BizSpark Startup of the Day - HR Locker
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HR Locker at the European BizSpark Summit
Ireland-based HR Locker, provides easy to use and low cost online HR apps for small to mid-sized companies worldwide, and was one of the 18 startups participating in the European BizSpark Summit Startup Showcase. Hear from John Dennehy, Founder and CEO of HR Locker in the video interview below.
The BizSpark startup of the day is HR Locker, based in Ireland. Below you will find an interview with John Dennehy, Founder and CEO of HR Locker. All the best to them and congratulations for being the startup of the day!
Website: www.hrlocker.com
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Tell us who you are and your role in the company:
I am the founder and CEO of the company.
What did you do before creating your company?
I have worked in early stage technology and media companies for the past 15 years.
How do you feel being the most promising ‘Startup of the Day’ per Microsoft BizSpark?
It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to get visibility amongst other early stage companies. It’s a great short term marketing boost and of course helps with search engine optimization in the mid to long term.
What is your company’s mission?
To make managing HR easier for small to medium size businesses worldwide.
How did you get the idea for your company?
Over the past 15 years I’ve found it really annoying that I couldn’t find software to manage HR for small to mid-size companies. Because I couldn’t find it I decided to build it.
Tell us about your funding history. Are you currently looking for funding? If so, how much?
I funded the company up to the initial beta launch. Last December I did a small seed round of €300,000. To show my commitment I contributed to this round too. I’m looking to close our next round in Q4 of this year. We’re looking to raise about €1.5 million.
How many employees do you have? How many developers?
We have five staff including four developers. We outsource a lot of work like design and QA.
Are you hiring?If yes, what are you hiring for and where?
We’re currently looking for another outstanding developer to join our team. They’ll work on the latest Azure technology from our office in Cork.
Which platform are you building on?Why?
We’re building on Azure because it means we can focus on our core skill – which is building great HR web apps. It also means we can operate at a very low cost because there’s almost zero startup infrastructure cost.
Where do you see opportunities today in the Software/Internet area?
Software as a service is a no brainer. There are also really interesting opportunities being created because of small to mid-sized companies that are operating globally. They have unique needs that largely aren’t being served.
What do you think about the BizSpark Program?
I think it’s the best initiative I’ve seen from Microsoft in many years. It shows genuine commitment to the startup community. I’ve been really impressed not just with the advertised offering but more importantly with the enthusiasm of the people promoting it. Their energy is infectious.
Do you have any advice for young Software entrepreneurs?
Yes, conserve your cash.
Who’s your role model?
It’s the friends and family I know that have created their own successful businesses.
What’s the ONE THING you would like readers to take away from this interview?
If you’ve got an idea go for it.
Published: 7/19/2010 8:44 AM
Company: HR Locker