Kieran Walkin

The National Enterprise Hub has made it easier for Irish SMEs to access funding, advice, and support. Since launching, it’s helped over 6,500 businesses and attracted 220,000 users by streamlining access to over 250 government supports. The top grants availed of by businesses to date through the Hub have ranged in value from €3,000 to €7,000. Read more from Conor O'Donovan Head of Start-Ups and the National Enterprise Hub in the Irish Independent https://shorturl.at/AaObT

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This one is for any Northern Ireland-based SMEs & entrepreneurs wishing to improve productivity through more effective use of AI. AwakenHub along with #TechNIAdvocates will deliver their #ActivateAI pilot for 30 participants between December and March, funded by the UK Tech Cluster Group’s Regional Booster Programme. This initiative is designed to empower founders and businesses across Northern Ireland to embrace artificial intelligence, increase productivity, and scale their businesses. If you’re a founder or SME and you know that you could turbo-charge your business productivity by embracing AI but you’re not yet sure where to start, then this is for you. Expect from our programme the usual AwakenHub mix of practical help and superstar speakers leading the sessions within a fabulous & inclusive community environment. 👇 Apply below by 7 November to be part of Activate AI - https://lnkd.in/eZcgNdun (Image by AI of course! Applications open to everyone) Matrix, The Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) NI Chamber Russ Shaw CBE Martin Spiller John Ferris North West Regional College (NWRC) David Crozier, CBE Ulster University

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Enterprise Ireland's Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) offers early-stage Irish startups €50,000 or €100,000 in funding via a Convertible Loan Note (CLN) to help develop products, build teams, and reach key milestones needed to secure future seed investment. The fund supports startups with global potential, helping cover operational costs, product testing, and skill development. The Irish BICs (Business Innovation Centres) provide hands-on support throughout the application process. Monthly webinars are available to guide applicants, with the next one hosted by Propelor BIC on Sept 16th Click here for more info https://lnkd.in/ejP8g9jP and here to register for this webinar https://lnkd.in/ens4QCzi

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How do we make Ireland the best place in the world to start, run and exit a business? This is a question I have started asking all my guests. Let's face it, Ireland has work to do if we are to retain our talent and attract back those who have already left. Eamon Leonard wrote a superb piece here on LinkedIn recently about the Irish ecosystem. Go read it, he knows what he's talking about. I'll link below. We need to focus on value creation. Ireland is at a tipping point. We are massively leveraged on FDI and have neglected people who want to build meaningful indigenous businesses here. Show me your incentives and I'll show you your outcome. Incentivise founders to build, sell and build again. Let me know in the comments what ONE thing you would do today. Paul Buckley gave me four superb examples of things we can implement immediately from lessons he's learned from Australia and the US.

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Quick thought on supporting startups in Ireland. We talk a great game, but the infrastructure tells a different story. Today, I saw the registration for an upcoming industry conference about a critical topic for Ireland's competitive aspirations by a state funded body. - Standard Ticket: €220 - NGO/Charitable Body Ticket: €110 - Student Ticket: €50 Early-Stage Startup Ticket: ...Doesn't exist. For a bootstrapped or pre-seed startup, €220 is not just the ticket price. It's a day of a founder's time away from building, coding, or selling. It's a significant barrier to entry. I personally know three founders who would have attended to learn and network but were priced out. I am a strong advocate for not going to events as a founder but the potential to network in Ireland on these industry critical issues is frankly rare. If we want to foster a world-class innovation hub, we need to ensure the most innovative players, the startups, are actually in the room. A simple "Startup Founder" ticket would be a start. #IrishTech #Startups #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Ecosystem #Accessibility

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11 solid quarters of growth, and counting! This morning's announcement where we shared revenue growth in the second quarter of 2%, and a rise in EBITDA of 5% year on year, is a clear reflection of the strength and consistency of eir Ireland's strategy. We remain firmly committed to building Ireland’s most advanced telecommunications infrastructure, combining the nation’s largest fibre network with 99% 5G mobile coverage to deliver world-class connectivity to homes and businesses. Our fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network, the largest in Ireland, is now available to over 1.4 million homes and businesses. This milestone means that approximately 3.6 million people across the country can access high-speed, full-fibre connectivity, reinforcing Ireland’s position as one of Europe’s most digitally connected nations. We have also reached 99% nationwide 5G coverage, with mobile network traffic rising 65% year-on-year. The rollout of more than 850 new mobile sites and fibre backhaul to 1,300 locations has significantly improved speed and capacity, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Building on our first-to-market launch of WiFi 7 in Q1, this quarter, we introduced 5 Gigabit (5Gbps) fibre broadband service, setting a new benchmark for speed, performance, and reliability in Irish homes and businesses. This new standard in performance and reliability comes at a pivotal moment as we accelerate the transition to full fibre, ensuring Ireland’s digital infrastructure is future ready. I'm proud that with every quarter we’re building stronger networks, providing better services, and connecting for a better Ireland. #eirforall

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