📮The DIA Dispatch

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Welcome to The DIA Dispatch! #1

I'm excited to finally launch this newsletter for the Digital Irish Abroad (DIA) community. It's been a long time coming, but I'm glad I’ve finally taken the plunge.

I've been thinking about launching DIA since the COVID-19 lockdown when I first purchased the $9.24 domain, but since then I spent too much time agonising over the perfect logo or website design.

I've finally realised that “perfect is the enemy of done”, so I'm focusing on getting the proper habits and processes in place so that I can learn and improve DIA as I go. As well as doubling up as a great excuse for my semi-dyslexic ramblings.

In Dispatch #1, I'll share a little bit about DIA origins, and what to expect from the regular newsletter before diving into the best content in the last few weeks! Including a very strange coincidence in Thailand that forms the basis of the Deep Dive section at the end of the newsletter. 🤔

Digital Irish Abroad Origins

I've been fortunate to work with and get to know hundreds of impressive Irish people and companies who are doing amazing things abroad.

In recent years, the newsletter, blogging, and podcasting world has exploded. I've always wondered why there isn’t a dedicated newsletter to share and promote the achievements of Irish people and companies around the globe. After all, there are so many of us:

What to Expect

Now that you are a fully-fledged subscriber of DIA, what does that mean? I have tried to distil what Digital Irish Abroad is all about into three mantras, which I hope you get familiar with over the months and years ahead:

Alongside the mantras and silly memes, The DIA Dispatch newsletter will focus on these pillars to keep you informed on what’s happening within the DIA community:

It’s been an incredibly busy few weeks since drafting the first edition, so let’s get into it:

News from home ☘️

• Herdwatch acquires Kingswood Computing [RTE] 🇮🇪

The Irish agritech has acquired Kingswood Computing, a software development company that specializes in animal health and traceability. Herdwatch is active in 17 countries across four continents.

• Vaultree: Cybersecurity Visionary Recognized as 2023 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer [Yahoo] 🇮🇪

Vaultree's two-year membership in the Technology Pioneers community provides collaboration opportunities with other leading technology companies and can contribute to global discussions.

• TikTok Youth Council news [NBC] 🇮🇪

TikTok has announced the launch of its new Youth Council. The council will be chaired by Cormac Keenan, Head of Trust and Safety at TikTok based in Dublin.

• US semiconductor firm AMD to create 290 jobs in Ireland with €135m investment [Independent] 🇮🇪

AMD, an American semiconductor company, has announced plans to create 290 jobs in Ireland. The new jobs will be created at AMD's manufacturing facility in Leixlip, County Kildare. The investment is worth €135 million.

• Galway AI firm Galvia strikes global HR software deal with Talentguard [Think Business] 🇮🇪

Galvia's AI-powered infrastructure services and automation will help companies predict voluntary employee turnover and talent retention. Galvia has worked with the largest companies in the world, including Nestlé and Atos.

News from abroad 🌍

• Binance recruits OKX's former marketing executive Rachel Conlan [Financial Express]  🇦🇪

Binance, a global cryptocurrency exchange, has appointed Rachel Conlan as its new Vice President of Global Marketing based in the UAE. Conlan was previously the Global Head of Brand and Partnerships at OKX.

• HRduo sets up in UK [RTE] 🇬🇧

HRduo, a recruitment agency that specializes in placing candidates in the technology industry, has set up a new office in the UK. The new office will be based in London and will focus on recruiting candidates for tech jobs in the UK and Ireland.

• Meet the Irish woman who started her own baby formula company—in 2022, it brought in $84 million [CNBC] 🇺🇸

Laura Modi is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bobbie, who just announced a $70m raise, which is being used to acquire cult brand Nature's One.

• Leading Artists Tapped By SYKY Digital Fashion Incubator [Forbes] 🇺🇸 

NY-based SYKY was founded and led by Irish tech pioneer Alice Delahunt. Her digital fashion platform allows users to create and share their own digital fashion designs.

• Irish Man at The Centre of America’s Oldest Bank [American Banker] 🇺🇸

Last month they released second-quarter results which topped analysts' expectations with profits of $1 billion for the three months ending June 30, announced by Dermot McDonogh.

Fundraising Highlights💸

• EdgeTier's AI customer service software raises €6 million [EU-Startups]

The round was led by Smedvig Capital with participation from Enterprise Ireland and angel investors. EdgeTier is a Dublin-based company that was founded in 2015.

• Irish start-ups win funding from Horizon Europe EIC accelerator [Silicon Republic]

Four Irish start-ups have been awarded funding from the Horizon Europe EIC accelerator. The funding (€18 million) will be used to help the start-ups develop and scale their businesses.

• Shell And Idekapital Invest $90MM in Oslo’s Kongsberg Digital [Rig Zone] 🇳🇴 

Shane McArdle, CEO of Kongsberg Digital, said that the investment was a "significant milestone". The funding will allow Kongsberg Digital to "continue to innovate and deliver leading-edge software solutions to our customers."

• StrongBó Agritech secures €750k to transform weighing process in beef industry [Tech Funding News] 🇳🇿

StrongBó's device uses a combination of sensors and artificial intelligence to weigh livestock remotely. The funding round was led by NZ-based Gallagher, a global leader in animal management solutions.

• Mesh Raises €1.55 Million in Investment Round [Enterprise Ireland]

The funding will be used to further develop Mesh's unique email security platform and expand its global presence. The company plans to create 40 new jobs over the next four years, with 75% of those jobs being based in Ireland.

• Irish start-up Outmin raises €2 million and bags itself a(i) swanky new CTO [Tech.eu]

Outmin, an automated accounting and bookkeeping platform start-up based in Dublin, has raised €2 million in a recent round. Outmin plans to break ground into new markets as it makes a bid for the UK and North America.

• Digital Learning Institute raised €1.8 million to teach digital skills globally [Irish Times] 🌎

DLI secured funding from the Davy EIIS Fund, Enterprise Ireland, and private investors. Founder John Kilroy said the investment will create 10 jobs and support DLI's international expansion plans, with a particular focus on the US 🇺🇸 and UK 🇬🇧.

Founder Focus 🔦

Dylan McDonnell, Founder at Foodini

Location: Sydney, Australia. Originally Kerry, Ireland

Stage: Seed (October 2022), Early-stage VC Antler led the round, with participation from 10 other investors.

Company Description:

The Foodini app matches people with a variety of dietary needs with restaurants that can serve them, from gluten-free to lactose-intolerant, allergies, vegans, FODMAPers and more. Dieticians combine with the platform’s tech to review restaurants and menus to give a breakdown of what they can eat at each venue. Foodini now has thousands of venues and customers across the globe and is closing on its Series-A round to supercharge global growth.

Foodini’s Origin:

Dylan was diagnosed with coeliac disease when he was 10 years old. He struggled to find gluten-free food in restaurants in the early 2000s. When COVID-19 hit, he had a lot more spare time on his hands and began exploring the idea of side hustling. After a lot of hard work, Dylan decided to leave his law career and go all in with Foodini.

What Does it Mean to be an Irish Founder Abroad?:

Being a founder is challenging wherever you are in the world. However, I have come to the realisation over the last 24 months, that my "unfair advantage" is actually the fact that I am Irish.

The Irish expat community is already globally renowned for being the most supportive globally, and all Irish people can resonate with being supported/supporting other Irish people when they move abroad. My experience as an entrepreneur has been no different, in that Irish people in Australia and the US have gone out of their way to support me and Foodini in any way they can.

Some of the most senior execs in the biggest companies in the world are Irish, and I am always slightly shocked at their willingness to give their time to the next generation. Simultaneously the support from family, friends, and former colleagues from home never ceases to amaze me.

So in summary, in my opinion, leveraging your Irish network abroad has the potential to open so many doors that people from other countries simply don't have - take advantage of it!

Deeper Focus 💡:

• Dietary needs app Foodini raises $700,000 pre-Seed round to go national

• Shirts of Startups: the human stories of inspiring founders - Foodini

The Deep Dive 🤿 

The Irish Are Taking Over the World (of Newscasting)

The Irish are known for being great travellers. With a canny ability to deeply immerse ourselves in the cultures and institutions of the countries we inhabit. Why do you think so many American presidents claim their Irish heritage?

At the other end of the globe, Irish success stories abound in Australia, from AFL legend Jim Stynes to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce making it to the top of their adopted country’s “establishment”.

More recently, I unintentionally uncovered a modern example of how the Irish are projecting our soft power onto the world.

While on a trip to Thailand, I was surprised to see that four, yes FOUR of the international news channels I watched had Irish news reporters. (It rained a lot ok 😅☔)

So who are these international correspondents helping to promote Ireland as a modern, progressive country, while at the same time showcasing the dulcet Irish accent to the world:

Donie O'Sullivan, Correspondent at CNN, New York - 🐦 (@donie)

Donie O'Sullivan is a CNN correspondent covering the intersection of politics and technology. He has had a meteoric rise to fame, with several Late late show appearances and even a dedicated rte documentary on his story: Capitol Man.

O'Sullivan was born in Cahersiveen, County Kerry, Ireland. O'Sullivan has reported on a wide range of stories, including the 2020 US presidential election, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol. Leading to being named one of the "Top 30 Under 30" in media by Forbes magazine.

Most recently he had a high-profile tiff with Elon Musk, resulting in a temporary ban on Twitter:

Catherine Murphy, Journalist at ABC News, Australia -🐦(@CathMurphySport)
Catherine Murphy is a sports presenter for ABC News and News Radio in Australia. She is originally from Cavan, Ireland, and began her career in the sports department of Ireland's national broadcaster RTÉ. In 2006, she moved to Australia to work with Fox Sports, and in 2018 she joined the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission, their version of RTE or BBC).

Catherine has covered a wide range of sports during her career, including the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, and the FIFA World Cup. She is also a regular presenter of ABC Radio Melbourne's Breakfast and Drive programs and more recently the ABC News Breakfast, their flagship morning show. In a short space of time she has become one of the most recognizable and charismatic reporters in Australia:

Meabh McMahon, European Affairs Correspondent at Euro News, Brussels - 🐦 (@MeabhMcMahon)

Meabh is currently the European affairs correspondent for Euronews. She began her career as a reporter in Valencia, Spain, before moving to Brussels to work as a video journalist for EUobserver. In 2014, she joined France 24 as the Brussels correspondent, where she covered breaking news around the clock.

McMahon is known for her in-depth reporting on European and is a fluent speaker of English, Spanish, and French. Most recently she hosts 'Bruxelles, je t'aime?', Euronews' weekend talk show in English & Spanish. Here she is interviewing some of Monaghan’s top entrepreneurs.

Tadhg Enright, Freelance Journalist, BBC and Euronews, London - 🐦(@TadhgEnright)

Are you really on holiday unless the BBC World Service is shown in your hotel room?

Tadhg is currently a presenter of business bulletins on the BBC's award-winning News Channel as well as the Business Live programme on BBC World.

Born in Dublin, Ireland Tadhg graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in economics, before starting his career as a reporter for RTÉ News. He has accumulated 20 years of experience in broadcast news and is a proud Gaeilgeoir. Keep an eye out for him on your next work trip or holiday!

These Irish journalists are making a significant contribution to the global conversation, and they are helping to ensure that Ireland's voice is heard around the world. Do you know any other journalists abroad that are flying the flag for Ireland 🇮🇪, let us know.

Thanks again for reading Dispatch #1! Any feedback? Or are any areas you want to be covered? Reply to this mail - I respond to every message.

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