Is Dublin Trying to Be the Next Hub for Tech Startups?

It looks like there’s a new city making a name for itself in the tech world—in the tech startups department that is. Dublin is not entirely new to the tech circuit. In fact, it is home to the European headquarters of some of the world’s biggest tech companies: Apple, Facebook and Google. Now, it is also attracting a slew of tech startups.

Dublin is the capital of Ireland and its largest city. It is situated on a bay in the province of Leinster, which makes it parallel to Silicon Valley and San Francisco, which are ensconced in the Bay Area in the state of California in America. The city is now slowly being referred to as the Tech Capital of Europe—but that is mostly because the large tech companies have headquartered in this city. The tech startups, though, are a different story. They bring in a whole new landscape to a city.

According to Forbes, four exciting tech startups have found homes in Dublin and are boosting Ireland’s reputation as a viable venue for tech companies. 

Dublin: A look at the landscape for tech startups

Europe, as a whole, is giving America a run for its money in terms of becoming the center for tech startups. While it sounds disproportionate for a whole continent to be compared to a mere country in terms of economic valuation when it comes to tech startups, America has always been a strong nation that works solidly by itself. On the other hand, Europe is trying to work as one, hence, the creation of the European Union.

Of course, Great Britain has worked its way out of the Union through the Brexit. Incidentally, that has also paved the way for Dublin to be highlighted as a prime destination to start a tech company. London has always been in the forefront of tech development. However, with the current climate, as it tries to be a solitary entity, tech companies are considering Dublin a better option. 

First of all, the tech giants that homesteaded in Dublin: Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, PayPal, Twitter, Yahoo!, among others, have really given Dublin its tech stronghold. But various characteristics are also giving Dublin the edge among other cities in Europe. 

What makes Ireland attractive?

The country is known for its low taxes. This explains why large tech companies opened their European headquarters in Dublin. But it has to be more than that. No one puts up an important structure in one place just for its taxes. It is not worth it. The city and the country, in general, should be able to provide the right facilities in order for the company to be able to operate without hitches. These facilities include internet connectivity, utilities, employment availability, among many others. Dublin ticks a lot of boxes. 

Microsoft opened in Ireland in 1985 yet. But as soon as that happened, the nation took notice and took advantage. Back then, the company only employed over a hundred people. Now, over a thousand people are employed by the tech giant. Talent is an important consideration for tech startups to launch in a specific place. Ireland certainly offers great talent because as soon as one tech giant appeared, the Irish people realized the employment opportunities. 

So by the time other tech giants opened European headquarters in Ireland, the government and the people were ready to cater to them. It is not enough that low taxes are available. The country should also be able to provide the employment requirements of these companies. Even the largest companies cannot afford to take hundreds of employees from home to work overseas.

The next Silicon Valley?

Dublin certainly has Silicon Valley written all over it. Although, the city would most likely prefer to carve its own name in the tech industry. Still, it is such a big deal for a city to be mentioned in the same sentence as Silicon Valley, which housed dozens of geniuses who have crafted the most innovative tech companies in the world. It also helps that the Irish Government is also working to improve the tech ecosystem in Dublin and in Ireland as a whole.