Céad míle fáilte!

So, we've embarked on this grand ol' journey of bringing you the best in Irish global business and tech.

What have we discovered? Turns out, there's a whole bloody army of brilliant Irish creators out there, slingin' insightful content faster than you can say Guinness.

Here is a digital pub crawl through some of the most inspiring sources of wisdom! Instead of waking up with a sore head, you'll wake up with a head full of brilliant ideas and knowledge. Drumroll, please! 🥁🥁

Charlie Taylor: Charlie is the Technology and Innovation Editor at Business Post and has the inside scoop on all things tech. 100% worth a follow!

Gary Fox: Gary's podcast is the no.1 fireside chat with the most interesting entrepreneurs in Ireland. Grab a cuppa and settle in for a good yarn.

Conall Ó Móráin: Conall's got the gift of the gab, and he's not afraid to use it to bring you the latest business news.

Ed O'Riordan: Ed is the go-to person for all the latest gossip, job opportunities, and events in the Irish tech startup scene.

The Irish Stew Podcast: This podcast is a celebration of all things Irish, from the latest in tech to the oldest trad tunes. Like a good stew, it's full of solid ingredients and leaves you feeling satisfied.

If we have missed any good sources, reply to this email and let us know!

Alright, enough of the introductions, here’s what we have in store for you this week:

• SQUID Inks deal with Square and eyes expansion in Australia 🇦🇺

• Origina Targets Asia-Pacific Growth with New Appointments 🇨🇳 🇯🇵 🇦🇺 

• Jack O'Meara Exits Ochre Bio, Leaving Behind a Transformed Biotech Landscape 🇩🇪 🇬🇧

• The Irish companies killing it in Europe 🇪🇺

• We cover 6 Irish-affiliated startups that raised a cool €28 million in funding in the last fortnight. 🚀

• Impress your friends with five pieces of the latest Irish brain food stories. 🧠

Enjoy ☕️

SQUID inks deal with Square and eyes expansion in Australia 🇦🇺

Forget punch cards and complicated apps. Irish startup SQUID, an innovative loyalty platform, has joined forces with Square, a US commerce and financial services leader, to deliver spend-based loyalty programs to independent businesses across Ireland and the UK.

SQUID has quickly become a go-to solution for businesses in the UK and Ireland seeking to enhance customer loyalty. With over five hundred thousand users and a presence in over 2,000 locations, their platform has revolutionised customer engagement by offering a hassle-free way to increase retention. Not to mention, it is now the #1 app in the Irish Apple App Store!

The integration with Square makes it even easier for businesses to implement robust loyalty programs, attracting and retaining customers with minimal effort. This ease of use also extends to customers; signing up for a loyalty program is as simple as a single tap on their phone, eliminating the friction of traditional programs.

Founded by Matthew Coffey and Katie Farrell, SQUID gives businesses access to detailed spending data, enabling them to create highly targeted and effective loyalty campaigns.

This growth mindset is further evidenced by SQUID's recent expansion to The Netherlands and Australia, with Ella Higgins, Head of Key Accounts, leading the charge and recently relocating to Sydney. With its innovative technology, strong leadership, and expanding global presence, SQUID is undoubtedly one to watch out for in the future.

Origina Targets Asia-Pacific Growth with New Appointments 🇨🇳 🇯🇵 🇦🇺 

Irish software support company Origina is growing in the Asia-Pacific region with two key appointments, signalling its ambition for growth in this dynamic market. The company, founded by Irishman Tomás O'Leary, has hired Jay Tuckey as Head of Partnerships and Alliances for the Asia-Pacific and Japan region and Corinne Campbell to spearhead a strategic partnership with SoftwareOne A/NZ.

O'Leary, a former IBM Business Partner, founded Origina after witnessing firsthand the frustrations of businesses locked into inflexible and expensive support contracts. He saw companies forced into unnecessary upgrades, paying for services they didn't need, and ultimately losing control over their own IT infrastructure.  

Origina offers a refreshing alternative. By providing independent software maintenance and support, the company empowers businesses to keep their existing software running smoothly and securely without the pressure of forced upgrades or restrictive contracts. This approach saves businesses money and gives them the freedom to manage their IT systems on their own terms.  

With the addition of Tuckey and Campbell, Origina is well-positioned to bring its unique approach to a wider audience in the Asia-Pacific region.

Jack O'Meara Exits Ochre Bio, Leaving Behind a Transformed Biotech Landscape 🇩🇪 🇬🇧

Jack O'Meara, the Irish-born innovator, has concluded his tenure as CEO of Ochre Bio, the Oxford-based biotech he co-founded to revolutionize liver disease treatment. But this isn't retirement; it's a strategic pivot for this ambitious entrepreneur.

O'Meara's leadership at Ochre Bio has been nothing short of transformative. He secured $40 million from global investors, fueling groundbreaking research and contributing to the UK's growing biotech sector. His strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical giants Boehringer Ingelheim and GSK forged international collaborations, positioning Ochre Bio at the forefront of tackling a global health crisis: the 844 million people worldwide suffering from chronic liver disease.

O'Meara's pioneering spirit extended beyond securing funding and partnerships. He championed a new approach to drug development, utilizing "human-centric translational models" – donor livers deemed unsuitable for transplant – to accelerate the discovery of life-saving RNA therapies. This innovative and ethical approach has set a new standard for research, with the potential to impact patients worldwide.

Now, O'Meara sets his sights on the intricate world of neurology, driven by an insatiable curiosity to conquer "the next (extremely hard) thing." We are watching with anticipation. If his past achievements are any indication, he is poised for greatness! Good luck, Jack and all the best from the Irish Insights team.

The Irish companies killing it in Europe 🇪🇺

Hold on to your hats! These Irish tech companies just crashed the European Innovation Party and earned their place on the prestigious Leading European Tech ScaleUps.

• Fenergo: This regulatory tech giant, led by Marc Murphy, helps financial institutions navigate the complex world of compliance. They hit unicorn status in 2022 and are continuing to grow at an impressive pace.

• Tines: Eoin Hinchy and his team are revolutionizing software automation. Their platform empowers security and IT teams to automate tasks, freeing them for more strategic work. With a recent $50 million funding boost, Tines is poised to become a leader in the AI-driven automation space.

• Wayflyer: This dynamic company provides revenue-based financing and marketing analytics to help businesses scale. They offer a unique alternative to traditional funding models, fueling growth for ambitious companies. We are big fans of Wayfler at Irish Insights Towers; check out co-founder & CEO Aidan Corbett’s recent insightful LinkedIn post:

• Teamwork: This software-as-a-service provider offers a comprehensive project management and collaboration platform. Their tools are used by businesses of all sizes to streamline workflows and increase productivity.

• Butternut Box: Co-founded by Irishman Kevin Glynn, Butternut Box is disrupting the pet food industry with its fresh, healthy dog meals. They've tapped into a growing demand for high-quality pet nutrition, and their success shows no signs of slowing down.

..and there you have it! These Irish-affiliated companies just casually strolled onto the European tech scene and snagged a coveted spot on the LETS ranking—no biggie; just another day at the office for these innovators.

💰 That money was just resting in my account…

A massive congratulations to the Irish-affiliated businesses that have achieved an impressive total of €28 million in recent fundraising victories 🥂

🛠️ Lynked Loyalty (Founders: Scott Flanagan, Shane Boyle) raised €500K in seed funding to help businesses create and manage digital loyalty programs effortlessly. Investors: Enterprise Ireland. More info

✈️ Datalex (Founders: Neil Wilson, Steve Metzler) empowers airlines to be global digital retailers, reaching over a billion shoppers, with a recent €25M post-IPO equity raise. Investor: Dermot Fachtna Desmond. More info

🌍 TripAdmit (Founders: Andrew Kelly, John Maguire) offers an integrated platform for tour operators to sell online, backed by €1M in venture funding from DataOp and Thomas Jones. More info

📲 Imvizar (Founder: Michael Guerin) brings history to life through location-based AR experiences, securing €1.5M in seed funding. Investors include Enterprise Ireland and Delta Partners. More info

📝 Contenseo (Founders: Aiden Murray, Stephen Conmy) simplifies copyright licensing with its exchange platform, raising €390K in pre-seed funding. Investor: Enterprise Ireland. More info

🔬 Marama (Founders: Brendan Darby, Matthias Meyer) develops UV-Vis spectroscopy tech to analyze turbid samples, recently obtaining a €280K grant from Enterprise Ireland. More info

🧠 Brain Food

Here is your quick serving of Irish Insights-related wins, trends, events, media and resources that we think you’ll enjoy digesting 🍽️:

🍔 Conor Sheridan Founder and CEO at Nory - Transforming Hospitality with Tech LISTEN HERE

💳 Stripe co-founder John Collison has said the firm has chosen to remain private and resist calls for an IPO READ HERE

📈 LinkedIn Top Startups 2024: The 10 Irish companies on the rise READ HERE

⚕️ How AI Can Help Bring Health Care Equity to Women READ HERE

🎯 Propel Your Brand into the Spotlight: Six Marketing Tips for First-Time Entrepreneurs READ HERE