Ireland Inc. Let’s just do it!
I’ve previously grumbled about the lack of support in Ireland for Web based companies. Heck, Enterprise Ireland doesn’t even have the word ‘Internet’ in the ‘Industry sector’ section of their application forms for grants etc. What does that tell you?
[Update, the point I'm making is that 'Internet' 'digital based companies aren't getting the independent support they deserve in Ireland. This has nothing to do with Enterprise Ireland]
If you’re interested in helping me improve the ecosystem for the Digital Industry in Ireland, please join me for dinner in January. This is not just about having a conversation over dinner, people will need to contribute in some way, even if only to help open doors.
This won’t be a bitching session for individuals with gripes. It’ll be a proactive and positive discussion to move things in the right direction.
I intend to setup a new non-profit independent association. I will propose 12 Executive Directors, 1 Chair and up to 5 Advisors. I will not automatically qualify for any of the seats. Everything will be open and transparent. I will of course, put myself forward for the position as Chair, so if you like what I do for BIMA then you’ll give me your vote 
We can only fit so many people around one table where everyone can have an equal say. So I will be forced to restrict the final invitations to something manageable. I’ll consult the people I know and trust to ensure we get good representation at the table.
The invitation is open to Academia, Government, Investors, Lawyers, Entrepreneurs, Corporations such as Microsoft, Adobe and Google, and anyone else with a vested interest in helping improve the system. This invitation is only extended to Enterprise Ireland if its board commits to taking away action items.
Damien Mulley and Fergus Burns are coming so far. Please leave a comment if you’re interested in coming. Normally I wouldn’t care how you get in touch, but on this occasion I want everyone to see who’s interested. Silence means you’re not interested.
Some sponsorship to cover expenses and to help get this off the ground would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you can help.
Date in January yet to be decided.
[Update, since writing this post I've had at least 6 private messages on Facebook which lead me to believe that I've given the wrong impression about my intentions. The association I have in mind has nothing to do with Enterprise Ireland or fund raising. I probably shouldn't have mentioned them in this post. Sorry for any confusion caused]
74 Responses to “Ireland Inc. Let’s just do it!”
Leave a Reply
That’s true Michele
But apparently they do get people to pay for their one day courses.
John – that will very much depend on the members who are based outside of Dublin. It’s not only down to a Chair or Executive team to do all the work. The idea is to be as inclusive as possible by also working with regional bodies/associations/organisations and members.
A new association won’t be for everyone. That’s fine. I’m interested in collaborating with those that see the value. This isn’t a debate about whether something will be setup or not. It’ll be a discussion about ‘what’ such an association will do and how it will do it.
I’ll be out of the country from the 16th until the 25th …
Paul,
Sorry for not replying to this sooner.
Thumbs up to this initiative. I support it and – schedules permitting – I’d love to attend such a dinner.
However, I should point out that prior commitments would preclude me from taking an executive role in the current year. I’m already on the executive committee of a national industry organisation (radio producers).
So yes, I’d love to be there, but if someone who can offer more can attend, do give them priority. And if there’s anything else I can do, let me know.
Regards,
Conn
Paul,
As I said earlier, I’d love to attend but given the response, I think you’re probably going to have to limit numbers so (as conn said) if someone who can offer more can attend give them priority.
I don’t mind sitting in the lobby with jmcc on the other end of an OnlineMeetingRooms connection.
Name: Bernard Goldbach
Company: Tipperary Institute http://www.tippinst.ie
Position: Creative Multimedia Programme Developer
Contribution: Connections to European Framework initiatives designed to enhance collaboration in among creative European developers.
Happy to come along.
Newish in Dublin, relatively senior information architect, designed lots of international systems and sites. Eager to see how things are churning along.
Got a date and place?
Paul,
I’d be very interested in attending.
Steve Flinter from Science Foundation Ireland (www.sfi.ie). I have responsibility for all of the software related projects/centres that we fund, including DERI (semantic web) and many others.
If you’re not familiar with SFI, it’s a sister agency of IDA & EI.
Steve
Niall Larkin, Founder of RelevantM.
Sounds like an initiative badly needed. Its good to get everything out in the open in a transparent way so we know what we are dealing with. I could represent someone reluctant to engage with EI because I’ve heard some (admittedly highly biased) horror stories.
Eoghan McCabe, MD of Contrast, founder of FoldSpy, founder of new Dublin-based startup (in stealth), founder of new Dublin-based non-profit (in stealth) and organiser of bi-weekly Dublin OpenCoffee events. Want my CV too?
Would love to come along, Paul. Sorry for not following-up earlier.
Hi Paul – as I mentioned, I will probably be in America for this, depending on the date, but I’d like to register my interest anyway. I am a co-founder and CTO of Glandore Systems, based in Cork.
Good luck with this Paul. If you can carve a niche for it then welcome.
In spite of my interest in the sector my involvement with the IIA precludes me from spending time on anything else. Which does not make much difference to this because there is a fine body of entrepreneurs and others expressing an interest here
keith
@Keith – what, if anything, do you think is missing in Ireland regarding the Interactive/Digital Industry? Your involvement with the IIA puts you in a unique position. The IIA can’t cover it all obviously, as it’s focus is the ‘Internet’.
@Everyone – Keep an eye on the blog for further details but pencil in now, the 29th of January. I can block off the entire upstairs of Jaipur restaurant in Dublin village so we can squeeze up to 34 in a ‘networking type setup’ where everyone can see everyone. Can someone please pass this onto some of the big agencies and brands to ensure we get as many stakeholders involved as possible?
Paul,
I think I’m going to graciously bow out of this one. I’d love to sit on a panel and discuss the future of the Irish web industry, but I think that I’m not yet in a position to provide a voice where others don’t.
I’ve spent a lot of time and effort this year meeting so many people and the first Curry 2.0 was the catalyst, the motivation for that. I plan to continue to do so this year and to give back to the community as much as I can. I feel that I do need another year to develop.
Best wishes and the very best of luck to all involved, I’ll be watching from the gallows, my spirit commended!
Paulo
Ooops – I deleted my comment. Here it is again word for word. Sorry!
@Paul – just to be clear, it’s not a panel. It’s a group of people who represent each stake holder within the Interactive Industry. It’s not startup related like the networking ecosystem debate and it’s not about helping companies to secure funding.
Take a look at http://bima.co.uk – whilst what I have in mind isn’t as heavy as BIMA, it should provide you with a little insight to what I have in mind.
Each stake holder =
- Student
- Graduate
- Freelancer
- Technology Provider
- Agency
- Brand
- Government
- Academia
So, whilst you might not wish to make this, I personally don’t think you need a year before sitting at the dinner table
Each of the above should have an equal say regarding the future of the Industry. Hope that makes sense. I’ll post a proposed agenda along with my thoughts – people can provide feedback on that prior to dinner.
Hi Paul,
Count me in, I’d be interested in heading along also, I’ve some contacts in Universities here & the US, also we do work for some Ad & Marketing/Branding agencies, I’ll send the message out to them also.
Cheers.
Qamir
@Qamir – thanks for passing this onto your contacts, much appreciated!
Paul,
Please include me if space allows.
Background: Entrepreneur, 5 years a VC with Trinity Venture Capital, currently interim CEO at AePONA.
Regards,
Brian
hey Brian
Congrats – when did you make the move? And should’nt you put the Aepona link instead of Putplace – or am I just old fashioned
keith
Hi Paul,
I would be happy to participate. My profile is at
http://www.linkedin.com/in/alexboothroyd.
Cheers,
Alex
Hi Everyone, just in case the trackback doesn’t work, I’ve published a new post with a confirmed date, time and venue. Luckily we’re very close to full compliment without exceeding it, so we don’t have to ‘invite’ people.
Please would you take the time to RSVP even if you’ve previously registered your interest. Only the first 33 to RSVP will be able to attend. Please let me know if you RSVP and then later realise you can’t come. Thanks.
To RSVP your place, please go to this blog post http://tinyurl.com/yor4vc
Hi Paul
I think what you propose is a great idea. The IIA has tried to cover this area but our primary focus is on the internet space and resources are always an issue for us. One option I propose to you is that this new entity could be linked to the IIA in some way, rather than a completely new entity. We could provide a ready audience, infrastructure, back office support and other elements.
We have been reasonably successful in running quite a number of events nationally and I think the appetite certainly exists for what you propose. As a not for profit organisation I believe we can assist you in your goals.
Let me know if this is of interest. Of course, if you decide you want to go it alone I will endeavour to assist in any way possible. At worst I would be happy to discuss some of the challenges facing a not for profit organisation in Ireland.
Cheers
Fergal
Always interested to see development in this space. Note that the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) are due to set up again in Ireland in the next few weeks. This was originally set up by me and some others around 1999 but ended up merging with the IDMA in 2002 and then kinda got lost somewhere. Keep me posted re the meeting.
Best of luck with it
damian
Damian – Good luck with IAB Ireland. It’s an association I know quite a lot about. In fact, I was going to setup IAB Ireland after discussing it with IAB Europe but thought better of it for numerous reasons. The main reason was that I didn’t
feel comfortable runningwant to run an association that was ‘directed’ by its members; namely Google etc. Don’t think for a second that I’m having a go, I’m not. There’s a place for IAB to help its members generate more revenue from advertising. My passion is for helping ‘industry’ move forward.Will IAB Ireland concentrate on industry best practices? I know it’s something it’s not particularly good at in the UK. There’s little to nothing for mobile Internet advertising either.
My experience running BIMA (British Interactive Media Association) gives me great insight to all of these industry associations. In the UK, BIMA is the longest established (1985) and importantly, represents the interests of every stakeholder.
Keep an eye on the blog for updates as I’ll post everything here.