Flúirse
Introduction to Flúirse Educational Software
Flúirse enhances the learning and teaching experience for parents, teachers and children by delivering tailored educational resources. Flúirse’s principal business activity is in developing interactive educational software that is aligned to the primary school curriculum.
Founded in July 2005, the company has grown steadily and is on target to be profitable by the end of 2007. The company has qualified for the Government’s Business Expansion Scheme and is currently seeking to raise finance through private investment to grow the company substantially.
Flúirse’s vision is for a society where education is seamlessly enhanced, supported and encouraged with Information and Communications Technologies for all children, their parents and educators.
Flúirse also provides a range of online courses for primary school teachers each summer. Flúirse led the way with ICT in Education in Ireland by delivering the first full independent programme of ICT related online courses for Primary Schools Teachers last Summer; an initiative responding to the company’s research findings showing almost one third of teachers still struggle with ICT in the Classroom.
By continuing to pioneer in this area, by informing, supporting and listening to the company’s customers, by keeping up-to-date with current pedagogy, curriculum changes and classroom management and by being at the forefront technological developments, Flúirse is dedicated to becoming the company synonymous with ICT in Education.
Flúirse Start-up
Founding partners Kristian O’Donovan and Tomás Finneran established Flúirse Ltd in July 2005 and officially began trading in February 2006. The founding partners initially shared a small office with an established business in Tralee town. After writing a business plan and securing funding for a feasibility study, Kristian and Tomás applied for a small office at the Tom Crean Business Centre and with the support and advice of the centre manager Dominic Moriarty, Flúirse set up in a small office in the Centre in November 2005.
An extensive feasibility study examining all aspects of the use of ICT in Education was conducted between July 2005 and December 2006. This study included a number of distinct phases and initiatives including the development of two archetypal interactive products, test marketing of these products in shops, schools and online and a number of extensive research initiatives including a large survey of over 500 Primary Schools throughout Cork and Kerry conducted by Marketing students in the Institute of Technology Tralee in association with Flúirse Ltd.
Company Performance to date
The company directors received a personal endorsement in November 2006 by winning the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneurs of the Year award for the Southern Region, and progressed to the All-Ireland Young Entrepreneurs of the Year award finals in December 2006.
Flúirse’s archetypal product, ABC Anois, was short-listed for the Digital Media Awards eLearning Product of the Year in February 2007. At the same time, Flúirse was awarded a contract to develop an interactive educational title for primary school children based on traditional short stories by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta (COGG).
Having successfully completing the feasibility study and after carefully examining all findings, the company directors recognised that there was an overwhelming requirement for supporting and training teachers in the effective use of ICT for education related applications. A comprehensive programme of Online Courses was developed and launched in July 2007 and generated overwhelming sales in less than 2 months. The remarkable response confirmed Flúirse’s belief that there exists an appetite for support, training and resources for teachers.
Flúirse has recently won a national tender from Foras na Gaeilge to develop a suite of interactive products for all levels of primary school classes for completion in September 2008.
Assistance Received
Kristian and Tomás started Flúirse with two small personal bank loans. With this funding in place, the two approached Shannon Development for assistance to conduct a feasibility study to investigate the viability and potential for the business.
Having concluded the feasibility study and satisfied that the business had massive potential, the company directors realised that they would need to hire a full-time creative designer and begin marketing the company’s products and courses to parents and teachers. The Kerry Enterprise Board generously supported the company at this critical stage, allowing Flúirse to develop a range of marketing materials and hire an experienced graphic and creative designer.
Both the Kerry Enterprise Board and Shannon Development provided invaluable advice and support to the company, with the Enterprise Board organising a Business Mentor to guide the founders, and Shannon Development providing a dedicated Development Officer to guide the company in achieving its long-term strategy.
The directors also received invaluable business support, advice and training through the Genesis Enterprise Programme, a funded 12 month rapid incubation programme designed to provide support and management skills development for entrepreneurs leading knowledge based start-ups in Cork and Kerry.
Recently, Kristian and Tomás secured further bank loans to help expand the company and take the business to the next level. Enterprise Ireland are also supporting the company in raising additional investment and through the Business Expansion Scheme, Flúirse hopes to raise the remaining finance necessary to grow the company to a level where it can achieve its long-term goals.
Why Tralee? Why the Tom Crean Business Centre?
Flúirse’s journey has been swift and eventful. Kristian and Tomás went to the University of Limerick together where they studied Languages with Computing and Computer Engineering respectively. Kristian identified a niche for Interactive Irish language software for schools after approaching one of his lecturers in his final year. “I asked him for a list of curriculum-aligned Irish software, he just handed back a blank sheet. I had my answer and I had my business idea”
He developed a number of Interactive CD-Roms in Irish with this funding working from his bedroom. “It was an exciting time, teachers were really enthusiastic about what I was doing, and I learned so much about the market and the realities of business in that year, however, I felt that I would never build a business just developing Irish Software like that.”
“Tomás had just finished a Master’s in Interactive Media and I asked him to come down to Kerry and help me develop a demo title for a few weeks. We were hoping that we could win a large contract for an Educational publishing company with the title, but the reality was that the company were never really interested in the product. We were both so frustrated at not winning the contract after weeks of working around the clock, that we decided to go ahead and do it ourselves. Tomás moved to Tralee and we established Flúirse Limited that summer in 2005. We were fortunate to get a small office in an Incubation Centre located in the Kerry Technology Park. The Kerry Enterprise Board helped cover the early overheads as we concentrated on developing the Anois titles”
The Tom Crean Business Centre was ideal for Flúirse as the centre has all the facilities required to run a successful business at hand. The high standard of shared facilities such as the canteen and fully functional meeting room, allowed Flúirse to operate efficiently whilst within the building itself, interaction with the various other businesses and the expert and ever-positive guidance of the centre manager kept Tomás and Kristian focussed and determined. The Tom Crean Business Centre is located in an ideal setting with parking and facilities that allowed Flúirse expand as the business developed, and always entertain clients in an impressive environment.
While there are some obvious set backs in locating a business in Kerry, such as the relatively poor infrastructure and distance from Dublin and larger cities, it is clear that Kerry also presents a number of distinct opportunities.
Tomás now recognises some of the opportunities that are available to businesses in Kerry that were not so obvious when he started Flúirse with Kristian. “The Technology Park in Tralee is a vibrant, impressive and innovative centre for enterprise and has sparked an entrepreneurial spirit and support network that is unique in our experience”
“ Just around Tralee alone, there is an amazing partnership between local businesses, entrepreneurs and supporting organisations such as the Enterprise Board, Enterprise Ireland and the Institute of Technology. For a small start-up business, it is this infrastructure of support and energy that is the real opportunity”
About the Directors
Tomás Finneran is a native of Roscommon and attended the University of Limerick where he graduated with an Honours degree in Computer Engineering. Tomas also holds an MA in Interactive Media from UL and where represented the University at the 2004 Siena Design Project.
In 2006, Tomás was selected to participate in the Genesis Enterprise Programme, a funded 12-month rapid incubation programme designed to provide support and management skills development for entrepreneurs leading knowledge based start-ups in Cork and Kerry. Tomás has studied in great detail the technical and design aspects of interface and web design and has substantial experience in project development and evaluation.
Kristian O’Donovan is a native of Tralee and attended the University of Limerick where he graduated with an Honours degree in Languages with Computing. Kristian developed skills in the area of website localisation, technical writing and e-learning.
Kristian has immense experience in the Irish educational software market. He worked with TRADOS, now known as SDL, as a Quality Assurance Engineer for two years. Kristian worked with Pulse Learning where he was a member of the Quality Assurance Team for a number of Internet based e-learning packages. Kristian has a good deal of project management experience with TRADOS and Flúirse. He is credited with pioneering the development of curriculum-based Irish language interactive software.
Investment and the Future for Flúirse
Flúirse will become the name synonymous with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education. Flúirse will continue to develop interactive curriculum-based products and intends to expand its summer course programme to over 30 teacher courses by July 2009.
Flúirse recognised that outside investment would be necessary to grow the company to a level where it could achieve its long-term goals and become profitable and self-sustaining.
After exploring the viability of the business and defining a more comprehensive and specific long term plan with business mentors, financial advisors and accountants, the company directors applied for Business Expansion Scheme approval and Kristian and Tomás are currently seeking tax free private investment offering an additional return after 5 years.
This investment that will allow Flúirse to collate a team with the necessary experience, skills and knowledge to establish an Online Education Centre and develop meaningful and useful materials and resources that parents, teachers and children cannot do without. This Education Centre will be unique. For the first time, parents, teachers and children will be able to interact with each other as Flúirse develops a platform to bring all three corners of the education triangle together.
For anyone considering the Flúirse BES scheme as an investment, you should contact Flúirse Limited for a copy of the BES Information Memorandum outlining this exciting investment opportunity.
Contact Flúirse
Tomás Finneran
Flúirse Limited
Tom Crean Business Centre
Kerry Technology Park
Tralee, Co. Kerry
Ireland
Tel: +353(0)66 712 9828
Mobile: + 353 (0) 64 22392
Email: tomas.finneran@fluirse.com
Web: www.fluirse.com