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Welsh dotcoms set free from incubation

Accelerator programme

Recently, The Reg referred to Cardiff-based Acequote.com as the only Welsh dotcom we had heard of. (And where did that web site go - it has not been accessible in recent days).

Following our request for more examples we received dozens of sightings of Welsh dotcoms, as well as three outraged rejoinders, all coincidentally making slurs on the author's alleged lack of manliness.

Unfortunately an email crash returned the entire contents of the Welsh dotcom folder into the ether. So our attempt to publish a list of enterprises and publications was thwarted.

So let's make some amends and join in the Welsh Development Agency in "celebrating the success of the Welsh Digital Media Sector". OK, "digital media" is not synonymous with "dotcom", but the sector is alive and thriving, according to the WDA.

It has seen four digital media firms graduate from its @Wales incubation programme. Three are Welsh, and one is Indian, but based in Wales. The companies are On-Line UK Ltd, Kode Digital Ltd, Ambience and Eurofind (the Indian one). The WDA is having a graduation ceremony this month at the Technology Wales shindig, held at Newport's Celtic Manor Resort, property of Terry Matthews, the Welsh technology entrepreneur.

@Wales has accepted another four companies for accelerated incubation: Boffin, Gold Systems, Rootmedia and Platform9. Boffin, incidentally, was set up by former employees of Acequote.

The WDA says it has supported more than 450 new media enterprises throughout Wales, including 14 in-house companies in various stages of development. It says that there are more than 600 firms employing 6,000 people estimated annual turnover of £350m in the "established new media sector". And there are "significant clusters of new and traditional media businesses are growing in Cardiff as well as the Caernarfon and Llanelli areas". ®

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