Olan O'Sullivan

💫 Welcome to Zngly's Feel Good Friday - Stuff we think is cool!!! Your weekly mix of technology, innovation, and inspiration, a celebration of the people, ideas, and stories shaping the week. This week we’re coming to you live from the Dublin AI Summit, huge shout-out to Google, The Business Post, and Deloitte for hosting such an inspiring event. Charlie Taylor - you rock! Shout out to all my new connections this week, links to content in the comments below 👇 Our theme this week? Finding Your Voice. From human-centred AI to music, storytelling, and leadership; these are all about people using their voice to make a difference. 👩‍💻 Blog of the Week Kate Warwick, brilliant writer, marketer, and creative shares her latest piece on how to make AI content sound more human. Practical, thoughtful, and essential reading for anyone who writes, markets, or builds. Check out and connect with Kate on LinkedIn. 🎓 Get Involved Dr Lollie Mancey Leader at UCD Innovation Academy, highlights new AI legislation in California and the importance of joining the AI for Ireland movement. Because responsible innovation starts with participation. 🌟 Spotlight on Innovation Máirín Murray, founder of TechFoundHer, launches a new membership program supporting female founders and tech entrepreneurs. Fabulous, vital work; amplifying women’s voices in innovation. 🎙️ Podcast of the Week A special one, it's me!!! in conversation with Pat Flynn MBA - "Fail fast and succeed sooner" on A Coffee With My Therapist to talk software, synthesisers, songwriting, and the power of YES. A shot of positivity for the weekend. Thank you so much Pat - legend!!! 🎶 Music Pick Meet Muireann Bradley, a young blues artist from northwest Ireland whose debut album I Kept These Old Blues is pure gold. Raw, soulful, and full of heart. Proof that real voices never go out of style. 🧘 Wellbeing Pause. Breathe. Try the 10-minute meditation for beginners; your reminder to slow down, switch off, and recharge. 📅 Where We’ll Be Next Week Zngly joins Cavell online event on the role of agentic AI in customer experience, hosted by Finbarr Begley. CX, AI, and the human touch, topics close to our heart. ✨ That’s your Feel Good Friday mix. Technology, creativity, and connection; told through the people using their voice to shape what’s next. For more stuff like this, and adventures in AI give Zngly a follow. If this left you inspired: 👉 Subscribe to the Feel Good Friday newsletter for your bi-weekly mix of podcasts, culture, innovation, and ideas that make you feel good. #FeelGoodFriday #Fintech #AI #Innovation #Wellbeing #Technology #B2B #Sales #Marketing

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Delighted (and slightly alarmed 😅) to hear my own voice back on this! Thanks to Dave Byrne and the team at Digital Irish for having me on. I spent a good bit of time in the US over the years, so I’ve seen first-hand how valuable Digital Irish is for founders trying to build and navigate things stateside - thanks to all involved for all you do for companies. We covered everything from venture investing at Delta Partners VC to what actually matters when backing founders (and possibly a few opinions I should have kept to myself…). If you’ve 30 minutes and an interest in startups or how VCs actually make decisions, have a listen below!

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AI In the kitchen is useless if it asks your staff for more work. I joined mark kelly on the AI Ireland podcast to discuss why we took the "hard path" of Zero-shot AI and plug-and-play design. Most people look at the technical "flex." We looked at the operational reality. If a system adds even 5 seconds of friction to a busy service, it's just more noise in a loud kitchen. We built for high adoption because a tool that isn’t used is just expensive shelf-ware. Technology should work for your staff, not the other way around.

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📨 This Week in Irish Startups: 🌾 Irish-Founded Agri-Biotech Raises $8.1M Series A 💡 Guide: Funding Supports for Impact & Social Enterprise Founders 🤖 Startup Raises Seed from Frontline Ventures to Build "OpenClaw for Founders" 🔒 2026 Guide to VCs Investing in European Cybersecurity Startups 🎨 Craicathon: Build Irish Language & Culture Projects 💼 SaaStock Local Dublin: Boundless Co-Founder on Bootstrap to Acquisition 👥 Virtual Masterclass: Forming a Startup Founding Team 💰 Dublin SaaS Startup Hiring Finance Director 🎥 Intercom Hiring Senior Video Editor 🧠 Cork HealthTech Hiring Senior Software Engineer #IrishStartups #TechNews #Funding #Jobs #Innovation Igor Toma Joe Gorman Anthony Mills Alexander Theuma David Umpleby Jovi Piñon Kevin Kirwan John Roche Mark O'Sullivan https://lnkd.in/dDA-PcyP

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We’re delighted to share that Talio has been accepted into the Global Launch Silicon Valley programme, delivered by 500 Global in partnership with Enterprise Ireland. This programme brings a handful of Irish startups into the heart of Silicon Valley to accelerate growth, build relationships, and expand into the US market. For us, this comes at an exciting time. We’re seeing strong demand from ingredient suppliers and consumer brands who want earlier signals on where markets are moving and how to connect, and the US is a key part of that journey. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be working alongside the 500 Global team and other founders, both online and in San Francisco, to sharpen our GTM strategy and deepen our presence in the US. We’re grateful to EI for the opportunity and excited for what’s ahead. 🇺🇸 If you’re based in the US and working in food, beverage, or ingredients, we’d love to connect while we’re out there. Dervla McCabe, Michael ODea, Killian McMahon, Katrin Zlobina , Ciaran O'Connor

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Too many Irish business owners are stuck in the day-to-day "quicksand" instead of growing the business they envisioned. Blueprint is TAB’s AI-powered strategic platform designed to get you back in control. Our latest white paper shows you how to: ✔️ Align your team so everyone’s pulling in the same direction. ✔️Track the metrics that actually move the needle. ✔️Build momentum toward your long-term goals. Stop spinning wheels and start scaling smart. Download the Blueprint here:  https://lnkd.in/gXiriMyT     #tabboards #businesscoaching #blueprint

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Anyone looking to found a start-up in the near future, take a look at this, as it could be a great starting place...

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🎯 Build your prospect list instantly — in 3 simple steps. With GeoAddress Online, you can search, filter, and download high-quality address and building data across Ireland in minutes. No integration. No delay. Here’s how: 1️⃣ Select your area 2️⃣ Filter by building or property type 3️⃣ Download your list Perfect for planning campaigns, verifying data, or targeting new customers. Start now 👉 https://lnkd.in/e8QZEjkV #GeoDirectory #LeadGeneration #LocationData #AddressValidation

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Everyone says 'AI will change GTM' but few can tell you how. I recently went to SaaStock Dublin to ask Sales and Revenue leaders on the front lines what’s working for their teams today. Their answers might change your Q4 plan. Watch here 🎯 Glyphic #justglyphic #gtm #pipeline #salesops #revops

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According to CPL, "There is a Rise of The Limited Company: Self-employment via Company Structures. Ireland experienced a near record high of limited company registrations in 2025. Preliminary data from the CRO indicated around 25,000 new companies incorporated in 2025, a 5-6% increase on 2024. Layoffs and slower hiring for experienced talent into permanent roles across the industries have propelled a significant number of individuals to start up their own business. These company set-ups are very different to the larger funded startups in the US, with most providing individual professional services and technology consulting services into the pharmaceutical, IT and financial services industries. This points to interesting dynamics across the industry where there are continued skills shortages, pressure on internal costs, slower market dynamics that is pushing both organisations and talent into these alternative structures of employment. This growth is reflected now in the mainstream by the concept and growing use of the term “Fractional Leadership” which connects with some of the predictions indicating that contingent workforce models could reach higher growth figures than in previous generations" Redundancies! I have been on both sides: ↳ Redunancy management. ↳ Being made redundant. It is all part of the job and process, mostly, one we can't always control. The truth remains that even as a leader, you can't control what businesses decide to do. However, you MUST acquire skills AI can't replace like: → Communication: ↳ speaking, writing, presentation, listening. → Leadership: leading self and others, including projects. → Critical thinking: ↳ intellectually disciplined process of actively analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to guide belief and action. → Relationship building: ↳ people and businesses buy from who they like and trust. → Trust: ↳ say what you mean and mean what you say. The Clients come back then. → I dare say sales: ↳ when you build a company, you have to sell. And more. Most importantly, save your money. ↳ The money you save now can save you if the unplanned happens. ↳ Investing is also a good idea - learn more yourself! What has been your experience in the market? Trying to land your next opportunity due to redundancy. DM for my framework. ♻️ Repost to help others. 🔔Follow Mojisola Obazuaye, Chartered FCIPD for all things HR, Career and Leadership Coaching, and Motivation for Success.

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Scaling a startup is not just about speed; it’s about sustainability. Many Irish businesses experience rapid growth but struggle to maintain financial control. Without strong processes, growth can lead to inefficiencies and increased risk. Sustainable scaling requires structured financial systems, disciplined cash flow management, and forward-looking planning. At Kiamina Accounting Services, we help startups build the financial resilience needed to grow with confidence and control. #KiaminaAccounting #StartupScaling #SustainableGrowth #IrelandStartups #FinanceStrategy

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🔺 End of week reflections 28.03 📞 Six new conversations booked. Prospecting push is paying off — six calls lined up over the next couple of weeks with TA and People leaders. The pipeline is moving and Q2 is shaping up nicely. 📰 March Irish Tech Round-Up is live. 25 stories from across the Irish tech ecosystem this month. Funding rounds, hiring moves, AI developments, and more. Check it out in my recent posts if you haven't already. 🛠️ Building StackReady by TA.guru. Been heads down building a gamified learning platform for tech recruiters. The idea: help recruiters actually understand the tech they're hiring for. It's live and taking shape — more on this soon. 📊 Talent Trust Gap report is published. Our candidate survey on attitudes toward AI in recruitment is out. Some really interesting findings on what candidates actually think about AI being used in hiring. Drop me a message if you want to see it. 🔥 Q2 momentum is real. I'm feeling it in Ireland and definitely in the UK. More urgency in conversations, people moving faster through processes, and a general sense that hiring plans are actually becoming hiring activity. If you've been sitting on the fence about your TA setup, the market isn't waiting. In LDN 🇬🇧 for the weekend for some downtime and chill Looking ahead: conversations, conversations, conversations. If you're thinking about embedded TA support, coordination, or getting more from your tech stack heading into Q2 — let's talk ☕

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After many years trading as Leacon BI, I’m delighted to announce that the business is now operating under a new name: Business Insights Ireland 🌐 businessinsightsireland.ie 📧 johnconroy@businessinsightsireland.com The new name better reflects what I actually help businesses do every day. I work with SMEs across Ireland to turn business data into clear, practical dashboards and reports that support better decision-making. Most businesses are still relying on spreadsheets, disconnected systems, and manual reporting processes. My focus is on bringing all that information together into one live view of the business — helping owners and managers clearly understand their sales, margins, costs, and overall performance. Using Microsoft Power BI, I help businesses: Automate reporting Replace spreadsheets with live dashboards Connect finance, sales, CRM, and operational data Save time on manual reporting Gain clearer business insights Make faster, more confident decisions The rebrand marks the next step in the business and better represents the direction I’m taking going forward. A sincere thank you to everyone who has supported me so far — clients, colleagues, and connections. I’m excited for what’s ahead. #PowerBI #BusinessIntelligence #DataAnalytics #SMEs #BusinessDashboards #Ireland #DataDriven #MicrosoftPowerBI

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Some of the great Irish and Irish co founded startup fundraising news I came across this week. • Imprint — $150m Series D at a $1.2bn valuation, becoming Ireland’s latest tech unicorn. Led by Daragh Murphy. • Sequence — $20m Series A to build AI agents for finance teams. Founded by Riya Grover, Eamon Jubbawy & Enda Cahill. • Iconic — $13m seed round for an AI-native, voice-driven gaming platform. Led by Andrew Bowell. • ORRECO — $4m raised with backing from Mark Cuban. Led by Brian Moore PhD. • CapRelease — £27m raised in a combined debt & equity round. Founded by Jack W. & David Nangle. • Baseline Community + Fund — €4m first close for Ireland’s founder-backed pre-seed fund. Led by Eamon Leonard & Fiona Kelly. Big rounds, strong international backing, and Irish founders building at serious scale. Quietly one of the most interesting funding weeks we’ve had in a while.

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“Do we want to sit back and let Amazon and Google take that prize?” Manna Air Delivery is looking to grow internationally but it is under fire at home. Founder Bobby Healy tells me in The Currency today drones are coming and wants his Irish company to lead the way, not a global tech giant. Article is free to read here: https://lnkd.in/esp6CTqT

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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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A lack of funding and cash flow is the number one reported Start-Up killer💀 The Irish startup ecosystem offers various supports. Here are some of the main ones🇮🇪 It's not just a collection of grants; it's a tiered system designed to guide a founder from a raw idea 💡 to a global contender 🌍 But to succeed, you have to know which door to knock on and when. This isn't about finding free money. It's about understanding the "why" behind each funding source. The Funding Ladder: From Local to Global 🚀 * Step 1: The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) - The First Mile. This is your entry point. Think of LEO grants (like the Priming Grant) as non-dilutive capital. You can access up to €150,000, with typical grants around €80,000. It’s crucial for preserving your ownership in the critical early stages. * Step 2: Enterprise Ireland (EI) - Fueling Global Ambition. When you're ready to tackle international markets, you "graduate" to Enterprise Ireland. Their support is aimed at High Potential Start-Ups (HPSUs). A key lesson for founders here is understanding the Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF). It’s a Convertible Loan Note (CLN), not a grant. The investment is €50,000 or €100,000, which converts to equity later at a discount. The Strategic Trade-Off: Grants vs. Equity ⚖️ The decision to take grant money or private investment from angels and VCs is a fundamental one. * Grants are for slow, methodical growth. They preserve equity but require rigorous applications and often a slower pace. * Equity financing (from groups like HBAN or VCs like Frontline) is for rapid, high-growth ventures. Angel networks, like HBAN, facilitate investments that average over €250,000 per deal. They give you larger capital injections and access to invaluable networks, but you sacrifice ownership and control. Beyond the Cash: The Ecosystem of Support 🤝 Don't just look for money. Look for the entire package. Programs like the New Frontiers Programme offer a tax-free stipend of €15,000 and a comprehensive support package valued at over €40,000. These networks are how you build credibility and get investor-ready. A possible Action Plan: * Start Local: Engage with your LEO first to secure non-dilutive capital and build a solid foundation. * Understand the Instruments: Know the difference between a grant and a Convertible Loan Note to make informed decisions about your company's equity. * Leverage Networks: The true value of the ecosystem is in the people, not just the money. This is a long game. Play it strategically. ♟️ Want more info? 👇 * Find your local LEO and its grants: https://lnkd.in/ez765Q7c * Explore Enterprise Ireland's funding: https://lnkd.in/eTZ6qY7i * Connect with Angel Investors via HBAN: https://www.hban.org/ * Learn about the New Frontiers Programme: https://lnkd.in/eE5A-r_H Enterprise Ireland Enterprise Ireland's New Frontiers programme HBAN Local Enterprise Offices

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Most Irish SMEs don’t need more people…they need more capacity. I joined Valenta last year with a simple goal: to make AI and automation genuinely accessible for Irish SMEs. Since then, it’s been so busy and rewarding - that is me relaxed and taking a breath the evening before an event we sponsored in the Aviva! Barry Lee and I have had lots of conversations with business owners who know things need to change, but want practical solutions that don’t disrupt teams or require big budgets. For SMEs, sometimes what works best isn’t large transformation programmes. It’s small, focused automations that remove friction, free up time, and help people focus on higher-value work. Real impact. Built around people. #SMEs #Leadership #Automation #AIinBusiness #BusinessGrowth #HumanCentredAutomation #Valenta

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