Dogpatch Labs, was founded by Paul O’Hara to connect not-for-profit innovators like CoderDojo and the GIY Group with people looking to improve their communities.
He said his organisation would use the money to build on its technology and involve more people across Ireland who were “really committed to improving the place they live”.
We will expand the product team, grow the number of innovations from across the world to 100 and multiply the number of people benefitting from the ideas.”
Greenfield, whose ice-cream company was sold to grocery giant Unilever in 2000, said he was a long-term supporter of grassroots movements and ChangeX had the potential to speed up the growth and increase the impact of those schemes.
People can use the platform to find ideas, link with others introduced in starting local projects and get hold of the information they need to get them off the ground.
Earlier this year it launched a 100-day drive to get 100 projects going around Ireland and with 10 days to run it is only five short of hitting its target.
‘A no-brainer’
Other investors in the fundraising round include Colm Lyon, whose Dublin-based company Realex Payments was sold to a US firm for €115 million earlier this year.
The list also features Storyful founder and former RTÉ journalist Mark Little, who sold his company to News Corp for €18 million in 2013.
For me when ChangeX came along it was a no-brainer; it was the kind of idea that I wish I had myself,” he said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
It is cynical for the Fine Gael regime to only now reach out to SMEs coming up to election. To little and too late Michael Noonan.
Its like FF all over again. Every few months the same plans are rehashed and repacked but are never actually implemented.
Start by sorting out rent and rates… small business might survive then…
This is sad, really sad. As I wonder through my local shopping centre, and look at all the vacant units (another business gone last week) it is such a comfort to know that the Government is inviting “submissions” from SMEs, to go before the sub-committee of the Committee for doing bugger all.
The Government does not care about indigenous companies, they want to please the multinationals and get the people to work for slave wages for their pals. Dennis O. is rubbing his hands to see the small fortune that he’ll get for selling Irish water.
There’ll be nothing small about that fortune, man…
What’s a couple of billion to him, tax exile and FG supporter.
Debt forgiveness for business without debt forgiveness for homeowners?
Yeah. Hear. But do nothing about it. As usual. Strange that an election is coming up. Hmmm. Don’t vote for ff, fg or labour if you want change.
Massive tax breaks for multinationals that employ a small % of the workforce, little of no support for indigenous companies. Says it all really.
Be like going to Dragons Den!
Sure dont they have the MicrofianceIreland.ie scheme? Advertised all over the radio. Does it work? No. Loads of forms and documentation yet less than 50% are approved. As bad as the banks.
Doctor James Reilly has an application in from the HSE….
Just shows how disconnected Government and Senior Civil Servants are from current commercial realities for SMEs.
They now invite submissions before 30 May 2014 – on a problem that has existed for some time – from interested parties for consideration by a sub group!
How innovative and original at a time when politicians are to engage with the masses?
Will the cynical strokes at Election time ever cease? Indicative of the contempt these “Insiders” hold for us ordinary folk.
That said, the initiative is welcome and here’s hoping “many pennies drop” on the lingering problem and on finding a solution.
Hearing and doing are 2 different things…..
That would be all of them then,
I’m quite sure any form of direct financial support for companies would fall foul of eu regulations. And of fairness… If my competitor has been less financially prudent than me, why should my taxes pay for his debt?
Towns and city centre shops all over ireland are being choked to death with high rates & aggressive parking charges and restrictions, while the UK & international retailers are paying lower rates & free parking on the outskirts of town sacking up the little business that’s there moving profits abroad, paying little tax and turning town centres into run down vacant drunk drug hangouts.
have your say