Digital Irish Podcast Digital Irish

https://irishstartupweek.com/

Calling all Irish founders and New York tech enthusiasts! This episode is your one-stop shop for everything Irish Startup Week NYC 2024. We delve into this exciting event designed to bridge the gap between the Irish and NYC startup ecosystems.

First, we chat with Chris Walla, formerly of Dogpatch Labs and the mastermind behind Irish Startup Week. Chris shares the inspiration behind the event, highlights from the successful 2023 edition, and what attendees can expect this October. He also offers invaluable advice for Irish startups looking to scale in the US and make the most of their Irish Startup Week experience.

Next, we hear from Marie Toft, founder of Emotionise.AI, who attended the 2023 event. Marie provides a firsthand perspective, discussing the event's impact, the connections she made, and how she plans to leverage them to propel Emotionise.AI forward. Plus, she shares tips to help attendees get the most out of Irish Startup Week NYC 2024.

Whether you're a seasoned founder or a curious entrepreneur, this episode will equip you with the knowledge to:


Understand the vision and goals of Irish Startup Week NYC.
Learn from the experiences of past attendees and organizers.
Discover key takeaways and success strategies for Irish startups in the US market.
Gain insights on maximizing your networking opportunities at the event.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with the vibrant Irish and NYC tech communities! Tune in and get ready to take your startup journey to the next level!

Who's on today's episode:

On May 2nd we hosted “Designing Revenue: Lessons from Spotify’s Gearóid O’Rourke“, at Spotify’s incredible offices at 4 World Trade Center.

​Gearóid is a Design Director at Spotify, where he leads the team building Spotify’s Advertising Platform. Advertising on Spotify allows more that 350M people worldwide access all of Spotify’s content for free.

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irishstartupweek.com

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Irish Startup Week 2024! Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, this year’s Irish Startup Week will take place from October 1st through 3rd, featuring a curated series of public and private events designed to strengthen the bond between the Irish and NYC startup ecosystems.

Registration for Irish Startup Week 2024 is now open until July 2nd, 2024.





We’re delighted to welcome Granite Digital as our newest sponsor of Digital Irish.

Granite’s commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship aligns perfectly with our mission, and we look forward to collaborating on exciting initiatives that will benefit our members.





​​The Digital Irish Summer Drinks is a chance to network, meet new people and make connections within the Irish Tech and Digital community in London.

​​Taking place during London Tech Week, we are keeping this one agenda free to make space for quality chats over drinks. Numbers are limited to don't miss the chance to join us by registering now.

​This is collaboration with and co-hosted by Taylor Wessing, Enterprise Ireland and Sonalake!

This episode dives into the fascinating career journey of Sarah Surgenor, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.


Sarah Surgenor is passionate about changing how behavioral healthcare is accessed and discussed. A communications expert with 20 years of national and international experience, Sarah began her career working in television production and program development for Ireland’s national television station, before moving to healthcare communications. 


As Head of Communications and Fundraising for St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Sarah created the communications and marketing department and spent a decade establishing the service as Ireland’s foremost mental healthcare provider. In the US, Sarah has been a communications leader in the for profit and not-for-profit sectors. 


In her current position as the Vice President of Marketing Communications, Sarah defines and develops strategic marketing communications for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.


We explore:



Her surprising pivot from Irish television production to mental health communications.


The contrasting landscapes of mental health support in Ireland vs. the US.


Promising practices and trends emerging in mental healthcare.


Sarah's vision for the future of mental health and her own aspirations within the field.



Join us for an insightful conversation that breaks down barriers and sheds light on the ever-evolving world of mental health!


Want to get in contact? Email us at podcast@digitalirish.com

On March 26th 2024, we hosted “From Northern Ireland to the C-Suite of Silicon Valley: A Discussion With Sarah Friar” in New York City.

​Sarah Friar is Chief Executive Officer of Nextdoor where she leads a team that revolutionizes the way people connect and build community. Before joining Nextdoor, Sarah served as CFO at Square, SVP of Finance & Strategy at Salesforce, and lead software analyst and Business Unit Leader at Goldman Sachs. 

​While serving as CFO at Square, Sarah launched its initial public offering in 2015 and added $30B in market cap. She sits on the boards of directors of Walmart and ConsenSys, as well as the advisory boards of HOPE Global and the Blavatnik School of Government. She is the co-founder of Ladies Who Launch, a nonprofit that celebrates and empowers women and non-binary entrepreneurs. Sarah earned her MEng in Metallurgy, Economics, and Management from the University of Oxford and her MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where she graduated as an Arjay Miller scholar. She holds an honorary doctorate from Ulster University and in 2019 was granted an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II for services to entrepreneurship. 

​Sarah is from Northern Ireland, has lived in South Africa, and now lives in Northern California with her husband and two children.

This episode is a live-recording of the event with Sarah, in conversation with Digital Irish and CNN Underscored's Rachel Quigley.

In this episode, we delve into the thriving Irish startup scene and the role of alternative investments in fueling its growth. We're joined by Alan Merriman, the Co-Founder and CEO of Elkstone, Ireland's alternative investment specialists, who leads a team of over 60 professionals dedicated to crafting bespoke investment solutions for diverse clientele, including entrepreneurs, executives, institutions, and, crucially, the Irish Diaspora.

Unpacking the Irish Advantage:


We explore the key factors that led Elkstone to broaden its focus on the Irish market, capitalizing on its unique position and expertise.


Alan elaborates on the strategic decision to expand across all three of Elkstone's business lines, venturing beyond a single focus. We delve into specific sectors within the alternative investment landscape that hold promise and align with Elkstone's mission.



Bridging the Gap: Empowering the Diaspora:


We unpack Elkstone's commitment to forging a stronger connection with the Irish Diaspora, fostering their involvement in alternative investments.


Alan sheds light on how Elkstone measures the impact of its investments, not just in terms of economic value but also on the overall well-being of Ireland and its broader mission of enabling impactful investments.



Join us for an insightful conversation that sheds light on:


The evolving Irish alternative investment landscape and its exciting potential.


How Elkstone tailors investments for diverse clients, including the Irish Diaspora.


Elkstone's approach to measuring the impact of its investments beyond just financial returns.



Tune in and discover how Ireland is becoming a hub for innovation and how you can be part of its journey!

In this episode, we chat with Caitríona Perry, the acclaimed Irish journalist and current Chief Presenter for BBC News. Caitríona, an award-winning journalist with deep experience covering both Ireland and the United States, offers a unique perspective on the complex relationship between these two nations.

The conversation then shifts to Caitríona's experience with BBC News, a global media powerhouse. We discuss the mission and values that guide BBC's journalistic approach, and how they strive to deliver informative and engaging news for a diverse international audience.

Caitríona also offers her expert perspective on the challenges and opportunities of storytelling in today's interconnected world. She provides valuable insights on how to effectively communicate complex issues to a global audience while maintaining accuracy, impartiality, and cultural sensitivity.

Join us for a stimulating conversation that explores the intersection of international relations, media responsibility, and the power of storytelling in a globalized world.

More About Caitríona Perry

Caitríona Perry is a multi- award-winning Irish journalist.  She is Chief Presenter with BBC News, broadcasting daily from Washington DC to a global audience. She joined the BBC in August 2023 from RTÉ – Ireland’s national public service broadcaster where she was the presenter of the country’s main evening news programme and anchor of special event programmes, including leading the coverage of US elections and the visit to Ireland by President Joe Biden. Prior to that, she was RTÉ’s US Correspondent based in Washington DC where she covered the Obama-Biden and the Trump-Pence administrations, the 2016 elections and all aspects of US economic, political, cultural and sporting life. She has written two best-selling and critically acclaimed books on US politics ('In America: Tales from Trump Country' and 'The Tribe: The Inside Story of Irish Power and Influence in US politics'). She’s also worked as a broadcast news correspondent, documentary maker and a programme editor. She has reported for radio, tv, digital and social platforms from Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Australia. 



Digital Irish hosts Celebration of Irish Founders at the Embassy of Ireland in London

https://digitalirish.com/icymi-a-celebration-of-irish-founders-at-the-embassy-of-ireland/

For the first time, Digital Irish was at the Embassy of Ireland in London, hosted by Ambassador Martin Fraser. This special occasion brought together London’s Irish innovators from startups, corporates, and venture capital firms, with the aim of strengthening our community ties. At the heart of the event was a panel discussion featuring some of the city’s top Irish founders, who shared their stories and the lessons learned on their entrepreneurial journeys. We also used the event as a rallying call to action for everyone in attendance to think about how they can build a better community for all by paying it forward.