Hothouse

mistermarketing

Does anyone know anything about Hothouse (enterprise association).

They have offices in DIT and one out near the docklands.

Anyone had any involvment with them or can tell me anything about them s was looking into having a chat with them.

adrian.s

Hi There,

If you take a look in the sticky "Got an idea but don't know where to start" you should find a few posts from Brendan who's one of the admins of the program describing it in some detail.

I'm currently on Hothouse, so if you want to ask any questions, I'll answer them here.

Cheers,
Adrian.

Fionn101

Adrian,

Can you only join hothouse in September ??? that's the impression that I seem to have got from the sticky.

Also, can you tell us what you did recieve from them ?

did you get a lockable office , access all hours, internet , telephone and printing facilities ?

And how valuable were their Mentors and courses to you ??

and perhaps most importantly , did you ge the CORD grant of 50% of your previous years salary ?

Thanks,
Fionn

adrian.s

Hi Fionn,

Fionn101 wrote: »

Adrian,

Can you only join hothouse in September ??? that's the impression that I seem to have got from the sticky.

Nope, Hothouse take in two batches each year. I started here in April, and will complete it next April. So early in the new year they usually put the call out for interested applicants.

Also, can you tell us what you did recieve from them ?

did you get a lockable office , access all hours, internet , telephone and printing facilities ?

You get a desk in a shared but secure office and you have 24/7 access to it. There's space if there's more than 1 in your company, but officially, only you will be on the Hothouse program. There's an internet port and a phone there. Don't expect a plush office though, it's basic, but well located for town and it gets you out the house. Any extra equipment that you need, either you supply yourself or pay for (e.g. printing). You don't have to base yourself here if you don't want to.

You get other intangibles though which are harder to quantify. Best of these though is you are working with 15 other start up companies. All of these from different backgrounds doing different things and you learn a lot from each other. The training sessions are very good, tough going, but you get a lot from them. They are once a month for 2 days (Friday & Saturday) And for me, access to the those in the "Hothouse Network" has been pivotal to getting me and my product sitting in front of the right people.

And how valuable were their Mentors and courses to you ??

Very good. I'm a technical guy so one of the things you quickly have to learn is the majority of the world doesn't speak techie. You get 9 sessions with a Mentor (Enterprise Ireland will work with you to provide one that you need). I used the first set of sessions with one mentor who helped me define the product. My more recent sessions are with a guy who can help me make the product a more commercial one. Your mileage may vary, people have different expectations from their mentor.

and perhaps most importantly , did you ge the CORD grant of 50% of your previous years salary ?

Yes I got CORD. If you get accepted onto Hothouse I have published a write up on the Hothouse forum here on boards.ie that will give some tips and pointers. Don't take it as a given, you'll have to interview for it and convince them you've got something that shows potential. For me though it would have been a complete show stopper if I didn't get CORD so I prepared quite well for it. If you think your idea is something that EI would be interested, do some leg work in advance of that interview. Phone their HPSU unit and pop in for a chat. You've nothing to lose.

2 links that might be of assistance to you:

Robin Blandford's blog you'll find a few good entries in there about HH, he's on the last Hothouse that started in September.

Joe Drumgoole's blog entry on getting started with EI

HTH,
Adrian.

bacon?

adrian.s wrote: »

For me though it would have been a complete show stopper if I didn't get CORD

agree, my own business is something ive given alot of thought to, and i really think ive a fantastic idea... of course, without this grand, i too would be in real trouble.

i think hothouse sounds like a great opportunity for start ups, something id love to be part of... cord permiting that is

Fionn101

Thanks a million for that Adrian,

I have hired a mentor to help put together an application for one of these EI places, fingers crossed

patftrears

Fionn101 wrote: »

Thanks a million for that Adrian,

I have hired a mentor to help put together an application for one of these EI places, fingers crossed

Thats a perfect way not to get on the course.

If you don't write the application and are unable to back up, explain where all your findings/facts come from, they will see that in a second when they interview you.

The course is to develop the participants so they have the confidence and skills to develop the business. If you don't have the self belief to run your business (even if your hiring people to do jobs, your still running the business) you will find it very difficult to get on the course.

REF applying for the Hothouse, here's some insight into the thinking of the manager of the centre

As manager of the Dublin Institute of Technology’s project development centre, an incubator unit for business start-ups, she welcomes 32 new entrepreneurs to the centre each year. For the most part these are aged 35 to 40, with a decade of career experience behind them. (age range changed)
Having seen them come and go, she reckons she can spot success early on. “I believe entrepreneurs are born. Those that succeed are inevitably very motivated, very driven and enthusiastic. They’ve got high energy levels and are demanding, but in a good way.”
Likely winners are also those who make the most of the resources available to them in the “hot house” environment. “They will access everything to the full. Those likely to succeed are also those that are most open to constructive criticism, to hearing what others have to say. The ones that are close-minded are, in my experience, much more likely to fail.”

SKYDOG

adrian.s wrote: »

Hi Fionn,



Nope, Hothouse take in two batches each year. I started here in April, and will complete it next April. So early in the new year they usually put the call out for interested applicants.



You get a desk in a shared but secure office and you have 24/7 access to it. There's space if there's more than 1 in your company, but officially, only you will be on the Hothouse program. There's an internet port and a phone there. Don't expect a plush office though, it's basic, but well located for town and it gets you out the house. Any extra equipment that you need, either you supply yourself or pay for (e.g. printing). You don't have to base yourself here if you don't want to.

You get other intangibles though which are harder to quantify. Best of these though is you are working with 15 other start up companies. All of these from different backgrounds doing different things and you learn a lot from each other. The training sessions are very good, tough going, but you get a lot from them. They are once a month for 2 days (Friday & Saturday) And for me, access to the those in the "Hothouse Network" has been pivotal to getting me and my product sitting in front of the right people.



Very good. I'm a technical guy so one of the things you quickly have to learn is the majority of the world doesn't speak techie. You get 9 sessions with a Mentor (Enterprise Ireland will work with you to provide one that you need). I used the first set of sessions with one mentor who helped me define the product. My more recent sessions are with a guy who can help me make the product a more commercial one. Your mileage may vary, people have different expectations from their mentor.




Yes I got CORD. If you get accepted onto Hothouse I have published a write up on the Hothouse forum here on boards.ie that will give some tips and pointers. Don't take it as a given, you'll have to interview for it and convince them you've got something that shows potential. For me though it would have been a complete show stopper if I didn't get CORD so I prepared quite well for it. If you think your idea is something that EI would be interested, do some leg work in advance of that interview. Phone their HPSU unit and pop in for a chat. You've nothing to lose.

2 links that might be of assistance to you:

Robin Blandford's blog you'll find a few good entries in there about HH, he's on the last Hothouse that started in September.

Joe Drumgoole's blog entry on getting started with EI

HTH,
Adrian.

Great post Adrian, will help a lot of would be Entrepeneurs, including myself!

robinb

adrian.s wrote: »

2 links that might be of assistance to you:

Robin Blandford's blog you'll find a few good entries in there about HH, he's on the last Hothouse that started in September.

Joe Drumgoole's blog entry on getting started with EI

Thanks for the link adrian!