Startup Ireland has today released the results of their second annual survey of Ireland’s early stage entrepreneurs.

It was conducted in the months of October and November in conjunction with the Startup Gathering and received over 417 responses.

Despite record number of startups being created each month in 2015, few are scaling successfully according to the research.
 
There has been an increase in the share of startups in the survey who have been in operation for 1-3 years (42%), suggesting that more are surviving and moving into the next stage of operation. 

In terms of the obstacles to them scaling, 81% of entrepreneurs find it difficult to access scaling supports to grow their business (72% in 2014) while 79% found access to funding and talent major obstacles. 
 
Seventy eight per cent are in agreement that Ireland becoming a global startup hub will benefit their business but 79% feel the startup sector in Ireland is not performing to its full potential.

CEO Startup Ireland, Eoin Costello said, "We conducted this survey with Amarach to help provide a voice for Ireland’s early stage entrepreneurs. If Ireland can get the fundamentals right at the beginning of the journey for startups then there is the potential for larger numbers of startups to be able to start, scale and succeed from Ireland. 

"Based on this representative sample there appears to be insufficient awareness amongst entrepreneurs of what supports are available, not enough accessible supports for scaling and entrepreneurs perceive that the startup sector in Ireland is not cohesive and aligned.

"Our survey highlights the fact that coordinated action across the private and public sector is needed to enable Ireland’s startup sector to deliver to its full potential."

Source: www.businessworld.ie