Donegal-based publishing platform 3D Issues (4 days a week) will create 24 new jobs after raising €750,000 in funding.
Venture capital fund Furthr VC and the state-backed Western Development Commission (WDC) each contributed €375,000 to the funding round.
The company develops branded templates for online magazines, brochures, and reports that can be used on multiple devices, reducing design costs for its clients.
Founded in 2007, it currently has around 1,500 clients in over 44 countries, working with brands such as Mercedes, Sony, NASA, Mensa, Procter & Gamble.
New roles will be in design, software development, sales, and marketing. Most are based in Donegal, some are remote, and a few sales and marketing roles are based in the US and UK.
The company offers its employees a four-day work week, which it says has boosted sales and morale.
Founder and chief executive Paul McNulty told The Irish Independent last year that all employees chose their leisure time, given the option of a raise and a day off.
As well as new jobs, the funds will help fund product development and expand in existing and new markets.
3D Issue’s revenue is expected to grow sixfold over the next three years to reach €6 million, the company said in a statement.
“This is an exciting time of growth and innovation for our company and we are delighted to have the support of Furthr VC and the Western Development Commission,” McNulty said Friday.
“Recently, we helped a publisher reduce the design time spent on an online publication from 240 man-hours to 4 hours and cost per page from over €4,000 to less than €70.
“We will continue to innovate to provide our customers with the best service and quality.”
Furthr VC is an early stage venture fund founded in 2019 and backed by Irish tech entrepreneurs, business leaders and Enterprise Ireland.
It is the venture arm of Furthr, an Irish investment fund and advisory service that has raised over 500 million euros for over 500 start-ups over the past 30 years.
VC Managing Partner Richard Watson further said that 3D Issue “stands apart from its competitors and is well-positioned to become a major player in the global digital publishing market.” increase.
With a 20-year history, WDC manages a €77 million investment fund for companies in the West and North West of Ireland. Originally funded by the state, it has been self-funded since 2010.
“The 3D Issue has demonstrated global ambitions from Ireland’s Atlantic Coast. Our team is happy to support them on their journey to expand their business and increase their staff numbers,” said WDC Chief Executive Officer. Thomas Ó Siochain, a researcher, said:
WDC has earned nearly 2.5 times its original value, and WDC-backed companies have injected €3.3 billion into the Irish economy over the past two decades, according to a report released this week by consultancy Indecon.
