Homepage of Steve Collins

With the financial world in somewhat of a free-fall, I figured it would be a good time to give up the security of my day job and start a business again!  I get asked a lot lately as to whether the current situation with the global credit crunch has had an impact on that process of setting up a business and it's hard to say.  This time around I hope that, as a team, we are more prepared and focused and at least somewhat more experienced so I can't look at our current progress in the context of purely the world's financial markets.  It seems to me that it is tougher to start a business than it was back in 98/99, and I'd imagine very tough for a new team with no prior history.  Companies are certainly finding it harder to raise cash and battening down the hatches internally, reducing costs etc., but so far our progress is positive and we'll hopefully be operational in the not too distant future.  As of 1st October this year, I've stepped back from my position at TCD to become CTO of this new startup.  I plan to continue in a part time capacity with Trinity, spending one day per week, continuing to teach at postgraduate level and also helping to run the new MSc programme in Interactive Entertainment Technology.  I believe this can be a great way to stay in close contact with the top students and helps to stengthen the connections between TCD and industry, something I think is very important for both sides.  We're not talking about the new company yet - it would be jumping the gun to do so and our energies are best spent on getting out into the market and getting the product in shape.