Leader in Integrated ICT Hardware & Systems
Seeking to create quality start-ups, as well as a greater number of spin-off companies, Tyndall realises the need to assemble a team with varied skills to establish a successful business - both in the entrepreneurial and the technical side to create the conditions for quality technology startups to thrive. The most important consideration is that the technology is as close to commercialisation as possible.
Declan O’Mahoney, a successful serial entrepreneur who has headed up companies including Firecomms, originally a Tyndall spin-out, and HeartSine Technologies is working with researchers and entrepreneurs to assist in formulating business plans and assessing whether projects are commercially viable.
This includes new start-ups wishing to license Tyndall IP to form a company or potential spin-in companies which may wish to leverage Tyndall resources and IP.
With Declan's input, Tyndall researchers will collaborate with entrepreneurs who want the opportunity to invest in their technologies and develop them into profitable commercial ventures. The programme will offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to start a technology business in conjunction with expert researchers, while contributing directly to the national drive to create employment and sustainable economic growth.
“I struggle with the title – ‘entrepreneur in residence’ — I’d fear it would present me as someone in tweed with a pocket watch,” says Mr O’Mahoney. “Where I believe I can do the most for Tyndall is by not being within the institute on a constant basis, but by meeting people as I do in my normal course of business, and telling them about the Founders Programme, and trying to encourage them to look at it.
“I will of course be in Tyndall on a weekly basis, but my meetings will be more in the canteen than in the boardroom; I’m much more of a corridor guy than someone hidden in an office”.
Declan works closely with the commercial teams at Tyndall and UCC and can be reached for a confidential discussion at declan (at) maywentee (dot) com
He is interested in meeting individuals with an idea or a goal to build a business at Tyndall.
Declan is an engineer and entrepreneur with extensive international experience in the high technology and med tech sectors. Until May 2016 he was Chief Executive Officer of HeartSine Inc. a Defibrillator company and a spin out from University of Ulster. HeartSine was acquired by Physio-Control, Inc. Seattle, Washington in October 2015 in what was the largest exit of the year in Northern Ireland. Subsequently Physio-Control was acquired by Stryker Corporation (NYSE: SYK) in April 2016.
Previously Declan was CEO of Firecomms a high technology compound semiconductor spin out from Tyndall National Institute. Firecomms was Ireland’s first high-tech company to be acquired by a Chinese corporation when the company exited to ZJY Corp of Zhejiang in 2010.
He was also a director of GXP Systems a medical compliance company when it was Acquired by Stericyle Inc (Nasdaq:- SCRL) in Jan 2015.
Declan continues to be an non-exec director, investor and advisor to several companies.