Tag: factory44

Square Root Solutions and Factory44 Launch Start-App Competition to Propel Developer Talent in Ireland

Square Root Solutions, Ireland’s app development company of the year, has partnered with Ireland’s on-demand creative studio, Factory44 to launch Ireland’s Start-App Competition, offering early-stage start-ups and entrepreneurs the chance to win a €20,000 prize package to bring creative apps or website concepts to fruition.

The Start-App Competition provides a platform for developers to bridge the gap between ideation and execution, helping them to deliver apps and websites that are intuitive, user-friendly, and customer-centric. The top 10 applicants will be invited to present their concept to a panel of judges comprising esteemed members of Ireland’s business community at Factory44’s brand new facility in the heart of Dublin city. In addition to assessing the bonafides of the participating individuals and teams, judges will grade submissions through the lens of scalability, product viability and market demand.

The €20,000 prize package includes mentorship from industry experts and the opportunity to work closely with Square Root Solutions’ leading developers to scope, design and develop an app/website prototype worth €15,000, featuring the essential functionalities needed to demonstrate the concept to prospective customers and investors. Additionally, the winning project will receive a one year membership to Factory44’s creative hub (worth €4,500), granting them unlimited, on-demand access to a dedicated team of experienced creatives, designers, and strategists, as well as invites to exclusive member-only events. As part of the prize package, a showcase article on the winning concept will also be published in Startups Magazine, a dedicated media outlet for tech startups and industry disruptors. Interested parties can apply here. The deadline to submit applications is 30th November.

Factory44 is a membership-based hub of creative solutions catering to the diverse and time-sensitive content needs of businesses at every stage of development. Powered by a state-of-the-art studio and equipment suite, the company’s full-scope of content creation services includes podcasting, videography and photography, with additional packages for copywriting, video editing, strategic digital consultancy, graphic and web design, as well as social media management.

Square Root Solutions is a multi award winning app development company with offices in Dublin, Cork and Kilkenny. Recently named App Development Company of the Year for the second consecutive year by the All-Ireland Business Foundation, Square Root Solutions provides comprehensive and cost-effective website and mobile app development services to startups and established brands worldwide.

Robbie Phelan, Co-Founder of Factory44 said: “We’re delighted to launch Ireland’s Start-App Competition, which will serve as an incubator for high-potential start-ups and innovative ideas. Through our partnership with Square Root Solutions, we are providing a unique springboard for entrepreneurs to fast-track development and growth. I believe fortune favours the brave, and we’re encouraging individuals and teams to think outside the box and explore novel concepts that will impress our panel of judges.”

Ciaran Stone, CEO of Square Root Solutions said: “With the Start-App Competition, we want to nurture Ireland’s entrepreneurial talent and help inspire a wave of creative app and website development. To date, Square Root Solutions has worked with over 300 startups, so we know exactly what it takes to help bring a concept from ideation to market. We’re really looking forward to receiving applications from a diverse pool of participants across Ireland’s vibrant startup community.”

The Founder Factory Unveils New Brand ‘Factory44’, Delivering On-Demand Creative Services for Every Business Stage

The Founder Factory, Ireland’s on-demand creative studio, has announced its strategic rebrand to Factory44, with a renewed mission to provide compelling and impactful content solutions for businesses at every stage of development.

The transition to Factory44 signals the company’s evolution from a niche service provider initially geared towards startups and founders, to a dynamic, membership-based hub of creative solutions catering to the diverse and time-sensitive content needs of businesses. From ideation to execution, Factory44’s dedicated team of experienced content creators, designers, and strategists are on-hand to deliver content that engages, educates, and inspires audiences, powered by a state-of-the-art studio and equipment suite.

Since inception, Factory44 has exclusively served clients from the founder and start-up community, with an affordable membership price tier of €4,500 per year. This membership package grants members unlimited, on-demand access to Factory44’s dynamic studio, expert team and a full-scope of content creation services including podcasting, videography and photography. It also includes invites to exclusive member-only events, featuring Factory44’s growing network of members, creatives, founders and marketers. Factory44 has also introduced separate price tiers for SMEs and large enterprises with more comprehensive content needs, with add-on packages including copywriting, video editing, strategic digital consultancy, graphic and web design, as well as social media management.

Under the stewardship of serial entrepreneurs Bernard Nolan and Robbie Phelan, Factory44 has experienced an accelerated growth trajectory, expanding from an original staff of two at the beginning of 2023 to eight full-time staff members currently, with two new hires earmarked for Q4 of this year. Having closed a €250,000 pre-seed investment round earlier this year, the funding is being allocated towards business expansion and recruitment, with a particular emphasis on scaling the company’s multi-faceted content department and launching new content ‘factory’ locations in the coming 24 months.

Bernard Nolan (CEO and Co-Founder) has held senior management positions in globally renowned tech companies along with founding multiple startups in fields such as MedTech and AI recruitment. Bernard has won multiple startup awards, including Ireland’s Best Healthcare Start-up in 2017 at the National Start-Up Awards, having founded an online medical platform empowering users to access, store, manage and communicate medical information anytime, anywhere. He was also a regional finalist in Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur Competition by Local Enterprise Office / Enterprise Ireland in 2018. His Factory44 Co-founder Robbie Phelan is a seasoned sales and operations senior manager, who previously Co-founded a HR technology company that delivers an AI-powered talent experience platform, enabling a faster, fairer and friendlier hiring experience for candidates and employers alike. Together, Bernard and Robbie are now laser focused on disrupting Ireland’s content creation scene.

Commenting on the announcement, Bernard Nolan, Co-Founder and CEO of Factory44 said: “Our ongoing and rapid expansion demonstrates the high market demand for affordable, membership-based content creation services. In today’s hyper-competitive economy, businesses at every stage of development need on-demand access to dedicated content experts, without paying lofty fees. Whether you’re a startup looking to establish a strong digital presence, a founder seeking to expand your sphere of influence and personal brand, or an established enterprise aiming to refresh your brand narrative, Factory44 has the expertise to craft best-in-class content that aligns with and supports your business objectives.”

Robbie Phelan, Co-Founder of Factory44 said: “By only paying for what they need, our expanding client base derives fantastic value from our dedicated in-house experts, who are treated like an extension of their team – reliable, dedicated and invested in their success. With a three-story state of the art facility centrally located in the heart of Dublin, we’re building a thriving network of enterprises that can explore collaboration synergies, while achieving the highest standards of content output in an affordable and efficient manner.”