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Fifteen promising start-up ventures have started into the National Digital Research Centre's (NDRC) Launchpad accelerator programme for digital start-up enterprises.

The investment programme will culminate in May with a competition for a follow-on investment sourced from VC's and angels.

NDRC is investing up to E20,000 in each start-up to support the founders during the programme.

The start-ups include businesses with diverse applications for digital technology ranging from medical training simulators to music analytics systems and apps for people with eating disorders. Projects include cloud based customer service applications and systems for learning management, car sharing, urban planning and restaurant management. Other concepts include a social media strategy tool, children's travel review site, education management tools and pharmacy management software.

Following the competitive selection process, NDRC Launchpad participants have started a three month intensive mentoring and advisory programme alongside other start-ups, innovators, engineers and investors. At the end of this period, the start-up promoters will pitch for follow-on investment.

"If we are to create an economy that can sustain the number of jobs we need, we must not only seek to attract the next Google or Microsoft to Ireland, but also to create the next Google or Microsoft here in Ireland. A key part of this Government's plan for jobs and growth is creating a powerful engine of indigenous enterprise, and high-tech start-ups will play a crucial role in this," said the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton at the launch.

"Today's announcement that 15 ambitious start-ups will receive a total of up to E300,000 from the NDRC is great news, and the quality of the people and the businesses involved is enormously encouraging. This Government is determined to support initiatives like this in every way possible, and through continued implementation of the Action Plan for Jobs we will ensure that dynamic start-ups like these can help drive a sustainable recovery in our economy".

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