Deloitte Fast 50 Technology Awards now open for entries!

Published 25 June 2012

Deloitte, the leading business advisory firm, is pleased to announce that entries have now opened for the 2012 Deloitte Fast 50 Technology Awards. The awards, now in their thirteenth year, recognise and rank Ireland’s indigenous technology companies with exceptional growth in turnover over the last five years. This year the awards will take place in the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin on 16 November.

Entries have now opened for the 2012 Deloitte Fast 50 Technology Awards. The awards recognise and rank Ireland’s fastest growing technology companies and are an opportunity for companies to make a ‘powerful connection’ with peers. Pictured at the launch of this year’s awards are Richard Howard, Partner, Deloitte and Denis O’Sullivan, Group CFO at Populis, the 2011 Fast 50 winner.

Previous winners of the awards include companies such as Software Asset Management Ireland (SAMI), Daft Media Ltd., PulseLearning and Lincor Solutions. Most recently in 2011, Populis, the digital media company and European leader in content demand, took top spot in the ranking. The company achieved an aggregate growth rate of 7,982% over the last five years.

The theme of this year’s awards is ‘Powerful Connections’. This reflects the community of Fast 50 companies that have developed over the last 13 years of the awards, not only in Ireland, but throughout Europe also. This is due to the fact that Ireland’s Fast 50 companies are entered into Deloitte’s EMEA Fast 500 award programme, which recognises Europe’s fastest growing technology companies.

Denis O’Sullivan, Group CFO at Populis, outlined the benefits of the company’s participation in the Deloitte Fast 50: “The team here at Populis was delighted to feature in the 2011 Fast 50 ranking, and absolutely thrilled that we achieved the top spot. The association with the awards has been greatly beneficial, in particular throughout Europe which is a significant market for us.”    

Richard Howard, Partner, Deloitte encouraged indigenous Irish technology companies to demonstrate their success by entering the awards: “Every year we are extremely impressed with the growth rates that are achieved by Irish technology companies who have demonstrated an ability to both develop offerings and then market them in Ireland and abroad. This type of growth deserves to be celebrated. The Fast 50 awards offer the opportunity to join a community of innovative technology companies that are constantly searching for new contacts and new ways to build their network. We’re looking forward to hearing from like-minded companies!”

The ranking will feature both private and public listed technology companies that have demonstrated innovative strategies, sound management practices and marketplace vision driving them to achieve the status of high-growth leaders. Details of how to enter the awards can be found at www.fast50.ie. The closing date for entries is Friday 14 September 2012.

In addition to the Fast 50 ranking, the Rising Star category will honour two up and coming companies who are in business less than 5 years.

For further information and details of how to enter the award, visit www.fast50.ie.
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About the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Programme
To enter the Fast 50 Awards, companies must meet the criteria listed below.  Entries must be sent in electronically, with the necessary supporting documents (audited financial statements).

Entry Criteria:

• Entrants must have been operating for a minimum of five years, with a turnover of at least €50,000 for 2007
• Entrants can be public or private companies but the parent company must be headquartered in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Subsidiaries or divisions do not qualify
• Each entrant must be a technology company defined as producing technology; manufacturing technology-related products; being technologically intensive or using technology in problem-solving; or devoting a high percentage of effort to the research and development of technology

Rising Star category
Companies who wish to enter the programme, which have not been in business for the minimum 5 years may qualify for the Rising Star category on satisfaction of the following criteria:

• Entrants must have been operating for a minimum of three years and less than five years, with turnover of at least €30,000 for 2009
• Entrants can be public or private companies but the parent company must be headquartered in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Subsidiaries or divisions do not qualify
• Each entrant must be a technology company defined as producing technology; manufacturing technology-related products; being technologically intensive or using technology in problem-solving; or devoting a high percentage of effort to the research and development of technology

About Deloitte
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/ie/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.

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