ThinkBusiness: Recent Episodes
ThinkBusiness
ThinkBusiness.ie, powered by Bank of Ireland, has been created for Irish business owners and managers who are seeking information, resources and help on a range of business topics. It provides practical, actionable information and guidance on starting, growing and running a business. It offers guides, tools, templates, checklists and a wealth of other content tailored to meet the needs of Irish business owners and managers. It also showcases case studies, with insights, tips and advice from Irish start-up entrepreneurs and business owners. Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.URL: www.thinkbusinessTwitter: @thinkbusinessieLinkedIn: ThinkBusiness.ieFacebook: ThinkBusiness.ie
Geoff Allen from Athlone-based Mersus Technologies discusses how his business is delivering on VR-based training for businesses and outlines how Ireland can take a lead in the development of this technology.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Emmet O’Neill from StoryToys talks about how the Dublin-headquartered company landed a lucrative deal to bring the popular Bluey animation series to life through a deal with LEGO and BBC Studios. He explains how StoryToys is on a mission to inspire childrens’ curiosity and animation through digital learning.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We talk to Marie O’Connor, chief operating officer of Sogeti in Ireland, about her forecasts for GenAI over the next few years and how firms can scale using the technology.
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On the heels of acquiring BT Communications Ireland, the CEO of Speed Fibre Group Peter McCarthy overseas a network of more than 10,000 km of fibre connecting 94 towns across Ireland. He is on a mission to future-proof Ireland’s growing digital economy.
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Dee Coakley, CEO of Irish start-up Boundless, questions whether current AI tools are making hiring better or just replicating existing biases. She talks about why jobseekers need to be cautious with AI-generated applications and how we can leverage AI to enhance human judgement in recruitment.
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In a special ThinkBusiness Podcast recording at the Backyard at Blas in Dingle, supported by Bank of Ireland, three artisan food producers reveal how quality, tradition and sustainability are driving growth in the Irish food sector. Eugene McKenna of Silver Hill Duck, Felix Oster of Mór Taste and Owen Mullins of Zanna Cookhouse represent different paths to the same destination: creating products that resonate with consumers seeking genuine, locally-produced food with clear provenance.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Irish workers are increasingly viewing AI as a gateway to career advancement. We talk to Microsoft Ireland’s national technology director Kieran McCorry about how rather than threatening careers, AI can actually be a career catalyst and stave off burnout.
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We talk to John Delves, CEO of the UCD Professional Academy about the changing pace of the professional education landscape and how continuous skills development holds the key to bridging the skills gap and unlocking career longevity.
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We talk to three-time All-Ireland winner Walter Walsh about his new digital platform SocialTies, which is designed to help community groups and grassroots organisations manage their communications and operations in one unified space.
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TRYKA, founded by Brian Lee – the entrepreneur behind healthy fast-food chain Freshly Chopped – positions itself as a community-first alternative to global events like Hyrox, with multiple race formats designed for all fitness levels from beginners to elite athletes. On the eve of the launch of the race league, we talk to Lee about his entrepreneurial journey and why he sees a market gap in fitness.
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We talk to Marie Donnellan, the CEO of Platform94 about her pioneering fractional C-suite initiative that brings world class C-suite capabilities in areas like finance and HR to scaling businesses across the west of Ireland. She believes the opportunity to create a community of strong, scaling businesses across the west has never been greater.
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We talk to Fidelma McGuirk, the CEO and founder of Payslip, a global fintech player that is empowering payroll professionals all over the world through its software-as-a-service platform. She talks about establishing a business in the west of Ireland and scaling it globally.
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As Galway medtech SymPhysis Medical prepares for US regulatory clearance for its device for cancer patients, we talk with founders Michelle Tierney and Tim Jones about their ambition to spearhead a transformation in the care, and quality of care, of patients.
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As the Nevo Electric Vehicle Show returns to the RDS this November with its most ambitious programme yet, we catch up with Derek Reilly from Nevo and Derek Kavanagh from Bank of Ireland. Running across two days, Friday 7th November for businesses and Saturday 8th November for the general public, it will be Ireland’s largest ever event dedicated to electric vehicles, clean energy, and sustainable mobility.
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Ahead of a Bank of Ireland AI workshop for business owners, we speak with Mark Kelly from AI Ireland and the Bank’s head of Technology, Media & Telecoms Paul Swift about how firms should be approaching the use of AI in their business.
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We meet some of Belfast's emerging young innovative start-up businesses at Catalyst where they are addressing a myriad of problems with breakthrough ideas and solutions.
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We speak with Bank of Ireland's various Agri Development Managers at the Ploughing Championships 2025 to discover the challenges and opportunities facing Ireland's farmers in a time of climate change and geopolitics, how farmers are faring and how they are making the green transition.
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Experienced investment manager Alan Dunne of Archive Capital explains why family offices are growing in prominence in Ireland as a means for successful businesspeople to manage their legacy and make an impact for decades to come. So what are family offices? How do they work? And why are they suddenly stepping into the limelight?
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There is a lot of change happening in the Irish telecoms business and Sinead Quinn, a board member of Irish business IP Telecom is at the heart of it. She talks to the ThinkBusiness Podcast about the technological shifts that will change telecoms and why the industry needs more strong female leadership.
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We speak to EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist Liam Dunne about the Waterford business’s remarkable growth. With revenues set to rise 80% in 2025 driven by the AI revolution, the business is active across 100 markets and counts Fortune 500 giants as customers. Dunne talks about his late arrival to entrepreneurship, proving you can start a business at any age.
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Ahead of the 2025 National Ploughing Championship, Bank of Ireland’s head of Agriculture Sector Eoin Lowry talks about the changing landscape of farming in Ireland. We are also joined by Stephen Coen from Senus, an Irish start-up, that is making environmental health reviews available to Irish farmers.
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We talk to EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist VIT HIT founder Gary Lavin about how his vitamin drink brand overcame a myriad of obstacles to becoming a growing and recognisable brand locally and globally. From an insolvency in 2007 to this year being on track to sell 45m bottles of VIT HIT in 18 markets, Lavin talks candidly about staying true to one’s vision.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Accomplished Irish entrepreneur Larissa Feeney talks about building a nationwide business from Donegal and how her business Kinore is building a remote business that’s high-performing, secure and built for the long-term. She says Kinore is taking remote working to the next level by combining strategic foresight with proactive technology management.
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EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 finalist Karl Fitzpatrick didn't get the Leaving Cert results he wanted. But he didn't let the exam results define his life. Today, the owner of Chevron College leads a business that is on track to record €20m revenues and €3m in profit this year and that employs 150 staff and educates 15,000 students. He demonstrates how he turned his Leaving Cert disappointment into entrepreneurial success throughout a life where he never stopped learning.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We talk to HomeBot founder and CEO Clara Mulligan about the genesis of her business which makes and sells robot lawnmowers, vacuum and floor cleaners as well as robots that wash windows. She talks about the future of automation and how she and her husband were inspired to become a leading player in the smart robotics space in Ireland.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Bank of Ireland’s chief sustainability and investor relations officer Eamonn Hughes talks about how the Bank embraced sustainability at the heart of its strategy and at all levels of the business. The Bank has surpassed €15bn in green lending and is targeting €30bn by 2030. Hughes says the ambition is to go even further.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We speak with Oisin Hanrahan, the Irish CEO and co-founder of B2B manufacturing platform Keychain, about how he is enabling the future of brand development across the US using AI. Hanrahan is best known for his successful platform Handy.com, which raised almost $100m before being sold to Nasdaq-listed Angi.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Sonia Harris Pope, owner of Harris PR, talks about the Harris PR Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Bursary, which she developed in partnership with The Open Door Initiative and the Public Relations Institute of Ireland. The aim of the initiative is to create a pathway for people from under-represented groups in society to train in public relations and communications. This, she believes, is not only good for her industry but is vital for society too.
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Declan O’Reilly from Empathy Research has built a human insights business that has grown exponentially by working with leading household name brands to transform consumer understanding into smarter strategy. He talks about the shifting sands of consumer attitudes in the digital world and his plans for the growth of the business.
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Andrea Dermody, DCU lecturer, consultant and former head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at State Street, talks about her work in shaping the next generation of inclusive business leaders. A prominent voice in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion, she discusses the global impact and challenges in this area. While at State Street she spearheaded initiatives across 14 countries and supported 12,000 employees through more than 50 employee resource groups.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Bank of Ireland recently launched its new Sustainable Business Coach online platform, a free digital tool designed to help SMEs identify their ESG priorities. Along with Green Business loans, this is one of a plethora of sustainability resources emerging from the Bank. Colette Shirley, director of Sustainability at Bank of Ireland talks about the development of the Coach and why it is vital to support businesses on their sustainability journey.
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What began as a side-hustle for Caitriona McGettigan eventually became a passion project and now a fully-fledged business called Luxury Exchange. We talk to McGettigan about how Luxury Exchange, a curated collection of pre-loved designer handbags, clothing, and accessories, is hurtling towards a €4m turnover this year.
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Despite external pressures, companies in Ireland remain committed to workplace diversity but key challenges persist, according to the recent Business in the Community Ireland Elevate Pledge Report. We speak with Richa Tyagi, Senior Sustainability Adviser at Business in the Community, and Adrienne Daly, Head of Social Impact at Deloitte, about why businesses who remain committed to DE&I will find themselves on the right side of history.
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John Kane, head of energy engineering at Veolia Ireland, talks about his Veolia’s pioneering work in enabling Ireland’s green transition and how the country could achieve its carbon reduction goals.
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We speak to Adam Dorr, director of Research at the US thinktank RethinkX about what the future beyond AI holds for our communities, our businesses and our livelihoods. Dorr will be a headline speaker at the upcoming Dargan Forum in Dun Laoghaire in July. He has gained global recognition for his ground-breaking work exploring how innovations in energy, transport, food, and AI are rapidly reshaping economies and societies faster than policymakers are prepared for.
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Andy Culligan, an Irishman based in Austria is building a global online marketing business. Recently named Marketer of the Year at the 2025 Tekpon Awards, Culligan is CEO and co-founder of Purple Path, an outsourced marketing business, which recorded half a million euros in revenue in the first quarter of 2025, alone. The business is bootstrapped by a €700,000 founders’ investment.
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We talk to Stephen Wynne-Jones, an editorial entrepreneur building a new platform called SustainabilityOnline.net that focuses on sustainability from a practicality perspective. Wynne-Jones explains that while saving the planet is obviously a non-negotiable, he firmly believes that for sustainability to truly gain traction, the financial opportunity needs to be front and centre, prompting the corporate world to drive positive action.
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We talk to brothers Barry and Fergal Doyle about how the lifestyle and gardening business that was started by their mother in Carlow in the 1970s has grown to become a €14m a year business. They talk about sustainability and how the business has sold half a million plants this year with 85% of their suppliers being Irish. Not only that they discuss their move into Dublin 1 to support the advent of the urban gardener.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We talk to Anthony Gallagher of Petstop who celebrated 30 years in business year who opened his 14th retail outlet in Rathmines. He talks about how he started the business originally to sell it but instead grew a scaling firm that is also a force in the world of e-commerce.
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We talk to HRLocker’s Crystel Robbins Rynne about the prevailing trends in HR and how the Clare-born tech business is helping SMEs and corporate firms navigate the digital future.
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We talk to Kevin McPartlan, CEO of Fuels for Ireland, about how the fuel sector is actually the lynchpin of Ireland’s transition to green energy, arguing in favour of new fuels like hydrotreated vegetable oil and low-carbon liquid fuels. The sector employs more than 66,000 people and supplies more than half of Ireland’s current energy consumption. McPartlan envisages a cleaner energy future, is supportive of electric vehicles and has a vision for how forecourts can continue to serve as vibrant community hubs.
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We talk to Ciarán Murray from Olas, a seasoned veteran of the blockchain industry and a former employee of BSkyB, about what does the future hold for Ireland’s local media sector. He argues that local media serves as a cornerstone of community life in Ireland, providing trusted news that keeps people together. Today local media continues to be among the most trusted news sources in Ireland, with up to 70% relying on local newspapers and radio for information. He is concerned, however, about the decline in local journalism in Ireland and warns of the formation of news deserts if we don’t do something about it.
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We talk to Bank of Ireland chief economist Conall Mac Coille who looks at the likely impact on the Irish economy of tariffs enacted by the Trump administration in the United States. He also assesses what could happen if punitive tariffs are placed on pharmaceuticals and ICT exports if a trade war was to occur between the EU and the US.
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It emerged recently that Partsol, a business with the potential to upset the existing Gen AI applecart, is to locate its global HQ in Dublin and plans to create up to 60 new jobs in its first year. We talk to the CEO of Partsol Dr Darryl Williams who says locating in Europe is crucial for the business in order to find the oxygen to innovate, gain regulatory certainty under GDPR and to secure further investment.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
It emerged recently that Partsol, a business with the potential to upset the existing Gen AI applecart, is to locate its global HQ in Dublin and plans to create up to 60 new jobs in its first year. We talk to the CEO of Partsol Dr Darryl Williams who says locating in Europe is crucial for the business in order to find the oxygen to innovate, gain regulatory certainty under GDPR and to secure further investment.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We speak with Alan Andrews, founder of the Old Barracks Coffee Roastery and the Guji Coffee Chain about his ambition to make Limerick Ireland’s coffee capital and his plans for expansion. The business is scaling and will be approaching 60 staff by April.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Killorglin County Kerry-based innovation centre RDI Hub recently marked its fifth anniversary and within that relatively short period of time has seen more than €250m invested in its start-ups and has created 430 high-quality local jobs. We talk to the CEO of RDI Hub Liam Cronin about how the hub has made the impact it has and what other regions of Ireland can learn from this.
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As well as supporting the Backyard at Blas na hEireann, Bank of Ireland’s experts recently mentored some of the winners from the Blas na hEireann Best Newcomers category in areas of sustainability and fundamentals of business. We spoke to Lucy Ryan, head of Food Sector at Bank of Ireland and bank manager John Doyle, a judge at Blas, about the importance of sustaining and developing food start-ups.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Leading menopause expert Loretta Dignam has become the only Irish
woman honoured in the first-ever Forbes 50 over 50 global list of trailblazing
women.
Dignam founded the Menopause Hub – Ireland’s first and only dedicated
menopause clinic at the time – in 2018 at the age of 56.
She says that age has no limit for entrepreneurship and talks about her
efforts to make Ireland a global leader in removing the stigma around
menopause.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We talk to Claire Hanrahan, managing director of pensions business IPF which is blazing a trail in terms of women leadership at both executive and board-level. The business is an outlier in terms of equality and empowering all staff- male and female – to develop their careers and achieve their potential. Proving diversity works, it now has €1bn under management, counts more than 30,000 customers and last year achieved record revenues of €10m.
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We speak to the owner of the iconic St Bridget vessel Eugene Garrihy of Dublin Bay Tours. Faced with a choice between buying a new boat or committing to a more sustainable path, Garrihy chose the latter and embraced the circular economy. He decided to switch from traditional fossil fuels to Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil fuel. This renewable alternative reduces carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to diesel and will be the first in Ireland to do this in its industry.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We speak with entrepreneur Luke Joyce about his growing venture TheCleaningCompany.ie which he started armed with only his grandmother’s Toyota Yaris, a bucket and a squeegee. The business is now expanding nationwide driven by year-on-year 100 per cent increases in revenue. He talks about his passion for entrepreneurship, including winning Maynooth University Entrepreneur of the Year, and his plans for growth.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We talk to Joe Quirke, head of GoCar in Ireland, about what’s happening in terms of transport in Ireland. GoCar has been a prominent contributor to Ireland's car-sharing landscape, with a fleet of over 1,100 vehicles nationwide. Launched with the aim of providing members with the freedom of car ownership without the hassle, GoCar ensures a seamless experience. We look at the evolution of car sharing in Ireland the roll electric vehicles will play in this future.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We speak with Richard Tierney, CEO of the Dublin St Patrick’s Festival. The St Patrick’s Festival is the biggest celebration of Irish arts, culture and creativity worldwide and its impact is astonishing. In 2024, it delivered an overall media reach of 400m+, publicity worth €522m, a digital and social media reach of 22m, a live audience in excess of 600k, a TV audience of 386k with a market share of 51%. There were over 4,200 artists who worked on it and it generated 11,000 days of employment.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
The restaurant industry in Ireland has been facing significant challenges over the past few years, with rising costs and tax constraints being the main factors. Since its soft launch in 2023, Early Table has connected over 34,000 active members with exclusive dining offers, providing savings of up to 50% while helping restaurants nationwide fill empty tables. We talk to entrepreneur James Lenehan about how the platform will lead to increased business for restaurants and savings for diners.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Sean Glynn, chief learning officer at Irish tech firm Wriggle, talks about how the business is reshaping the school classroom as we know it through clever learning through digital devices. Uniquely the business employs Irish teachers to develop ways to help hundreds of schools integrate digital technology into their classrooms.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Three in five Irish consumers are more likely to support businesses committed to climate and nature. That’s according to Business in the Community Ireland CEO Tomás Sercovich. To help businesses navigate their sustainability challenges, Business in the Community has developed a new Pact that will help firms address the interconnected climate and nature crises.
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Founded by experienced secondary school grinds teacher Ronan Murdock and serial entrepreneur Brendan Kavanagh, Grinds 360 was born out of a desire to address gaps in the traditional grinds system and transform the current education landscape. With investors that include rugby stars Brian O'Driscoll, Caelan Doris, Jordan Larmour, Murdock talks about Grinds 360’s innovative approach to education.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Kilkenny Group CEO Evelyn Moynihan talks about how the Irish design and fashion retailer became a beacon of innovation and e-commerce during the pandemic and how this drove the company’s momentum as the world reopened. She discusses the Group’s investment in both bricks and mortar alongside e-commerce and driving the future of Irish retail trends in 2025.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Johnny O’Callaghan of Taxplanner.ie discusses how he helps individuals and families in Ireland navigate the complexities of Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) - commonly known as Gift Tax or Inheritance Tax. His ambition is to ensure his new online service becomes a trusted partner for those seeking to secure their family’s financial future.
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A ransomware epidemic threatens to engulf Irish SMEs. Not only that but the rise of AI and deepfakes means businesses can be fooled into costly fraud and phishing attacks. Speaking ahead of the IRISSCON 2024 conference on the 6th of November, Jake Moore, one of Europe’s leading data security experts warns that Irish businesses are vulnerable and need to be wary of cybercriminals lying in wait.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We talk to Bank of Ireland’s head of Food Sector Lucy Ryan as well as a range of artisan food and drinks businesses at the recent Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
In this episode we speak to Martin Donovan from Killadoon Milk in Kildare which won ‘Best Start Up’, a prize also sponsored by Bank of Ireland as well as a variety of accolades including Gold for Whole Milk, Best in Kildare and Best in Leinster.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Irishwoman Anne Ravanona is a recognised global advocate and voice for access to funding for women entrepreneurs and women’s economic empowerment. Rather than moving forward, she warns that women entrepreneurs are losing hard-earned ground. The answer she urges is fundamental change in financial policy and the need for more women investors.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Recently 22 Irish SMEs graduated from a decarbonisation pilot, which was a collaboration between Business in the Community Ireland, Bank of Ireland, the Musgrave Group and SSE Airtricity. We talk to some of the SMEs who graduated from the programme about what they learned and how they will go about decarbonising their businesses.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Creating a neuroinclusive working environment isn’t just good for the individual, it’s good for everyone. We talk to Yvonne Brewer from Auticon about the organisation’s unique business model of delivering complex IT projects by harnessing the exceptional talents and skills that neurodivergent people have to offer.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We talk to a variety of agri start-ups and early-stage food business that we met at the 2024 Ploughing Championships, from the latest tech to amazing flavours.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
At the 2024 Blas na hEireann Awards in Dingle we spoke with its founder Artie Clifford who talked about how the awards came into being and how his own experiences as a businessperson informed the need for not only a celebration of Irish food but for how food producers can help each other grow their businesses.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Hosted at the RDS Simmonscourt on Sunday 10 November, the Nevo EV
Show is poised to be Ireland’s largest-ever motor show – a must-attend for
anyone interested in the future of mobility. We talk to Nevo’s Derek Reilly, the
host of Ireland’s leading Electric Vehicle YouTube channel and Partnerships
Director of Nevo, about what’s happening when it comes to the uptake of
electric vehicles in Ireland.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
We talk to Barry Guiney, head of the Scale Up Collective at executive search
firm Odgers Berndtson Ireland about the prevailing trends in tech recruitment.
Is the sector in slowdown or is it heating up? Barry has more than 20 years of
senior executive experience in the technology sector and has his finger on
the pulse of new hiring trends such as the emergence of the chief AI officer
role.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness.
Mark O’Connor and Bobby McDonnell from Bank of Ireland Corporate Pensions outline the pros and cons of auto-enrolment for employers and employees and what every business owner needs to know.
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We talk to Lucy Ryan, head of Food & Beverage Sector at Bank of Ireland about the upcoming Blas na Eireann Irish food awards, now in their 17th year. She talks about how quality Irish food ingredients are having their moment and how we can make Irish food more sustainable to serve future generations.
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With the 2024 Ploughing Championships about to welcome more than 300,000 people and 1,700 exhibitors, Bank of Ireland’s head of Agriculture Sector Eoin Lowry talks about the history of this iconic event and how it is at the crossroads of the sustainable future of farming.
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Caitriona Considine swapped the corporate world to transform an old cowshed near the cliffs of Moher into a thriving gift and coffee shop with the mission for Moher Cottage to be the best little shop in Ireland. The former engineer talks about swapping the long commutes for entrepreneurship and running a business sustainably on one of Ireland’s busiest tourist trails.
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The 2023 Project Management Professional of the Year James Louttit has recently published a book about how to lead impactful teams. James talks about his journey to overcome burnout and explains how even well-prepared, hard-working intelligent people can feel the strain of project management. He has authored a new book that provides tips and techniques to make projects more effective, successful and enjoyable.
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We talk to John Clancy, the founder and CEO of Galvia, an AI-powered decision intelligence platform that draws actionable insights from enterprise data. Since 2017 Galvia (formerly known as Chatspace) has been working with some of the World’s largest companies including Nestlé, Medtronic and Atos. As a serial entrepreneur John is continually identifying new opportunities to make AI accessible to every organisation, big and small.
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With more than 7.2m lives looked after, Irish business Spectrum.Life is one of Europe’s fastest growing digital health providers and is targeting revenues of €100m by 2028. We talk to CEO Stephen Costello about the company’s growth plans and opportunities in the global healthcare market.
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Change isn’t easy for anyone, but in business it is even harder. Shane Twomey from Phoenix HR has built a business around helping organisations go through the business of change and transformation. He talks about how businesses can get their people and teams aligned around new ways of working.
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Laura Dillon, selected in May as The Irish Times Business Person of the Month in association with Bank of Ireland, recently made its fifth biggest investment in Ireland with the acquisition of a stake in Bellew Electrical. The private equity player has now partnered with more than 20 Irish businesses in the last three years, adding 1,000 roles to these firms through new hires and M&A. Between them these companies will grow their revenues to more than €350m.
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Hrvoje Smolic and Vinnie Lynch, the founders of Kerry-based tech firm Graphite-Note talk about the chemistry that made them realise they could build a global AI-based business from regional Ireland.
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Cork native Alan Coughlan’s Lansil Global is creating 30 jobs in the US after
opening a new warehouse in Pennsylvania. Now based in Dubai, he talks
about how he want from teaching English in China to establishing his global
logistics business.
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Waterford-headquartered branding agency TOTEM recently achieved international acclaim and is set to double the size of its team. Founder Colin Byrne talks about the business of branding and creating a scaling, internationally-focused business.
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Since the age of 11, Andrew Casey and Olaf O’Moore have been in rock bands and in business, running ventures that include EcoCabs, bike brand FunkedUp and ad and marketing agency Headcase. Casey talks about how creativity and friendship hold the key to their bond.
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Bank of Ireland’s NYC Hub has become a vital destination for Irish
businesses targeting North America as well as a vital social networking
venue for the Irish business community in New York. We talk to US country
manager Tony Dunne and the NYC Hub’s coordinator Tania Sheik about the
Bank’s 50-year history in the United States and what the future holds for the
NYC Hub.
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In part 2 of our series on auto-enrolment, as mandatory auto-enrolment for
pensions looms closer to becoming a reality in Ireland, Mark O’Connor and
Bobbie McDonnell from Bank of Ireland discuss what employers need to do
to make pensions more attractive for their staff.
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The journey to sustainability is not easy. And with new technologies ranging
from artificial intelligence to robotics emerging all the time, how do business
owners choose the right technologies to help them on their green journey.
We talk to Paul Swift, head of Technology, Media and Telecoms at Bank of
Ireland about how to avoid being overwhelmed.
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Irish food producers are rightly optimistic about their future prospects and are investing in their future as the shopping public focus on quality and sustainable produce. Lucy Ryan, head of Food & Drink at Bank of Ireland, talks about the results of the latest Love Irish Food survey.
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By 2030 Bank of Ireland aims to reach €30bn in sustainable finance lending.
The key to this is a sustainable finance framework. We talk to Colette Shirley,
director of Sustainability at Bank of Ireland about the Bank’s sustainability
strategy and what this means for the future of banking.
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As every employer in Ireland ought to know, auto-enrolment is coming. We talk to Mark O’Connor, Head of Corporate Pensions and Bobbie McDonnell, Corporate Pensions and Risk Manager, at Bank of Ireland, about what employers need to do to prepare for when auto-enrolment comes into force.
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We talk to Brian Roe, CEO of data centre giant Servecentric. He talks about his career in tech, which began with selling Apple hardware for Typetec, to today where he is overseeing the industry’s move to the cloud and the onset of AI in the European business world.
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We talk to trailblazing Donegal entrepreneur Amanda Torrens about her journey from building a successful nationwide nursing home business and selling it, to her decision come out of retirement in order to acquire Barberstown Castle and her vision to transform it into a community-centred venue.
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We talk to tech entrepreneur Cuty Gupta of Cozmotec about how businesses should go about utilising artificial intelligence. She talks about the road that led to her establishing a tech business in Ireland and her plans for international growth.
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We talk to Brian O’Rourke, co-founder of Galway-headquartered CitySwift, about the young business’s role in transforming public transport and its international growth plans.
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We talk to Bank of Ireland’s head of Health Sector Grainne Henson about the healthcare sector in Ireland, the importance of the nursing home business and how the sector is modernising to meet future needs, including sustainability.
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The recent spell of prolonged wet weather has had a serious impact on Irish farmers’ cashflow. We talk to Bank of Ireland’s head of Agri Eoin Lowry about his advice for farmers and the various supports available to them.
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In almost every large town in Ireland there are now enterprise hubs that support both remote working and start-up activity, forming the cornerstone for job creation around the country. We talk to Siobhan Finn, CEO of the Community Enterprise Association of Ireland about the opportunities and challenges that the national hub network faces.
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Guaranteed Irish, Ireland’s national symbol of trust was launched in 1974 and is celebrating its 50-year anniversary this year. We talk to CEO Brid O’Connell about how the not for profit supports a network of businesses from indigenous to locally based global leaders throughout the country and her vision for the next 50 years.
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From Cartoon Saloon to Brown Bag Films, Shinawil and Jam Media and many others, Ireland’s animation sector is forecast to reach more than €6bn in the coming years, creating thousands of potential jobs. Ahead of the Animation Dingle event on 22 March, we speak to the festival’s co-founder Maurice Galway and Paul Swift, head of Tech, Media and Telecoms, about Ireland’s ability to punch above its weight globally in animation.
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Locally born in Wexford, but globally successful e-commerce player Scurri has revealed that 40 new jobs are to be created at its new state-of-the-art European headquarters in the town. We talk to founder Rory O’Connor about how he succeeded in building a platform that processes more than €10bn worth of shipments a year.
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Entrepreneur Jack Murray took a 20 th century media directory business and has repurposed it to become a 21 st century digital media machine. He talks about his entrepreneurial journey and his global vision for the Dublin business.
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Sold-out and with 20,000 attendees all vying to learn about or to buy electric vehicles, the Electric Vehicle Show in Dublin was a total success. We talk to the event’s organisers, members of the public, dealers and manufacturers about what’s happening in this space.
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ThinkBusiness talks to Fergus Sheil and Aoife Daly about how in just five years, Irish National Opera has become an award-winning success story in the competitive arts and entertainment sector. Despite challenges, they're moving beyond traditional perceptions of opera, reaching out to engage with youngsters through innovative themes, venues, and technology.
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ThinkBusiness talks to Conor McGarry from Rentdodo, the Irish proptech company behind TenantCert, a new digital verification system that aims to increase security for tenants, landlords and property managers by eliminating scams and fake profiles.
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If you think the wave of fintech and banking innovation that followed in the wake of the PSD2 directive was ground-breaking, the next iteration PSD3 promises even more. Lawrence Vesey from Sia Partners talks about the potential for game-changing developments and nurturing market competition and innovation in the wake of PSD3.
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ThinkBusiness talks to Derek Reilly from electric vehicle platform Nevo and Derek McDermott from Bank of Ireland Finance about the upcoming Electric Vehicle Show in Dublin on the 17th of February. We discuss where electric vehicle technology is heading, why concerns over EV charging infrastructure will soon in the back mirror and how Ireland is embracing electric vehicle ownership.
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ThinkBusiness catches up with Ashley Shak, head of Sustainability and Programmes at Dogpatch Labs, about how its 2050 Accelerator programme is playing a crucial role in combating the climate crisis by enabling start-ups to collaborate on climate-focused initiatives and positioning Ireland as a global testbed for innovation.
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With a career spanning over four decades, Storm Technology founder Karl Flannery has not only made an unforgettable mark as an Irish tech entrepreneur but has also played a pivotal role in shaping Ireland's technology sector. He talks about his career and the future of the sector.
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On 1 February Ireland’s Deposit Return scheme for cans and plastic bottles goes live and consumers can return containers to supermarkets across Ireland in return for their deposit. ThinkBusiness talks to the CEO of Re-turn Ciaran Foley about the new scheme and the impact it will make on Ireland’s recycling efforts.
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I talk to the CEO of Kilkenny Design Evelyn Moynihan about the retail group’s recent investments and growth after the business revealed a new e-commerce platform to coincide with its 60th anniversary. She talks about how digital trends and physical retail go hand-in-hand.
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I chat with the founder of Dublin-based Zick Learn Matteo Penzo about the growing popularity of the four day week in the working world. We also ask him about his decision to locate his company in Dublin. Zick Learn recently raises half a million euros and revealed plans to double its workforce in Dublin.
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I talk with Richard Watson, managing partner of Furthr VC, one of the most active early stage venture capital investors in Ireland, about the current investment trends in Ireland’s entrepreneurial landscape. He explains that Furthr VC doesn't just cut cheques. Instead, they join forces with bold start up teams shaping tomorrow's Irish tech leaders.
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At this year's Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards in Dingle, ThinkBusiness met Blas na hÉireann's founder Artie Clifford, food writer Trevis Gleason, head of Food & Drink at Bank of Ireland Lucy Ryan along with food entrepreneurs from Art of Grate Food, Velo, St Tola and Crust & Crumb to discover Ireland's food and drink renaissance first-hand.
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ThinkBusiness editor John Kennedy met with entrepreneurs and farmers all focused on Sustainability at The Ploughing Championships 2023. These included Bank of Ireland head of Agri Eoin Lowry, IFA presidential contender Francis Gorman, entrepreneur Liam Woulfe, innovators Paul Kennedy, Deirdre Wall and Claire Lewis and farmer Phil Gleeson.
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President of Midleton Chamber of Commerce and recent winner of the Network Cork Established Businesswoman of the Year, Adrianna Hegarty talks about cutting her teeth in the super-competitive property scene in LA before returning to Ireland to run her successful business Hegarty Property. She talks about the Irish property market, how SMEs should be able to convert unused spaces into accommodation and why the Irish property business needs more women at the helm.
David Broderick, director of the Small Firms Association, warns that Irish SMEs are facing a tsunami of regulations and laws that while well-meaning are presenting a range of difficulties for SMEs in an already trying economic environment. He talks about what these incoming laws mean for SMEs and warns a one size fits all approach does not work when it comes to regulation for businesses of less than 50 people compared to businesses of more than 1,000 people.
David Broderick, director of the Small Firms Association, warns that Irish SMEs are facing a tsunami of regulations and laws that while well-meaning are presenting a range of difficulties for SMEs in an already trying economic environment. He talks about what these incoming laws mean for SMEs and warns a one size fits all approach does not work when it comes to regulation for businesses of less than 50 people compared to businesses of more than 1,000 people.
Every year start-ups take part in the INVENT competition at Catalyst in Belfast, supported by Bank of Ireland. During a recent investor day we caught up with some of these businesses to get a sense of the innovation and opportunity being fostered in Northern Ireland.
Workday vice-president Chandler Morse is an expert in AI policy and ethics. He talks to the ThinkBusiness Podcast about the company’s rapid expansion in Ireland and addresses how AI and automation will work when it comes to HR and people management.
Award-winning project management expert James Louttit was at the top of his game in Irish blue chip businesses when he suffered from burnout. This experience led him to seek out a better way to work and live and has inspired his career ever since. The Impactful PM founder talks about leadership and creating a positive work culture.
Ireland is underspending on innovation and we need to significantly increase our investment to meet the challenges and opportunities of sustainability and digitalisation. That’s the view of IRDG CEO Dermot Casey who says it is vital we support innovative SMEs to create the next generation of businesses like Kingspan and Fexco.
Following Brexit, it is fair to say that France is now our nearest EU neighbour. Aine Murray, head of marketing at Veolia Ireland also happens to be the president of the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce. She talks about the centuries of history of trade between Ireland and France and the multi-billion euro opportunities that await Irish SMEs trading with France.
In 2018 brothers Brian and James Cotter founded Sisu Clinic with serial entrepreneur Pat Phelan. In this interview, Brian Cotter talks about taking the world of medicine into the world of business to establish an aesthetic clinic that has grown beyond Cork and Ireland to the US and the UK and his own journey as an entrepreneur.
Renowned Irish IP and data lawyer Jeanne Kelly, partner with Browne Jacobson, talks about why data regulations matter to SMEs and multinationals and why six years later, GDPR is only still finding its feet in the business world.
On a mission to reduce the amount of carbon emitted by industry, CoolPlanet CEO Alan Keogh reveals how a new technology from the Irish business will enable 5m tonnes of carbon savings in the next year alone across 400 sites worldwide.
We talk to Dr Deirdre Kilbane from the Walton Institute in Waterford about how Ireland landed a major €10m project that will put Ireland at the centre of the creation of quantum communications infrastructure that will significantly improve the security and efficiency of everything from medical devices to phones to the internet of things.
ThinkBusiness talks to Tekenable founders Nick Connors and Peter Rose talk to ThinkBusiness about their scaling journey and the decisions they had to make to bring the business to where it is one of the most innovative indigenous tech firms. They talk about why ESG matters and why it is going to be a critical pillar of the company’s growth strategy.
Ahead of the Fine-tuning Irish Dairy conference in June, Bank of Ireland’s head of Agriculture Sector Eoin Lowry talks about the challenges the Irish dairy industry faces as it wrestles with sustainability and climate action while remaining viable and innovative.
We talk to Ray Hegarty, an Irishman who happens to be one of the world’s leading authorities on intellectual property (IP). He is the author of three IP strategy bestsellers, has managed billions of dollars in patent and trademark transactions and is an entrepreneur and internet of things pioneer who has built five successful FDI start-ups for international corporations in Ireland.
Inspired by an article he read in a business magazine more than a decade ago, Wexford businessman Karl Fitzpatrick has gone on to create one of Ireland’s fastest growing training providers, serving the healthcare, childcare and renewable energy sectors and educating 5,000 students every year. He talks about the future of Chevron College and his ambitions for the business.
Shena O’Brien, the CEO and co-founder of IP Telecom talks about how the telecoms industry landscape is changing and how innovation is the key differentiator. She talks about how IP Telecom is playing a key role in the future of work and how it has created a system that helps businesses smoothly transition to remote and hybrid working.
John Randles, CEO of Galway cybersecurity business Siren, talks about how a business that began life as a PhD research project has blossomed into a business that recently reported 162% revenue growth as well as its first patent. Irish cybersecurity business Siren has raised €12m in backing from the European Investment Back to fight cybercrime. Randles talks about his career at the helm of indigenous Irish tech firms and why he believes the sector’s best days lie ahead.
Wayleadr CEO Garret Flower talks about his entrepreneurial path and his belief that car parks are the greatest misuse of land since golf was invented. He says that if car parks were optimised for their actual usage, land could be given back to the public for housing and entertainment. Counting businesses like Uber, ESB, eBay and L’Oreal as customers, he talks about his scaling journey into the US.
Viatel CTO Eilish O’Connor has played a leading role in completing several acquisitions in the past two years, identifying, closing and integrating these businesses. She talks about how a love of science, technology, engineering and maths, and in particular applied physics, led to her rise in the tech industry and her position as one of the most influential people in cloud in Ireland.
Bank of Ireland’s head of Agriculture Eoin Lowry says Irish farmers are coming into 2023 in a strong state, with solid margins, positive cashflows and strengthened balance sheets. But it won’t be all smooth as price volatility continues to be a spectre haunting commodities.
Medb Riordan’s can-do attitude has carried her far. She left Dublin for London to make it in the TV and movie business and seized the first opportunity she could get to work at Academy Films. She worked her way from the reception desk to eventually becoming Academy’s managing director and co-owner and working alongside the industry’s top directors. As well as winning multiple awards, including the Gold Cannes Lions, Medb last year produced her first feature film Earth Mama with director Savanah Leaf
We talk to Alan Donegan, co-founder of the Rebel Business School. Since 2011, Alan and his team have been travelling the UK and other parts of the world delivering Rebel Business Schools, which consist of 5 or 10 full-day sessions supporting people in to self-employment and teaching them how to set up a business for free. Over the past decade, The Rebel School have been able to support over 17,000 people. Donegan shares his ethos on starting a business and his plans for Ireland.
Conor Carmody from the Innovation Exchange talks about his mission to connect large multinational companies with digital challenges with smaller Irish tech companies in a move that raises all boats.
The future of advertising in Ireland.
Businesswoman Vaunnie McDermott, managing director of advertising agency Connelly Partners Dublin, talks about how the ads industry has changed and how a more human-centric approach merging traditional advertising with digital technology is the way forward. She also talks about her colourful career as an entrepreneur.
Combining behavioural psychology with academic research, the Peptalk platform led by cousins James and Bernard Brogan is now used by 50,000 employees in blue chip businesses on four continents. James Brogan talks about the Irish company’s move into the US market after raising close to four million dollars.
Brian Murphy, Deloitte’s partner in charge of the Best Managed Companies programme talks about what it takes to be a Best Managed Company. He also talks about the economic outlook for 2023, the war for talent and how successful businesses adapt strategies based on their external environment.
The current economic climate and tech slowdown may prove to be an opportunity for Irish SMEs and start-ups says Ruth Lyndon, the co-CEO of up-and-coming recruitment business Phoenix. She talks about leaving the life of a big 5 funds lawyer behind for entrepreneurship and offers her perspective on the recruitment landscape in 2023.
Having lit up the internet in recent weeks, ChatGPT signals a new chapter in the artificial intelligence arms race in tech but also portends new challenges for how we work, how we study and more. Bank of Ireland’s head of Tech, Media and Telecoms Paul Swift explains what ChatGPT is and how businesses should be organising themselves around this new epoch for technology.
The ongoing tech wreck may sound like bad news for the tech sector but the reality, according to Kevin O’Loughlin from Nostra, is that tech is ingrained in every business. If anything the recalibration of global tech giants spells good news for growing and scaling indigenous Irish tech firms on the talent front.
What began as a local initiative to keep business in the town of Letterkenny
has spiralled into a success that is the envy of towns across Ireland. ShopLK,
Letterkenny’s shop local initiative has achieved more than four million euros
worth of local spending. We talk to the CEO of Letterkenny Chamber Toni
Forrester and board member Jimmy Stafford about how this local spend
could potentially be leveraged up to millions more for the town’s traders.
At the dawn of a new working year, productivity expert Moira Dunne talks about how to hit the ground running, especially if you are in a hybrid working situation between the home and the office. She talks about how to focus and get into a perfect flow and how to be realistic about managing your time.
RedZinc founder Donal Morris has won approximately €40m in EU grants. An entrepreneur from the age of 10, his technology began initially as a way of helping paramedics but founds its real calling helping doctors and nurses during Covid. He reveals his secret to continuous success at winning EU grants.
The future of computing is quantum computing and an Irishman is at the
helm. Joe Fitzsimons’ Horizon Quantum Computing, a business he started in
Singapore, is to create 10 new jobs in Dublin over the next six months. He
talks about how the quantum computing revolution will overshadow the tech
revolution we’ve seen so far..
Kealan Lennon, founder and CEO of CleverCards, talks about the changing
landscape of the payments ecosystem and the switch to digital cards over
plastic cards. CleverCards is an Irish-owned global payments platform that
enables anyone, anywhere to purchase online and offline.
An estimated 70% of Irish e-commerce spending each year goes overseas.
Bank of Ireland’s head of Tech, Media and Telecoms Paul Swift and the
bank’s head of Retail Sector Owen Clifford on how we can bring more Irish
SMEs online.
Irish businesses are sitting on vast hordes of hidden wealth in the form of
unused data. Deirdre Purcell, area vice-president of Salesforce in Ireland
talks about how businesses can unlock the value of that data.
KJ McGowan is a young Irish entrepreneur who has built a new business
called Krezzo, which operates between Toronto and Boston. He talks about
how the young business will do for OKRs what Salesforce did for CRM.
CEO of fast-scaling Irish business Each&Other, Brian Herron, talks about why user experience (UX) principles are becoming fundamental to the business world and how Each&Other is expanding in Germany.
John Tuohy is the founder of Nightline and Parcel Motel, which he sold to UPS for €30 million in 2017. He has since started a new smart parcel locker business called OOHpod, investing €1m of his own money in the business.
In many ways broadband is baked into our lives, or you would think so in late 2022. Pure TelecomCEO Paul Connell talks about how the broadband picture is far from perfect in Ireland.
Greta Dunne, founder and CEO of Marker Content, a global content
marketplace that is in effect the Shutterstock for written words, talks about
starting her business in Dublin and the future of content marketing.
Bank of Ireland’s head of Motor Sector Stephen Healy on the post-Covid recovery of the sector, what Budget 2023 taught us and how the sector is shifting gears for a roaring start to 2023.
Digital transformation player Auxilion says it is on course to grow its revenuesby 25% by the end of 2022, compared to 2021, driven by the transformationof Irish workplaces post-pandemic. This will see its revenues surpass €48mthis year. CEO and founder Philip Maguire talks about the future of tech,future-proofing Irish businesses and his attitude to why one should “neverwaste a good recession.”
A ground-breaking new programme at Technology University Dublin aims tohelp people with disabilities become entrepreneurs. Professor ThomasCooney points out how self-employment helps people with disabilities toparticipate socially and economically; allows them to choose their own hoursor work remotely, and provides more flexibility than can be found in paidemployment. He points out that flip-side is that disabled entrepreneurs facemore challenges and set-backs and have to fight harder to stay in business.
Accenture Ireland’s security lead Jacky Fox talks about how vulnerable Irishbusinesses are to a cyberattack. She points out how a lack of budget,training and security talent is making organisations vulnerable.
We talk to farmer Kevin McGarry about the valuable work of Embrace Farm, which provides a caring and supportive network for all those affected by farm accidents in Ireland. Kevin lost both legs in a farm accident but won’t let this hold him back as he focuses on growing his own farm. The Bank of Ireland Begin Together Fund is supporting Embrace Farm in its work to help farmers and their families on the road to recovery and to thrive.
ThinkBusiness reports from the ploughing where we talked to farmers,farming experts as well as innovative young agri and agritech businesses.
Founded in Athlone in 2013, Sidero currently employs 150 people and buildsmission critical software for some of the most successful Irish and globalcompanies. Co-founder and CEO Carmel Owens talks about her vision forthe company, narrowing the tech skills gap and enabling businesses todigitally transform.
Cork native Robert Fenton’s decision to move his Dublin tech start-up Qualio to San Francisco was pivotal in the company’s acceleration and more than 260% year-on-year revenue growth. Backed to the tune of $50m by Tiger Global, Fenton reflects on how the company has grown to 300 customers across the globe, spanning the medical device, pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Founded by Irish entrepreneurs, Intercom is one of Ireland’s greatest indigenous tech success stories and is one of several Irish unicorns worth more than $1bn each. The business is focused on growing its revenues from $200m to more than $1bn in the coming years. Leading this endeavour is software industry veteran Sanj Bhayro who talks about how to scale to revenues of more than $1bn and what Irish tech firms can learn from this.
Having recently raised €514,000 via a crowdfunding campaign, emerging Irish whiskey brand Foxes Bow is on a mission to disrupt the traditional world of Irish whiskey. We talk to co-founder Alice Carroll about why Irish whiskey is the world’s fastest-growing spirit, the realities of crowdfunding and building a brand from her native Limerick.
€5.5m has been invested in the Future Mobility Campus Ireland in Shannon, the country’s first full-scale development centre and test-bed for mobility technologies. CEO Russell Vickers talks about how the research at the campus will put Ireland in the driving seat for the next revolution in mobility.
Started by childhood friends and having recently raised €2m from Terry Clune’s Clune Technologies, Gradguide CEO Mark Hughes talks about how it figured out that through mentorship, there is a better way for more students to follow that path and for tech companies to hire young talent.
Ed Rossiter, founder and co-CEO of Phoenix Search, talks about the young recruitment firm’s rapid scale-up journey by redefining how recruitment is executed. The business was established in 2018 and will grow to 250 employees by 2025.
Andrew Fleury from Luna talks about the future of transport and how the company’s technology will make the arrival of e-scooters safer on our streets by combining artificial intelligence with computer vision.
Aislinn Mahon, general manager of Huckletree D2, talks about how the switch to more home working following the pandemic will cause an increase in inclusivity issues within the workplace and reveals how employers will be challenged to make sure everyone’s performance is recognised whether they are in the office or not.
Stephen McNulty, founder and CEO of Irish environmental start-up Ambisense, talks about combining the internet of things with analytics to drive critical decision-making that protects people and the planet.
Supply chain issues means that it is harder for people to buy new cars with all the bells and whistles. Bank of Ireland head of Motor Sector Stephen Healy explains what’s going on and how the rest of the year is shaping up for the sector.
Positioned on the western edge of Europe, Ireland has the potential to power itself and export electricity to nations across the continent using offshore wind turbines. However, unless the country moves fast the window of opportunity will close warns Adam Cronin from DP Energy.
Ray Ryan from the Noledge Group has developed technology that enables businesses to streamline their operations. He talks about how he has grown his scaling business and why blockchain will have its day yet.
Kwayga, an online matching platform for B2B buyers and suppliers in the food industry has launched into the European market. We talk to co-founder Martin Fitzgerald who says the platform will connect smaller businesses with larger enterprises, enabling them to scale and grow their business to greater heights.
Highly-skilled professional contractors play an essential role in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. Jimmy Sheehan from Contracting Plus reveals how workers in the project economy are earning more than their salaried counterparts.
Carlow-based HaloCare is a digital solution supporting remote healthcare and ‘ageing in place’ for older people, as well as care in the community for those with long term illnesses. CEO Sarah Jane O’Dwyer talks about how discrete digital devices in the home will be a game-changer for people and care-givers.
Dublin start-up Bounce Insights is transforming market research as we know it, enabling researchers to get answers directly from their target market. I talk to co-founder Charlie Butler about how the magic happens and his ambitions for the company.
Ronan and Conor Burke co-founded Inscribe after graduating from university in 2017. Inscribe is an automated document fraud detection system that allows businesses to instantly verify their customers when they request proof of income, proof of address, or proof of expense information. In 2020 they were listed in Forbes 30 under 30 list and revealed plans to create 30 Dublin jobs earlier this year after raising $10.5m. I talk to Ronan Burke about the technology and the company’s ambitions.
Irish business software company Intact is creating 180 new jobs in Ireland and the UK over the next three years. The company, led by two brothers, has been growing slowly and steadily for the past 20 or more years, but following an acquisition in the UK has accelerated its growth rapidly. I talk to CEO Justin Lawless about how he plans to scale Intact into a global software brand.
Founded by John Goulding and Joe Lennon three years ago, the Douglas-based company has developed an internal communications platform to increase employee engagement. The company has since won the backing of Zoom founder and CEO Eric Yuan and is creating 100 new jobs in Cork. Joe Lennon talks about the highs and lows of entrepreneurial life and how starting Workvivo with his former colleague was a turning point in his professional life.
After recently securing a partnership with UK retail giant Asda to offer a big-basket, same-day grocery delivery service to Bristol and Leeds residents in the UK, Irish grocery e-commerce platform Buymie is opening its next chapter and is primed for international expansion. We talk to co-founder and CEO Devan Hughes about the business’s trajectory as well as his own thoughts on entrepreneurship.
Louth-based regtech player GECKO Governance is on a mission to change this. Led by Michelle McGuire, the business is part of a regional effort to develop a Fintech Corridor in the North East of Ireland. She talks about the changing fintech landscape in Ireland and addressing the gender divide in the industry.
The founders of Clare-based ClubZap Declan Murphy and Aidan Quilligan have turned their passion for sport into a business and in doing so they have made social media and e-commerce effortless and less stressful for sports clubs around the world. We talk to Aidan Quilligan about how the business grew from their local club to now supporting sports teams all over the world.
When most founders sell companies, it’s easy to imagine them jetting off into the sun. But it’s not all wine and roses and motivated founders often like to keep going. Former Irish Defence Forces officer Fintan McGovern successfully sold his business Firmwave to Taoglas and talks about what life is like after you successfully exit a business. He also talks about vital lessons in leadership that he learned in his army career that are just as relevant in business life.
Already hit by shortages of semiconductor chips, the motor industry’s supply chain woes are likely to be exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine. Bank of Ireland head of Motor Sector Stephen Healy looks at how the local sector in Ireland has been performing so far this year but also outlines how automotive manufacturers will need to adapt to the supply chain challenges ahead.
Across the world people are returning to the office with the majority of offices proclaiming they are hybrid workplaces. However, there are many different takes on what hybrid actually means and many employees are fiercely protecting the remote working routines they embraced during the pandemic. We talk to Welltel chief people officer Denise Hayes and the company’s CTO Kevin Page about putting a workable shape on hybrid.
Fast-growing Irish athleisure brand Powercut clothing has grown from zero to more revenues of in excess of €2.5m within just three years. Founded in 2019 by Irish entrepreneurs Craig Mulhall and Brónagh McKay as they worked 8am to 6pm in their day jobs before working on their passion project Powercut until 2am. As the brand flourished they focused 100% and grew the business into a global-focused player it is today. I talk to Craig about Powercut’s scaling journey, being selected by Dunne’s Stores to open outlets in its top stores, and plans to drive next-day delivery e-commerce services.
Best-selling Irish social media strategist, Louise McDonnell’s ‘2022 Social Media Planner & Guide’, is in high demand for advice and is an inspiration on how to stay fresh and relevant on social media. She talks to ThinkBusiness about building a business from the west of Ireland and why so many businesses get it wrong when it comes to social media.
Dublin firm All Human, previously known as Strata3, is behind the digital experience of many of Ireland’s biggest brands including An Post, Discover Ireland, LetsGetChecked, Energia, Irish Rail as well as Bank of Ireland. We talk to All Human’s CEO John Mitchell about how most digital transformation strategies are doomed to failure because they don’t focus enough on what consumers actually want.
San Francisco company Sendoso recently established its European headquarters in Dublin with the creation of 100 jobs. From the get-go the company said it intends to source Irish products as part of its corporate gifting catalogue and one of the first Irish businesses to transform its European scale is Rob Kearney-backed Snack Farm. I talk to Sendoso’s country manager in Ireland David Ryan, a seasoned tech executive who has masterminded entire global product rollouts for major brands like Electronic Arts’ various Star Wars games as well as building e-commerce systems for Walmart.
A mover and shaker in the Irish start-up ecosystem, DC Cahalane drank the Kool-Aid, walked the miles and wears the t-shirt. What he doesn’t know about Irish start-ups isn’t worth knowing. Part of the Trustev growth journey that saw the company sell for $44m, he established Republic of Work in Cork and today leads Dogpatch Labs’ latest First Friday partnership series with Google, Hupbspot, Microsoft and Salesforce. He talks about the future of the ecosystem.
Bank of Ireland head of Motor Sector Stephen Healy looks at the prospects for the sector in 2022 and answers key questions such as why are second-hand cars holding onto their residual values. He says 2022 will be a crucial year when it comes to electric vehicles and forecasts an eventual end to the supply chain issues that have slowed down new car deliveries.
I talk to Cork entrepreneur Pat Phelan co-founder of the rapidly growing SISU chain of wellness outlets which has just begun its expansion into the United States with outlets in New York, Miami and Texas not to mention a growing empire here in Ireland and the UK. Pat famously founded Cubic Telecom followed by Trustev which he sold for $44m. He talks about his plans to IPO SISU and grow the empire to 200 outlets worldwide.
Corporate Governance Institute co-founder Anthony Quigley already had a long career in the tech industry after leaving Microsoft to become an entrepreneur. Through various failures and successes, he kept going and struck gold with the Digital Marketing Institute and Code Academy. Now 61, he and his co-founder who is aged 71, have just raised €2m for their latest venture The Corporate Governance Institute and are creating 20 new jobs. He talks about his life in entrepreneurship and why governance and accountability matter.
Founded by Lisa Geoghegan in 2019, Sonalife is the first female-led Irish business to create community experiences in property developments. Already involved in managing community programmes in more than 2m square feet of real estate in Dublin, she talks about improving the connection between tenants and landlords and how the current generation of renters and home buyers value the experiential aspect of living and working in a development. She also talks about her plans to take the business global.
Andrew Lynch co-founded the Huckletree empire with Gabriela Hersham, building it into a major hub for scaling tech companies in hyper growth sectors. He talks about Dublin’s future as a European Capital of tech, Huckletree’s development plans for the year ahead and the role of co-working spaces as we move towards a hybrid work future.
This year Dublin-born company DataSolutions will reach the €100m revenue milestone after 30 years in business. Founder and CEO Michael O’Hara talks about his tech predictions for 2022, the journey beyond Brexit and his ambitions for the company for the future. He also talks about the Techies Go Green movement of 100 Irish tech businesses focused on decarbonising their businesses.
Founded by three dentists, Spotlight Oral Care is now one of Ireland’s fastest-growing companies and recently raised €12m to go global. We talk to one of its co-founders Doctor Vanessa Creaven about how the Galway business is going from strength to strength.
Bank of Ireland head of Motor Sector Stephen Healy looks back on 2021 and forecasts how electric vehicle uptake may pan out in Ireland in 2022, especially in light of the recent VRT changes in the Budget and the COP26 climate decisions.
Sailing champion Laura Dillon heads Waterland Private Equity Investments in Ireland, which has just revealed a €2.5bn European fund. She tells ThinkBusiness about her focus on SMEs with growth potential.
Led by Galway native Warren Healy, Clubforce is on a mission to help grassroots sports organisations keep on top of their game through its innovative club management system. Focused on global growth, the Clubforce platform is evolving into a complete sports participation system, which will transform how club members, sports clubs and their governing bodies interact with each other.
Irish-led Frankie Health reinvents mental health support for the workplace using the latest digital tools. We talk to Frankie Health’s co-founder James McGann about the Irish company’s growth plans and why employers need to pay more attention to the mental wellbeing of their most important asset, their employees.
Bank of Ireland head of Motor Sector Stephen Healy reflects on the recent measures in Budget 2022 around VRT and reliefs for electric car buyers and if these measures will help Ireland get to its aim of having 845,000 electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030. He also looks at how other countries are using policy to accelerate the shift from internal combustion to electric vehicles.
Led by Galway native Warren Healy, Clubforce is on a mission to help grassroots sports organisations keep on top of their game through its innovative club management system. Focused on global growth, the Clubforce platform is evolving into a complete sports participation system, which will transform how club members, sports clubs and their governing bodies interact with each other.
Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC) in Dublin city has revealed a new 100,000 sq ft expansion following €10m of investment. It projects 3,000 new jobs led by entrepreneurs in the next five years. We talk to Eamonn Sayers, manager of the GEC about the centre’s ambitions to be the Station F of Ireland’s entrepreneurial landscape.
We talk to Adam Oberem, co-founder of global design and digital advisory firm Lucky Beard, which is investing €1.1m in expanding its Irish operation as it gears up to help accelerate the digitisation of Irish businesses. Founded in South Africa in 2015, Lucky Beard currently employs 65 people across strategy, brand, product and experience design, with 18 already deployed in its European headquarters in Dublin. We talk to Oberem about why he chose Dublin to spearhead the company’s growth.
The Irish motoring sector has played a blinder despite the challenges of the pandemic. But all is not rosy in the sector. Head of Motor Sector at Bank of Ireland Stephen Healy addresses industry unease about potential increases in vehicle registration tax in the next Budget and the reduction in reliefs for buyers of electric vehicles at a pivotal time.
Recently named Business Person of the Month by The Irish Times, SilverCloud Health CEO Ken Cahill talks about the company’s evolution as a university and hospital research spinout to become a global business with more than 300 organisations using its digital health platform. The company was recently acquired by Amwell for an undisclosed sum, which was reported in the press to be in excess of $250m.
Head of Tech, Media and Telecoms at Bank of Ireland Paul Swift talks about the sharp increase in fraud attempts on the Irish population, focusing on the individual. Every individual and business is now in the crosshairs of cybercriminals and the recent ransomware attack on the HSE could be just the tip of the iceberg.
Drivers could save an average of 2.5 hours of commuting time every day by using a remote working location, according to new research conducted by NoCo, Ireland’s largest hybrid workspace network, and Trinity College Dublin. Not only that but 70pc of people would consider moving their home location if they could remote work. Brian Moran of NoCo talks about what the future working landscape could look like in Ireland.
With Irish-led companies like Stripe swaggering on the world stage and new Irish unicorns such as Fenergo, Intercom, LetsGetChecked, Workhuman achieving amazing success, it is abundantly clear that now is the time to get behind our indigenous businesses with the right supports and tax policy. Across the land, in every corner of Ireland, some 2,000 indigenous companies employ 47,000 people. The time for Irish tech has come. ThinkBusiness talks to Scale Ireland CEO Martina Fitzgerald about the steps Ireland need to take across a plethora of issues from EIIS to share options to R&D tax credits, the war for talent and the need for greater diversity when it comes to women-led businesses.
Banks are under pressure to innovate to secure their digital future, ensuring the right products and services for customers, at the same time battling competition from new digital challengers and defending against a surge in cybersecurity attacks. Mark Kenny, director of Banking and Payments at Expleo Group outlines the digital transformation challenge facing banks.
ThinkBusiness talks to ride hailing business Free Now’s country manager for Ireland Niall Carson about how the company resiliently weathered the pandemic storm by innovating, supporting its drivers, investing in sustainability, electrification and new mult-modal transport options and his plans for the future success of the business.
One of Ireland’s few unicorn tech giants – founded in Dublin by Marc Murphy – Fenergo has plans to grow from a $1.65bn valuation today to $5bn in the coming years by helping banks to digitally transform. ThinkBusiness talks to Fenergo’s chief strategy and marketing officer Stella Clarke about the making of an Irish unicorn.
Bank of Ireland head of Motor Sector casts his expert eye on how the sector is revving up for a stronger second half (H2) as the registration of new cars in July exceeded those of January. But the road ahead is bumpy with older cars holding their residual value, chip shortages delaying new car deliveries and electric car purchases will need to accelerate significantly if the Irish Government’s 2030 targets are to be achieved.
Google country manager for Ireland Helma Larkin talks about Ireland’s evolving digital culture, changing behaviours and increased expectations of businesses. Helma leads the team at Google Ireland that aims to help large Irish businesses grow and succeed domestically and internationally through their use of Google products. Google has committed to supporting 60,000 Irish businesses recover from the pandemic by providing free online tools and resources to businesses to help them adapt to the new normal and drive growth.
Across Ireland motor dealerships have been opening up and all eyes have been on early July sales as an indicator of a return to normal. In the first four days of July the car market was up 45pc. Bank of Ireland’s head of Motor Sector Stephen Healy charts how the rest of the year will look, the return to growth for hire-drive fleets and tackles the subject of whether Ireland has enough electric car charging points.
Recently named Business Person of the Month by The Irish Times, in association with Bank of Ireland, Gwen Layden of the Layden Group talks about her company’s decision not to charge rent to tenants of the George’s Street Arcade in Dublin who were forced to shut due to Covid restrictions. While waiving rents at the famous arcade cost her family business in terms of lost income, Layden has maintained that it would have been immoral to charge rent to her clients during lockdown.
David Kindlon’s business Eppione helps organisations leverage technology to manage HR and employee benefits. Kindlon believes the days of ping-pong tables and free office snacks are behind us. Now, employers must look to provide their workforce with tangible benefits to support their health, wellbeing and performance as the pandemic continues. Its more about access to mindfulness and meditation apps, health insurance, online coaching and more.
Sharon Jordan, managing director of Irish Travel Trade Network (ITTN) talks about the reopening of tourism in Ireland and the eventual return to international travel. Jordan has been at the fore of the travel industry for twenty years and last year took over ITTN. Admirably, she took over a new business in the middle of a pandemic, and has rejuvenated immense energy into the industry during what has been the most turbulent time in the lives of many working in the industry.
Led by brothers Kevin and Barry O’Loughlin, Nostra Systems is one of Ireland’s fastest growing indigenous tech companies and recently announced plans to create 120 jobs bringing total headcount to 270 people. ThinkBusiness talks to Kevin O’Loughlin about how the company scaled and takes a disciplined approach to growing the leadership team and empowering its workforce.
ThinkBusiness talks to Feargal Harrington, co-founder of the successful agency INTRO Matchmaking about how the company is kicking off an international expansion in the wake of a spike in demand from single people whose romantic lives were put on ice because of the pandemic. The company has seen a 60pc increase in enquiries as people prepare for a summer of dating.
ThinkBusiness talks to the CEO of Aercap Aengus Kelly, a recent Irish Times Businessperson of the Month in association with Bank of Ireland, about how the Irish company has become the biggest company of its kind in the world with more than 2,000 planes, 300 helicopters and 900 engines with its €25bn acquisition of GE Capital Aviation Services. Kelly talks about reopening the Irish economy and steering an aviation business through the turbulent skies of Covid-19 and Brexit.
Now that motor showrooms are fully reopened and we’re entering the next big sales season for the Irish motoring industry, Bank of Ireland head of Motor Sector Stephen Healy assesses how the rest of the year will play out. He also reveals how Ireland is above average globally in the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles.
Former baker turned medtech entrepreneur Suzanne Moloney, a recent Irish Times Businessperson of the Month in association with Bank of Ireland, talks about how her Galway-based business has developed a novel dressing system aimed at people suffering from the skin disease HS (Hidradentitis Suppurativa). She talks about the realities of starting a medtech business and the opportunities that await HidraMed in a global wound care market worth €23bn.
ThinkBusiness talks to Bank of Ireland’s head of Agri Sector Eoin Lowry and Sherry Fitzgerald’s associate director of Country Homes, Farms and Estates Philip Guckian about rising demand for Irish farm land. The latest quarterly review from Sherry Fizgerald indicates that while the start of 2021 was somewhat slow, activity has quickened and shortages in land for sale has fuelled recent value increases.
Huckletree and Certified Proud recently announced a partnership today which will help its workspaces become more inclusive to LGBTQ+ people living in Dublin, Manchester and London. Certified Proud's goal is to create a collective of safe spaces so that members of the LGBTQ+ community can live a life free from discrimination and unease. Many businesses are happy to raise a rainbow flag during Pride, but the LGBTQ+ community needs to know that they will be accepted 365 days a year. Liam Redmond and Eve Kerton from Certified Proud and Aislinn Mahon from Huckletree talk about building a more progressive and inclusive workplace.
Ross Scanlon and Linsey Dempsey are founders of a new globally-focused business called Sing at Work where they literally boost the wellbeing, confidence and moods of workers by encouraging them to exercise their vocal chords and breathing. It is a surprise to many people who never thought they could sing in the first place to learn. They deliver singing lessons remotely by Zoom and are preparing to bring the platform into the workplace as workers return to the office.
The unsung heroes and heroines of the Irish venture funding world – our business angels – have played a crucial role in bringing innovative Irish businesses to the next level. John Phelan of the Halo Business Angels Network reveals how the organisation is spreading its wings to create outposts in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US.
In the first four months of 2021 the Irish motor sector sold 70,000 new cars, close to 75pc of what it sold in the same period of 2019. Now, as the Irish economy opens up and doors reopen, Bank of Ireland head of Motor Sector Stephen Healy talks about how the sector is ramping up for the crucial sales season that will kick off the second half of 2021.
We talk to Barbara Sheahan, founder of Dublin-based Healthcare Compare, Ireland’s newest health insurance comparison website. The platform is unique in that it helps users identify the most suitable healthcare plan to suit their requirements and budgets through its advanced comparison tools and advice from health insurance specialists. Barbara talks about what to look out for when shopping around for health insurance.
Growing up in the countryside meant that Emma-Jane and her siblings spent most of their childhood exploring the outdoors and natural environment around them. Each night Emma-Jane Leeson’s father would tell “a story about Johnny Magory” – usually derived from the adventures herself and her siblings had gotten up to that day! Many years later, she began jotting down her father’s stories. Emma-Jane left her full-time job to pursue Johnny Magory as a business and the book series is now becoming a brand for all things children, outdoors and exploring Irish heritage and culture.
John Kennedy talks to Andrew Fitzpatrick, one of the founding fathers of Ireland’s successful animation sector. Monster handles a diverse range of programming in the area of children’s entertainment. Prior to Monster, Fizpatrick laid the foundations of the multi-million-dollar Irish animation sector when he ran the Don Bluth companies, which at its peak was one of Europe’s largest animation studios and creators of the highly popular and high grossing An American Tail. He talks about the past and future of animation in Ireland.
One of Ireland’s fastest-scaling indigenous software companies XtremePush is at the beating heart of the future of digital marketing. Founded in 2014 by Tommy Kearns and Kevin Collins, the company has been on an acquisition trail and has plans to grow internationally. CEO Tommy Kearns talks about the future of digital marketing and the realities of scaling a business in a world shaped by the global pandemic.
Bank of Ireland head of Motoring Sector Stephen Healy reveals how the electric vehicle revolution is being embraced in Ireland, accounting for 11.3pc of sales in Q1. He reveals that despite Covid-19 restrictions, overall 60,000 cars were sold in Q1 and draws a correlation between better-than-expected van sales and the rise of online shopping.
John Kennedy talks to Richie Foley, SVP of Product and Design at LetsGetChecked, the Irish company that experienced over 800pc growth year-on-year in 2020. They rose to the coronavirus challenge, shipping over 1m Covid testing kits to date and recently announced the opening of their Dublin lab to expand their testing capabilities. Richie joined LetsGetChecked from Ryanair in March 2020, jumping in at a crucial time, as the company scaled its Covid-19 testing offering. He played an essential role in all this and, as a result, can provide insight into the challenges and successes of building and scaling such a product.
John Kennedy talks to David Gluckman, author “That Sh*t Will Never Sell”, the title of which comes from his time in the drinks industry and his key role in the creation of iconic brands like Baileys as well as Kerrygold. Since Baileys was launched in 1974 it has sold more than 120m bottles a year and Kerrygold is the second biggest butter brands in America. He talks about the business of ideas and his involvement in other famous drinks brands including Sheridans, Le Piat d’Or and Aqua Libra, to name a few.
In this episode, John speaks with Paul McElvaney from Learning Pool, a Derry based eLearning platform.
John Kennedy talks with Marie Kress, head of research at Voyego’s Transport Innovation Lab where she works on creating new concepts and pilot projects within the area of Mobility as a Service (MaaS). She talks about the integrated future of mobility and transport, how we may be consuming services Netflix-style and how digitalisation is the fuel of the future of mobility.
For many people, Ed O’Flaherty is one half of a successful partnership at dental practice Seapoint Clinic. However, he is also a successful entrepreneur in the drinks business. He got involved in distilling and was a founder of the Dublin Whiskey Company in 2012, which became Dublin Liberties Distillery, when sold to Quintessential Brands. He is currently a director of Rascals Brewing Company, a craft brewery, visitor centre and taproom in Inchicore, Dublin.
Delivering close to 17 million packages in 2020, delivery player DPD is on a roll. The CEO of DPD Ireland Des Travers talks to ThinkBusiness about how digital commerce is the present and future of Irish business and how the company is focused on its sustainable future, having delivered 80,000 parcels by electric vehicles last year and with plans to have more than 160 electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2025.
We talk to Tigers Healthcare founder and CEO Karen Clince about the childcare business in Ireland and the UK and how she has weathered the pandemic and Brexit storms to be a change leader in her sector.
Dottie Schindlinger of the Diligent Institute, part of the governance giant whose solutions are trusted 700,000 board directors and leaders, talks about how organisations have transformed through the pandemic and what the future of work looks like post-pandemic.
Despite the double-whammy of Brexit and Covid-19, the Irish farming sector is in good health, says the head of Agri Sector at Bank of Ireland Eoin Lowry
In weathering the turbulent pandemic and Brexit storms, the Irish motoring sector proved its resilience and is ready for the road ahead, says head of Motor Sector at Bank of Ireland Stephen Healy.
John Kennedy talks to Self Makers founder Conor Lynch about Covid-19 resulted in a sudden career shock for many with rising levels of unemployment, temporary layoffs and, unfortunately, many businesses closing altogether. Conor’s own research indicates that 7 in 10 people are anticipating a new career move and over a third (36pc) planning to start a new venture.
John Kennedy talks to Aislinn Mahon from Huckletree and Brian Moran from NoCo about how the hubs are joining forces to serve a new working reality where 88pc of people are planning to return to the office only once a week. What does this mean for the future of work in Ireland?
John Kennedy talks to Greg Dooley about how he brought the popular board game 30 Seconds to Ireland. Due in part to the pandemic sales of the game in Ireland rocketed with as many as 30,000 sold before Christmas 2020.
Many workplaces owe their endurance through Covid and beyond to the intrinsic link that is broadband, allowing their workers to keep the lights on. Despite this, some would argue that Ireland’s broadband infrastructure is still not up to scratch. I talk to Paul Connell, CEO of Pure Telecom, about Ireland’s broadband journey and the realities of scaling a telecoms business.
Is the writing on the wall for the annual review? Because of the Covid crisis managers have had to adapt to a new way of managing their teams remotely. I talk to Frank Scott-Lennon from HR for Better Workplaces and his daughter Sinead who have authored a new pocketbook Performance Conversations, which addresses how managers can collaborate with their employees on their future and individual development through regular performance conversations rather than a once a year annual review.
Beginning life as a pure-play accountancy software business, Big Red Cloud evolved to the cloud in 2012 and today has more than 75,000 customers across the UK and Ireland. ThinkBusiness talks to CEO Marc O’Dwyer about growing his business, the importance of the cloud and what lies ahead for Irish SMEs.
ThinkBusiness talks to 256 Content CEO Karen Hesse about why content marketing is the future of marketing and publishing. 256 Content recently won three international awards at the Content Marketing Institute's annual award event. It was also identified as the CMI's agency of the year globally.
ThinkBusiness talks to Samantha Kelly, also known as Tweeting Goddess and founder of the Women’s Inspire Network, who as a single mother started and sold her first business Funky Goddess before going on to keep inspiring women founders. She talks about entrepreneurship, diversity, and social media.
ThinkBusiness talks to Barry Kennedy, CEO of Irish Manufacturing Research which operates research facilities in Dublin and Mullingar. He talks about the value for money and return on investment that Irish Manufacturing Research has delivered so far for the Irish economy, how Ireland is home to a community of amazing tier-1 manufacturers but he warns if we are not careful Ireland’s manufacturing sector faces a technology timebomb.
Google Ireland has committed to supporting 60,000 Irish SMEs as they embark on recovery from the financial impacts of COVID-19.
On this episode of the ThinkBusiness podcast, we chat to Alice Mansergh, who is the director of small business at Google, as she tells us about the Grow with Google initiative and the trends she is seeing in Ireland at the moment.
In what was its ninth acquisition Irish digital transformation agency Granite Digital recently acquired creative marketing agency Connector for an undisclosed sum and setting the firm on a road to €10m in revenues. Co-founder Conor Buckley tells John Kennedy how the company grew from a small office in west Cork to a scaled up business with offices in Dublin, Cork city and Limerick, and how Irish SMEs need to embrace the promise of digital.
A decision to expand into the UK four years ago prove to be an astute business decision for Dublin tech firm Data Solutions. Its operations there now account for 50pc of the overall business. But with a no-deal Brexit looking likely, what does the future look like for the company. MD Michael O’Hara tells John Kennedy how he intends to navigate the Brexit headwinds.
Expleo managing director in Ireland Phil Codd talks with John Kennedy about the collaboration with NearForm that saw Ireland produce a world-leading contact tracing app for Covid-19, the creation of a €100,000 fund for SMEs and why Covid-19 has been the perfect storm for businesses to embrace digital transformation.
Led by Claire Finn, Lighthouse Studios in Kilkenny is a 2D animation studio based at the Hogwarths-like building that is Kieran’s College. Lighthouse employs 165 people and is currently working on major productions including ‘The Cuphead Show’ for Netflix as well as productions for other major platforms including Warner Bros and Disney, to name a few. Finn talks to John Kennedy about Ireland’s thriving animation sector, attracting talent and growing a major animation studio from Kilkenny.
John Kennedy talks to Alan Swan, creator of Oldernotover.com, a newsletter and podcast series aimed at inspiring people in their 30s and 40s who are pondering changing career. So far, he has interviewed Jack Reacher author Lee Child and Richard E Grant, to name a few. Swan calls for a more positive attitude to ageing and career development.
John Kennedy talks to Leonora O’Brien, founder of Irish software company PharmaPod which has developed a platform to reduce medication errors for patients. Close to raising €3.5m in funding the company has created a secure application that enables pharmacists to record and share medication-related incidents and cut down on medical mistakes
John Kennedy talks to Daithí de Buitléir, co-founder of Borradh, a business network of Irish speakers from all levels and sectors of the Irish business world, locally and globally, from SME owners and directors to corporates. He explains how the filter of business in the 21st century could prove pivotal in preserving and growing Ireland’s national language and identity.
John Kennedy talks to Thrifty founder Rónán Ó Dálaigh who is leading the digital transformation of the charity shop sector, helping traditional charity shops sell everything from fashion to books in a dynamic and sustainable way. Like many sectors of business, the charity shop sector was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic but thanks to Thriftify these businesses can now serve the public online.
When it comes to golf, Ireland has a rich history in the sport – producing some of the best players in the world, including Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry.
But away the course, innovation plays a hugely important role within the game.
On this episode of the podcast, we speak to Dean Klatt, founder of Seed Golf, a Carlow-based company producing golf balls that’s popularity is rapidly growing right across the sport.
John Kennedy talks with Dr Sarah Bourke, CEO of an Irish company called Skytek whose technology is used on the International Space Station, about how Irish technology is playing a role in space exploration and how her company’s technology has a myriad of further uses, including in areas like insurance and risk.
John Kennedy talks with Tracy Sweeney, a visual artist in Mayo about the importance of fostering a creative sector in Ireland’s regions and how she has managed to cultivate a global online business selling her art.
A young Irish precision engineer one day decided to impress a girl by making her a ring. This propelled act him to becoming one of Ireland’s pre-eminent jewellery designers and goldsmiths. John Kennedy talks to Nigel O’Reilly about fostering skilled craft and artisan industries in regional Ireland and his collaborations with renowned designers and the fashion industries in Europe and New York, including making jewellery for Irish actress Saoirse Ronan.
Despite being a beginner in the world of tech, Brendan Kiely co-founded software company ThinScale in 2013 with his brother-in-law and has successfully guided the company from day one, experiencing 20pc annual growth year-on-year. He gives John Kennedy some valuable insights on entrepreneurship, scaling companies and the future of work as remote working is here to stay.
COVID-19 has has an impact on every employee and organisation in Ireland, with new ways of working being established over the last four months.
One this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Ruben Hamilius, the co-founder and managing director of Business Games, an international corporate events agency that helps businesses realise their strategic objectives through experiential and game-based learning and training.
Here we discuss Ruben's career and the importance of training employees during times of uncertainty.
John Kennedy talks to Norman Crowley, arguably Ireland’s answer to Elon Musk. As well as making his fortune from successful tech exits and a passion for driving the future of electric cars through his business Electrifi, the similarities end there. Through his global ventures Crowley Carbon and Cool Planet Crowley has a vision for a safer, greener planet and as a consummate entrepreneur has built a global business focused on reducing the carbon footprint of entire industries. He talks about his road to entrepreneurship, surviving the dot.com crash and almost selling a business for a billion dollars.
John Kennedy talks to Sarah Daly from Creative Spark, Breanndan Casey from The Mill and Thomas McEvoy from Louth LEO about how the M1 Corridor region holds the key to new ways of working in the new normal.
John Kennedy talks to Dr Rich Ferrie, director of UCC Innovation. Rich oversees GatewayUCC which has 55 spinout and start-up companies that employ 330 people full-time, IGNITE which has worked with 100 start-ups and UCC Consulting which is just about to launch.
John Kennedy talks with John Collins, one of the key investors in Ireland’s indigenous tech scene who in May experienced two exits of two companies he backed – Singlepoint and Opening.io – in just two weeks. He talks about his own entrepreneurial career and his own successful exits and why he believes in backing Irish start-ups.
Many businesses have had to pivot to stay alive. One business that has not only pivoted but that is also helping the environment is Cork-based RashR, headed by Tom Cotter, which went from making sportswear to essential face masks from plastic bottles that litter the world’s oceans.
As communities across the world begin to transition out of lockdown, Irish software company ParkOffice.io has adapted its software to ensure employers mitigate risks for employees who are commuting to offices. Its founder Garret Flower is a serial entrepreneur who has already established companies like Krust Bakery and ParkPNP. He tells John Kennedy all about his latest venture and his thoughts on entrepreneurship in Ireland.
As the Covid-19 crisis hit businesses all over the country a group of local professionals in Limerick felt they had to do something to protect the independent businesses they loved. Lean on Me, which allows the public to buy vouchers to boost the cashflow of local firms whose doors are closed but whose costs are mounting. John Kennedy talks to local Limerick solicitor Miriam O’Connor about the initiative and how it is gradually going nationwide having spilt over into Clare and Galway.
John Kennedy talks to Devan Hughes, the serial entrepreneur who never gave up. After four failed start-ups Devan Hughes created Buymie which became one of the moments of light in the Covid-19 saga as it raised €2.2m and generated 200 jobs to facilitate online grocery shopping in Ireland and the UK.
Covid-19 could change how we do business forever, ushering in new trends in retail and health and safety when it comes to social distancing and contact tracing. John Kennedy talks to Feargal O’Neill, CEO of Gamma Location Intelligence about how location data is going to be a game-changer for business.
US tech firm GrandPad is a provider of tablet devices for older people and has chosen Gorey in Wexford for its European HQ. It has an interesting business model considering the majority of its staff work remotely. John Kennedy talks to Edwina Dunne and Geoff Rochford from GrandPad about isolation during Covid-19 and how to effectively run a remote workforce.
Over the next 10 years hundreds, if not thousands, of ‘baby boomer’ business owners will be looking to retire in Ireland and pass the reins of the business on to the next generation. How well-prepared are their succession plans? John Kennedy talks to Financial Wellbeing expert Frank Conway from Moneywhizz about preparing for succession.
Online scamming has become a major issue for people buying online all over the world, be it a car, concert tickets or work equipment. Stephen Larkin spoke to Conor Lyden who is the founder of Trustap – a secure transaction platform that protects people from being scammed when buying or selling to someone they don’t know.
This is the story of Comfort4Covid, a crowdfunding campaign that has raised thousands of euros to put tablet computers in the hands of hospital and nursing home patients who cannot see their loved ones because of the Covid-19 outbreak. One of the organisers, Ciara Close, tells John Kennedy how the campaign sparked the imagination of the public and businesses and the goal is to get 1,000 tablets into the hands of patients keen to stay in touch with loved ones.
Niamh Costello from Galway Technology Centre tells John Kennedy about how the social enterprise has made a real difference and how the new AcademyWest will help scale the West’s innovation-led firms.
Shannon Group chief operating officer Ray O’Driscoll talks to ThinkBusiness about how the group plans to invest €150m over the next five years to help the Mid-West region and its industries take off into the 21st century.
National Enterprise Town Awards 2018 Rising Star Award-winning Mark Smith from the Sawmills Printworks in Kells tells ThinkBusiness about joining the dots between 1,400 years ago when the Book of Kells was created and reviving recent centuries' proud traditions of printing for future generations.
Led by John Cormican, the talented workforce at Jaguar Land Rover in Shannon is driving the future of cars and the world of transport as we know it. He talks to John Kennedy about the software-driven future of cars and how Ireland can steer this vision.
Live Tiles is setting itself up for success in Sligo and what better way to make an impact than to bring a global UN conference focused on AI for Good to boost the local economy. John Kennedy talks to Elaine Murphy and Paul Conneally about the company’s vision for Sligo, how AI can be used for good and the role Yeats and lake isles will play in the global event.
John Kennedy talks to scale up coach and author Nikolai Ladanyi from scale up Academy Europe and Paul O’Kelly from Scale Up Ireland about why we are great at starting businesses in Ireland but we need to get better at scaling businesses.
ThinkBusiness attends the National Enterprise Town Awards and talks to Marian Acremon and Deidre Shine from the overall winning town Kilkenny as well as Ann Conlon, John Mulroy and Bernard Hughes from Rising Star award committee for Castlebar.
John Kennedy interviews John Beckett about his views on entrepreneurship, building the original Ryanair website while in school and his new plan to take 250 tonnes of carbon out of the atmosphere by bringing native tree species back to Ireland.
John Kennedy interviews Rosanne Longmore, CEO of the Irish medtech start-up Coroflo, which plans to launch its groundbr-eaking breastfeeding device in late 2020. Coroflow recently raised €1m in funding as well as a €2.2m accelerator grant from the European Commission under its Horizon 2020 programme, bringing total investment in Coroflow to €4m.