Three Irish start-up incubators have been ranked in the top eight in Europe following a year-long study by the US-based Kauffman Fellows Program.

The National Digital Research Centre’s LaunchPad, which is seeking applications for its next programme, the DCU Ryan Academy’s Propeller Venture Accelerator Fund and Startupbootcamp Ireland were the three recognised.

Cork-based YouGetItBack is providing its mobile device recovery service to US consumer electronics chain Best Buy, which will offer it as part of its Geek Squad Black Tie Protection Plan.

The service secures the data on a lost or stolen device by locking the device remotely and attempting to locate it and facilitate its return. Features include remote and automatic locking, SIM change locking and SMS locking.

The US-Ireland Alliance this week hosted a meeting in San Francisco on the issue of visas for tech workers and start-ups. It was attended by Betsy Markey, a senior official at the US department of homeland security, and Irish tech entrepreneurs.

There are currently proposals in the US to give entrepreneurs a two-year visa if they can show a US investor is willing to invest in their start-up.