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Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie

'Now's the best time to start a company because everyone else is scared s**tless'

Irish founder Dylan Collins thinks Brexit will be a godsend for any entrepreneur with guts.

DOOM AND GLOOM is the typical outlook in business circles when it comes to Brexit, but Irish serial entrepreneur Dylan Collins thinks the move will be a good thing for startups – because it will thin the competition.

Collins made his name as the founder of DemonWare, which was bought by leading US games publisher Activision for a reported $15 million. He also set up Jolt Online, which was acquired by retailer Gamestop.

More recently he launched SuperAwesome, a UK-based startup that develops tech to help advertisers comply with strict regulations around advertising to kids.

Earlier this year it was reported the company, which raised $7 million in Series A funding in 2015, was plotting a £200 million initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange.

Collins, who is also partner at UK-based investment firm Hoxton Ventures, told an audience at Dublin BIC’s FutureScope conference yesterday that he thinks Brexit will prove a golden opportunity for any entrepreneur with guts.

“As bad as it gets, and it will get worse, it is the best time to be starting companies because everyone else is going to be scared shitless. That means you will have less competition,” he said.

“If you actually read history and look at the investment opportunities and the greatest returns (on investment) … they tend to start in times like these. So people, instead of being scared, should look for the opportunities.”

Despite the bullish comments, Collins added that there would be a lot of short-term problems for UK startups – particularly with recruiting staff as EU-based free movement disappeared.

“The real concern that is magnified over the last six months relates to hiring. Anyone with an operation in the UK is being asked weekly by staff, “What’s the deal?” or “Can I stay here?” And no one can give them a straight answer.”

Capture FutureScope's Brexit panel Killian Woods Killian Woods

Collins said the problem was one he was dealing with directly at SuperAwesome.

“Around 50% or 60% of our headcount is European and people don’t know what’s going on. So with all the management teams we’re saying have weekly updates, even if you’re not saying anything different, let people and teams know that you’re thinking about it.

“Let them know that if and when things change, you will be prepared to react. I think we’ve spent more time with lawyers on the HR side specifically on that.”

Show startups the money

But Collins told the panel, which focused on what Brexit would mean for the Irish tech scene, that he believed the Republic was unlikely to become a “relocation hub” for British startups.

He said, in spite of the political climate in the US, startups are more likely to go straight across the Atlantic because that was where the capital was for early-stage companies.

“The nature of tech startups in their early days is they usually need a bunch of capital and end up having to relocate somewhat closer to that capital.

“Ireland (has) seen the emergence of companies that start here but then move to the UK or Silicon Valley or New York as they follow the capital.

“I think the challenge for tech startups in early stage is the need for capital and the need to be in proximity to funding is going to outweigh politics.

“Startups will go to where the money is even if it means putting themselves at somewhat of a disadvantage.”

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Written by Killian Woods and posted on Fora.ie

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    Mute Ferg Breen
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:00 AM

    We Need To Talk About Dylan.

    76
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    Mute reg gordon
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    Sep 26th 2014, 7:50 AM

    Can’t agree with this
    So the killer becomes even more notorious?
    These killings should be consigned to the past as they happen to prevent copy cat events

    36
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    Mute tmwtbc
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:14 AM

    There have been countless books written about countless murders and massacres; by victims, investigating officers and even perpetrators themselves. This is no different.

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    Mute Cathal Golden
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:16 AM

    So I suppose all massacres and maybe even genocide should also be consigned to the past? How very irish of you!

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    Mute Ablitive
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:18 AM

    Copy cat false flags is the correct terminology.

    A search for the “victims” of the 1999 Columbine ‘massacre’ in official records yields some shocking results …there aren’t any

    http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1ab_1399244702

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    Mute Jake Race
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    Sep 26th 2014, 12:57 PM

    Maybe Bob Geldof will write a song about it too.

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    Mute Chris Mackey
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:37 AM

    As a parent with a son in college that is one of the things that I worry about but are we just a generation away from it happening here where we have parents being killed or seriously injured while we drop our children to school. You can buy a gun easier in the states than a car, We are going the same way here. What the solution is I don’t know, we can make it more difficult to but weapons/drugs/ etc but if you stand outside any school & ask the students where you can get these things I will bet my wages that within a few min you will have what you want or be given the name of someone who can get it for you.

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    Mute Chris Mackey
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    Sep 26th 2014, 9:08 AM

    I should say he is in college in the states but click red if you wish but it is going to happen here all we have to do is look at the amount of bullying in schools from playgroup/playgrounds/ parks/internet/ right up into the work place. We are to a nation that pretends this will never happen to me. It can happen, we are a generation away from this happening even if you dont agree with me. All you have to do is read papers, listen to the news its out there we need to wake up & smell the coffee. Click red all you like but it is just a generation away

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    Mute Jake Race
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    Sep 26th 2014, 12:59 PM

    ” You can buy a gun easier in the states than a car, We are going the same way here.”

    In what respect are we “going the same way here”?

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    Mute Chris Mackey
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    Sep 26th 2014, 6:18 PM

    You can buy a gun in walmark or on any street the same as here I bet you could go into a pub anywhere in Ireland get drugs, guns etc & if you think this is not true then ask any teenager they will know where to go or know someone who knows someone where to get it

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    Mute Justin O'Connell
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:59 AM

    Who is worse here, the mother for writing the book or the public that will buy it..??
    “Paper will never refuse ink”

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Sep 26th 2014, 6:26 PM

    …& the journal will never refuse nutjobs.

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    Mute Juan Venegas
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    Sep 26th 2014, 10:27 AM

    People always trying to Ka$hing at any cost

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    Mute Loop De Loop
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    Sep 26th 2014, 10:44 AM

    Eh … She’s giving the profits away ????

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    Mute Jake Race
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    Sep 26th 2014, 12:57 PM

    A parenting manual no doubt.

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    Mute Rowan T Cregan
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    Sep 27th 2014, 9:06 AM

    The reference work on that day is the book, “Columbine” by Dave Cullen. He goes through the initial reports of that day and demonstrates that every word released by the local police chief was untrue.

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    Mute Andrew Dunne
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:11 AM

    Actually this book could not recent future shootings.

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    Mute Andrew Dunne
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    Sep 26th 2014, 8:11 AM

    *prevent

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