GEC 25 Year Impact Report 2026 - Flipbook - Page 17
A Dynamic Start up Engine
The GEC is not a static workspace. It is an active, evolving
platform for entrepreneurship.
Each year, the Centre engages with approximately:
25 university delegations annually
160 businesses supported in 2025
Typical client lifecycle: 3 to 5 years
(approximately)
Continuous pipeline of startups and
scaling companies with an occupancy
level of 87% per month (avg).
International trade missions and
global partners
Programmes such as Mentoring for Scale,
which has supported over 960 startups,
providing founders with direct access to
experienced entrepreneurs and advisors.
This dynamic model ensures a constant flow of new
ideas, innovation, and business growth. The GEC
operates as a central node within Ireland’s innovation
ecosystem.
It hosts over 250 events annually, including workshops,
mentoring sessions, themed clinics and international
engagements, while facilitating connections with
investors, universities, and global markets.
Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Dublin City
A monthly clinic facilitated by the Local Enterprise Office
(LEO) Dublin City plays a vital role in supporting early-stage
and scaling companies within the GEC community. The
LEO team meets directly with all newly onboarded GEC
clients to assess their needs and to identify the most
appropriate range of supports available at the very earliest
and development stages of their business journey.
This highly valuable 1-to-1 clinic typically engages with
approximately 3 to 4 new startups each month, while also
providing ongoing support to existing GEC clients who are
progressing to new phases of growth. Through this
engagement, companies can access a broad suite of LEO
supports, including guidance on entering new
international markets, assistance with first-time hiring and
job creation, support for business expansion strategies,
access to green and sustainability-focused funding and
programmes, as well as structured mentoring and
capability-building supports.
The clinic ensures that founders are not only aware of the
full range of State-backed enterprise supports available to
them, but are also actively guided in how best to access
and apply them. This hands-on, tailored approach
strengthens the overall GEC ecosystem by connecting
ambitious startups with practical, timely, and impactful
supports that help accelerate their growth and long-term
success.
This ecosystem reduces risk, accelerates growth, and
enhances the global competitiveness of Irish startups.
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