Tech company Spearline, which was co-founded by SETU graduates, has official opening for Waterford office where its global sales team will be based
The official opening of the Waterford office of Skibbereen-headquartered tech company Spearline heard how the company expanded its Waterford presence from one desk in 2016 to a 24-person jobs announcement in 2019.
Spearline’s Waterford office in ArcLabs, WIT’s research and innovation centre was launched by SETU President Prof Willie Donnelly. At the opening, the tech company announced 24 new jobs and the expansion represents an investment of €2.9m over two years.
Spearline is a technology company that proactively monitors phone numbers for audio quality and connectivity globally. It is headquartered in Skibbereen, Co Cork and has offices in Waterford, Romania and India.
Growing on the international stage
Officially opening the Spearline office in Waterford, Prof Donnelly, said: “The institute is delighted Spearline has chosen to open its global sales office in ArcLabs Research and Innovation centre on the West Campus. Spearline was founded by SETU graduates who have rapidly grown the company on the international stage. We wish them the best of luck in their future development and look forward to extending our partnership.”
Dr Aisling O’Neill, Manager at ArcLabs said she was delighted that the company had chosen ArcLabs to support its global ambition. “ArcLabs is the perfect site for Spearline's expansion, given the strong links to SETU with 11 SETU graduates on the team, including the co-founders.”
Liam Dunne, CCO at Spearline took a single desk in ArcLabs in 2016 so it's such an exciting development to see the expansion that the company has undergone and that ArcLabs will now be home to the global sales office,” Dr O’Neill continued.
Eleven SETU graduates
The event was moderated by Kevin Buckley, Co-Founder and CEO at Spearline who said: “We believe in staying true to our roots by creating employment in our localities. On August 9, we officially opened our new headquarters in Skibbereen in a building where I was once a pupil. We are here today in a building owned by SETU, the alma mater of many Spearliners. After today’s recruitment afternoon, we hope to add to that number and plan to continue to do so into the future. It fills us with pride to be here today in Waterford as we continue to expand Spearline.”
Announcing Spearline’s investment and job creation in Waterford, Liam Dunne, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Spearline said: “Spearline has grown by over 600% in the past four years and we plan to continue investing in the local economy by creating employment into the future.”
Dunne is one of 11 SETU graduates on the Spearline team along with six Commercial Software Development graduates, including Co-Founders Kevin Buckley, CEO and Matthew Lawlor, CTO.
Arclabs driving success
Martin Corkery, Regional Director, South & South East Regions, Enterprise Ireland said: “ArcLabs’ Waterford base has proven to be a centre that is driving real success among entrepreneurs in the South East. Through our partnership with South East Technological University, Enterprise Ireland has made a number of key investments over recent years to ensure that the ArcLabs centre would have the very best facilities. It is fantastic to see it now being fully utilised by businesses in the region which continues to go from strength to strength.”
“I look forward to continuing our relationship with the company as it embarks on the next stage of its expansion and to supporting ArcLabs as more and more businesses come on board,” Corkery added.
A story to be proud of
Speaking at the official opening, Cllr John Pratt, Mayor of the City and County of Waterford said that Spearline's story “is one that we can be particularly proud of here in Waterford…. A story that started with a rented desk in ArcLabs, and now having dedicated campuses across four locations. I want to congratulate Liam Dunne, his leadership and entrepreneurial talent in developing a service that will add to the quality control of an industry that already supports a large number of jobs here in Waterford, while adding their own quality jobs on top of that. This positions Waterford as a global focal-point in telecommunication support and sales.”
Speaking at the event, John Halligan TD, Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development said: “The success of Spearline is testament to what can be achieved with resilience and an ability to adapt, persevere and innovate. The Government’s Future Jobs Initiative commits to ‘Embracing Innovation and Technological Changes’ and I would like to reassure the companies here today that the Government is focussed on doing everything within its power to support companies to be more resilient and innovative. I wish Spearline well in its endeavours and look forward to seeing the impact this new office has on the economy of the region.”