Dogpatch Labs is a startup hub located in the CHQ building, in the heart of the Silicon Docks, supporting the startup ecosystem through incubation and acceleration programmes, educational events and a tech community of over 500 members from 100+ startups. In 2019 it was listed as Crunchbase’s “top 10 incubators around the world you need to know”. It is a member of a global network of 50 startup hubs supported by Google For Startups and winner of its Global Citizenship Award in 2017 and its Global Diversity & Inclusion Award in 2018. Visitors have included The Duke & Duchess of Sussex and also The King & Queen of the Netherlands in recognition of Dogpatch's mission to accelerate the development of Ireland's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Partners include Unilever, Google For Startups, Alltech, ESB, Ulster Bank, Pivotal, CHQ, and Hannover Re. Alumni include Irish tech unicorn Intercom and provides the global headquarters for CoderDojo, the volunteer-led movement of free computer programming clubs. Dogpatch actively supports other social technology initiatives such as ChangeX, HackAccess, PyLadies, Social Innovation Fund and others.
History
Dogpatch Labs launched in the CHQ Building in early 2015 with an initial 13,500 sq feet, through a partnership with Neville Isdell & Mervyn Greene. Their contribution has enabled the mission-driven entrepreneurial hub's rapid evolution since 2015. In mid 2015, the space had 25 companies with 150 desks, with a 60/40 Irish/International split, with tenants including Udemy, Twilio, ChangeX and others. In November 2015, the space expanded by 8,000 sq ft with an event space and meeting rooms in the 200 year old vaults below the CHQ Building. Three months after launching, Dogpatch Labs had hosted 80 events in The Vaults, consisting mostly grassroots meetups and had welcomed over 4,000 people. In November 2016, Dogpatch Labs expanded for the third time, reaching a total of 40,000 sq ft of space, by adding an “Urban Garden” and private office space on its mezzanine floor. Dogpatch Labs was then home to 40+ companies, and hosting 200 tech events and 5,000 attendees per year. In December 2018, structural works would allow for an additional 100 people to hot-desk from the space. The community was now a residence to more than 80 companies and 400 members on its three levels.
Awards & Recognitions
Dogpatch Labs is a member of a global network of 50+ startup hubs supported by Google For Startups and winner of its Global Citizenship Award in 2017 and its Global Diversity & Inclusion Award in 2018. Visitors have included The Duke & Duchess of Sussex and also The King & Queen of the Netherlands in recognition of Dogpatch's mission to accelerate the development of Ireland's entrepreneurial ecosystem. In 2019 it was listed by Crunchbase as one of the ‘top 10 incubators around the world you need to know’. Other notable speakers include Vint Cerf, one of the “Fathers of the Internet” and Sridhar Ramaswamy. The Managing Director of Dogpatch Labs, Patrick Walsh, was awarded the Guaranteed Irish Tech Hero title in 2017 for his “significant contribution to the tech industry in Ireland” and for having “contributed greatly to establishing Ireland as leading startup hub”. In 2015 it welcomed former Taoiseach Enda Kenny to launch Ireland's “Enterprise 2025” strategy & in 2019 the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar launched the ‘Future Jobs Ireland’ initiative, recognizing that Dogpatch Labs is “Ireland’s largest start-up hub and is a keystone in our technology ecosystem”.
First Fridays for Startups
Dogpatch Labs hosts on a monthly basis an ecosystem event called First Fridays for Startups, a “platform where members of the Irish startup ecosystem come together on a regular basis, enabling them to learn, connect and grow”. Powered by Google For Startups, the programme is designed, executed and hosted by Dogpatch Labs, and includes: 1-to-1 curated mentoring, networking, lightning talks and a keynote, as well as free hotdesking for the day. In its first year, 170 startups received over 160 hours of mentoring in 400 sessions, and the event was attended by 500+ attendees and 100+ mentors and speakers. Previous speakers include:
