Letterkenny is to become the new European Software Research and Development Centre for a US based IT company which is expanding globally.

The decision to locate the 20 new high-tech jobs here was greatly influenced by the fact the company’s Chief Technical Officer (CTO) is a Donegal man and former LYIT student. 

KeyedIn this week announced 20 hi-tech jobs at CoLab at LYIT.  The highly skilled jobs will be created over the next three years, as KeyedIn Solutions, a Global SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions provider and consulting services organisation, expand their global reach.

The KeyedIn headquarters is in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  It has been described as an early stage technology company “on a high growth trajectory” in a number of key markets in the USA, Europe and South America.

Since its establishment in October 2011, KeyedIn has achieved highly significant growth with offices across the United States and the United Kingdom, Mexico, Sweden, Ireland and South Africa.  The company employ more than 100 people world-wide. 

Speaking to the Donegal News this week, KeyedIn CTO Eugene Blaine explained the rationale behind locating the jobs here. 

“I am a native of Bruckless as is my wife Anne (nee O’Connell).  There is a great sense of pride for me to be able to come home to my native county and bring jobs but, it is for good business reasons.  We did look at locating here five years ago but the salaries were just too high then - we feel the time is right now. 

“I stayed in touch with an old friend at LYIT Cyril Higgins and he kept telling me about the conveyor belt of talent coming out of the college every year.  We have already hired two employees at our CoLab base and they have spent the last couple of weeks training.  We will add a further three staff very quickly and up to 20 over two to three years,” Mr Blaine said.

He accepted that Donegal could be overlooked in the provision of foreign direct investment because of its geographic location.

“If you are not from the area, it is not necessarily the first place you would look but it makes good economic sense for us.  The job market is not quite as competitive.  I can see Ireland having a major role in KeyedIn’s development,” he added.

Home at present for the 44 year-old Eugene, his wife Anne and their two daughters is Leicestershire. 

“About 24 years ago I did a National Certificate in Computing at LYIT - they didn’t do degrees at the time.  I went to London and set up my own business.  In 2001 Atlantic Global was listed on the stock exchange and was then acquired by the Klauses who set up KeyedIn.”

“It’s a new chapter and we have some very clever people on board.  I believe Donegal will benefit from such a winning combination,” Eugene concluded.

DONEGAL BASE

Mr Blaine met with Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton as part of the Dublin Web Summit this week.  The minister announced a total of 122 jobs nation-wide in a selection of high-growth companies this week. 

Speaking following the jobs announcement KeyedIn founder and CEO Lauri Klaus said that at KeyedIn business was moving fast.

“We were very impressed by the way in which we were assisted in establishing our operations in Ireland.  I would like to thank the IDA for its support and for the speed in which we were able to see our plans recognised.

“We are confident that our Irish operation will play a vital role in driving our growth over the coming months and look forward to many years of success in Ireland,” Ms Klaus said.

STRONG FEMALE WORKFORCE

Founder, Lauri Klaus is the former vice president of world-wide sales and services at Epicor Software Corp., where she led some 1,500 employees and a $200-million business line.  Late last year she established KeyedIn Solutions with her husband and former Epicor Chairman George Klaus.

The couple cashed out from the Epicor deal and took a 70% stake in Minneapolis-based Datacom International for $2 million.  They put the company under the KeyedIn banner and kept the headquarters in Minneapolis, Lauri Klaus’ hometown.

“I’ve seen real change in the sales role in our company, where women are really stepping up and taking on additional risk.  Without taking on any risk, you will not achieve great rewards,” she said.

WARM WELCOME

Deputy Joe McHugh and Senator Jimmy Harte have warmly welcomed the jobs announcement.

Deputy McHugh said the decision by KeyedIn was a vote of confidence in Donegal and enhances Letterkenny as a hub town that is a national leader in technology and software development. 

“KeyedIn Solutions’ decision to invest in Donegal is a vote of confidence in the IT skills of the local workforce and is a vote of confidence in LYIT, which continues to produce highly skilled graduates. 

“Today Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD has announced 122 new IT jobs in five different companies across the country.  Minister Bruton recognises that IT and software development is a sustainable industry.  I will continue to work with him and with existing Donegal IT-based companies in pursuing further opportunities for Donegal,” Deputy McHugh added.