Americas

Regional Winners from around the globe headed to
Dublin in November

Enterprise Ireland congratulates the five finalists in the Silicon Valley IBM SmartCamp final(below). IBM’s SmartCamp is a global program being held in seven cities around the world in 2010. The program culminates with one selected company from each city being invited to SmartCamp week in Dublin (Ireland) in November. There one will be named “The World’s Smartest Start-up”.

Enterprise Ireland is keen to talk to high tech entrepreneurs who are interested in setting up part of their business in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland is working with IBM and will be delighted to welcome the winners to Dublin for finals week in November.

Final winners will be offered an Incentive Package to give them the opportunity to spend 3 months in Dublin to explore the advantages of setting up a part of their business in Ireland. The package includes financial support in the region of €20,000 and a mentor support programme provided by top class highly experienced entrepreneurs and business people and access to incubation space.

Check back with us on Thursday afternoon as we feature video presentations of each of the finalist below. Read the rest of this entry »

Published September 8th, 2010 by admin in Archive, Awards, CleanTech, Consumer, Consumer/Retail, Digital Media & Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Programs/Events, SmartCamp, Software/Services, Telecom/Mobil | Post a Comment »

Dublin Web Summit 2010
http://www.vimeo.com/14479692

Bobby Chang is the co-founder of Incase, co-founder of BackNine Studios with Steven Soderbergh on the board, and former advisor to Nike’s Global Brand and Image Group. Incase are the world’s leading supplier of Apple accessories and related products. Incase have been the product of choice for Apple at their point of sale online and retail for over a decade. In recent years, Bobby has played an active role in helping to develop indigenous enterprises in Africa, as well as working on a range of other philanthropic activities with his new venture he co-founded called HEAL Together.

Published August 31st, 2010 by admin in Archive, Consumer, Digital Media & Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Events, InfoSecurity, Programs/Events, Software/Services, Telecom/Mobil | Post a Comment »

This morning Graduates 4 International Growth (G4IG) was launched by Minister Batt O’Keeffe.

The aim of the Graduates 4 International Growth initiative is to assist clients in acquiring future business development capability for their companies. 50 Graduates with potential to be the next generation of business development executives will be matched with 50 ambitious internationally trading companies and provided with a structured means of applying new skills in business development.

Graduates 4 International Growth (G4IG) is 18 months in duration, with participants based 6 months in their company in Ireland and a minimum of 12 months in an overseas market working on a specific company project. During the 18 months participants will also undertake a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Growth with UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School developing practical international business skills.

Further information and company application forms are now available on the Enterprise Ireland website and also available for download here.

Published August 31st, 2010 by davidsmith in Aerospace, Agri-Food, Archive, BioPharma, CleanTech, Consumer, Consumer/Retail, Digital Media & Entertainment, Economic, Education, InfoSecurity, Job-Internships, Medical Technology, Software/Services, Telecom/Mobil, hospitality | Post a Comment »

DATE ANNOUNCED!
Friday, November 12, 2010 | Microsoft Campus, Mountain View, CA

50% OFF: 25 Early Bird Tickets Released! Under the Radar has been recognized as the most important startup showcase and deal-making forum in Silicon Valley.

REGISTER NOW

APPLY TO PRESENT! to be one of startups from around the globe to hit the stage and connect with potential partners, customers and acquirers….

Deadline: Preferred consideration will be given to companies nominated before July 31, 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

Published July 19th, 2010 by davidsmith in Archive, Consumer, Consumer/Retail, Digital Media & Entertainment, Economic, Events, InfoSecurity, Programs/Events, Software/Services, Telecom/Mobil, VC | Post a Comment »

Quarterly Venture Breakfast with Pillsbury Winthrop and PricewaterhouseCoopers
Consumer Internet
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Register today

For many years, VCs shied away from consumer deals…too hard to predict consumer whims…big marketing budgets usually required…hard to build a brand. With the wild success of some consumer plays (e.g. Amazon, eBay, Google), now many VCs do consumer plays and some even focus on them. Now there are thousands of consumer plays, angling for a bigger share of eyeballs, wallets, and advertising revenues. Are there still big consumer plays or is the field already saturated? Who will be the winners and losers? Come hear our panelists answer these questions and more as they discuss the consumer landscape and how they expect their companies and others to navigate it.

Agenda:

8:00am-8:30am – Registration and Breakfast

8:30am-8:45am – Introductions

8:45am-9:00am – Overview

9:00am-9:45am – Panel Discussion Read the rest of this entry »

Published July 8th, 2010 by davidsmith in Archive, Consumer, Economic, Events, Programs/Events, Software/Services, Telecom/Mobil | Post a Comment »

Introducing a new dynamic in group socializing, Ellickson International recently debuted the innovative but “why-didn’t-someone-think-of-this-sooner” Draft Master™ beer dispensing system that allows customers to pour their own beer at their table when they choose.  The Draft Master beer dispensing system — available as a four-tap system for fixed installation or a two-tap mobile system — is an extension of the pitcher concept but enables bar owners to offer a new fun dynamic to groups with remote monitoring and control.

Ideal for bars, restaurants, bowling alleys or themed entertainment venues, Draft Master couples roundtable enjoyment with bartender/server management via Ellickson’s patented software and touch-screen management system installed behind the bar and integrated with the venue’s Point Of Sale (POS) system. Draft Master is particularly suited to groups on nights out and to those watching sports events in bars with the facility to run up to four separate taps on a table.  Patrons simply provide a credit card in advance, are seated at a Draft Master table, they may choose to set a drink or monetary limits and then serve themselves at their leisure.

In doing so, patrons enjoy colder, fresher beer at their own pace and venue managers benefit from a new marketing tool to attract more groups but also reduce waste, improve server efficiency and better control.  The quality improvement is enabled by Draft Master’s patented gas-management system that provides better consistency to the beer.
Read the rest of this entry »

Published June 25th, 2010 by admin in Archive, Consumer, EI Client News, Software/Services, hospitality | Post a Comment »

Irish company and Enterprise-Ireland Americas client Openet Solutions recently announced the roll-out of a flexible data payment system for Apple’s iPad on a major US carrier, believed to be ATT, according the Irish Times.

Openet, is the leading provider of Transactional Intelligence for the world’s largest and most innovative network service providers. The recent announcement confirmed that a Tier 1 North American wireless operator has successfully deployed a comprehensive solution set from Openet that enables the operator to monetize the market-leading tablet device, Apple’s iPad.

With the Subscriber Initiated Provisioning and Service Pass solutions the operator is able to sell ad-hoc and recurring data plans to iPad customers, enabling subscriber initiated provisioning of data access by volume of data usage and duration; thus meeting demand for flexible, personalized service offerings.

Read the rest of this entry »

Published June 17th, 2010 by admin in Archive, Consumer, Consumer/Retail, Digital Media & Entertainment, EI Client News, InfoSecurity, Software/Services, Telecom/Mobil | Post a Comment »

10CMS the market leader in ‘’Rich Interactive Merchandising’’ space are set to go live in the US this Summer. Customers on the platform include Tesco, L.K.Bennett, Heal’s, A|wear, Dreams, Kiddicare.com, and Anthropologie and Jimmy Choo (pictured below, right).

10CMS is Irish headquartered with offices Cork, London and NYC.

10CMS’ technology was developed to dramatically increase customer conversion rates and revenues for the retail sector. It enriches the online user experience and encourages greater customer interaction. Additionally and most importantly, 10CMS can be deployed quickly, easily and at a low cost to ensure that retailers can respond instantly to consumer trends, seasonal and key promotional activity. The technology reduces online merchants’ production and content management costs by 80% over today’s solutions.

“We put our success down to a clear understanding of what drives sales for retailers like Tesco and L.K.Bennett,” said Fergal O’Mullane, co-founder, 10CMS. ‘’We have spent a long time looking at what the end users of online retail want and increasingly expect. We built our software to ensure that the quality and usability is delivered again and again. We are having an incredible year, working with over 40 leading retailers and we project this to grow to well over 100 by the end of the year. We have recently established a great foothold in the US, working with renowned brands such as Vince, Jimmy Choo, Lily Pulitzer and Waterford Wedgewood and are now planning to set up a permanent office on the East.” Read the rest of this entry »

Published June 11th, 2010 by admin in Archive, Consumer, Consumer/Retail, EI Client News, Economic, News Press, Software/Services | Post a Comment »

Awareness of the importance of using sun creams and sun blocks has grown but there is still some confusion about which creams to use and how often they need to be applied.  A study published in the Archives of Dermatology states: “Sunscreen users are only applying 50 percent of the recommended amount, so they are only receiving 50 percent of the SPF protection.” Because of the need for liberal application, expensive sunscreens can be dangerous to your skin’s health; after all, how likely are you to liberally apply a really expensive sunscreen! According to the cosmetics guru and beauty writer Paula Begoun ”there are brilliantly formulated sunscreens in all price ranges, expensive definitely does not mean better when choosing sun protection creams”

It is dangerous for your skin not to have UVA protection and many sunscreens do not have ingredients that can provide true full-spectrum (both UVA and UVB) coverage. In most countries, including the U.S. and Canada, there are no numbers to tell you about protection from UVA radiation. For that protection you have to check the active ingredient list to see if either zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone (which may also be listed as Parsol 1789 or butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), Mexoryl SX, or Tinosorb (Tinosorb is only available in products sold outside the U.S.) If one of those isn’t part of the active ingredient list (it doesn’t count if it is just part of the regular or “other” ingredients) you are not applying adequate UVA protection and that is dangerous for your skin.

The SPF number does not tell you anything about a product’s quality. The SPF number is just a time limit number. A sunscreen rated SPF 2 blocks about 50% of UVB rays; an SPF 10 filters out about 85% of UVB rays; an SPF 15 stops about 95%; and an SPF 30 stops about 97%. An SPF that’s higher than 30 does not provide any more UV protection, it just offers more time that you can stay in the sun without burning.

One company has come up with a new product that offers an innovative way to deal with some of these sun bathing problems. The Cush’n Shade® provides a comfortable cushion and 50+ UPF (ultra violet protection) shade for your face and hair. No longer do you have the hassle of having to cover your face with a towel or baseball cap to protect you from the ageing effects caused by the sun.  The shade can be angled as the sun moves around to provide full shade, all day and attaches to any lounge chair for use by the swimming pool or in the garden.  Sunbathe in complete comfort while the head is supported by the cushion; allowing you to read in complete comfort. The unit is extremely light, robust, and portable and disassembles so it can slip easily into a suitcase.  Cush‘n Shade® is being launched exclusively by Bed Bath and Beyond this summer where sales have been impressive and  is now set to become the latest ‘must have’  summer accessory in the US. It offers retailers a unique new line bringing incremental sales to their business and makes for an exciting ‘ in and out’ in store promotional item during spring/summer months.

The suntan continues to have appeal as a physical attribute and as a symbol of health, associated with success, travel and a healthy outdoor lifestyle. Stronger bones, a better immune system, protection from some cancers, lower blood pressure, clearer skin, and a healthier brain . These are just a few of the apparent benefits of vitamin D. Vitamin D is made by our bodies and it requires sunshine. The problem is, we’re just not getting as much sun as we used to and consequently not enough to make the vitamin D our bodies need. We spend too much time indoors, and when we do go outdoors, we’re using sun block, which blocks the ultraviolet rays that create vitamin D. Exposing skin to sunlight presents both health risks and health benefits so what we need to do is to find the safest way to avail of this natural resource.

Published June 8th, 2010 by eoin in Consumer, Consumer/Retail, EI Client News | Post a Comment »

New initiative will build on historical and cultural ties

Dublin, Ireland, May 18, 2010: A delegation of Irish publishers will arrive in New York City next week on a mission to captivate American readers and build trade ties with local publishers.

The delegation consisting of representatives of Ireland’s leading publishing houses, and supported by Publishing Ireland and Culture Ireland, will be promoting Irish literature and publishing at the annual BookExpo America (BEA) in New York, from 25 to 27 May. This will be is the first year that Ireland has an official presence at America’s largest book trade fair.

The delegation will also host a networking event in association with Culture Ireland and the Irish Consul, at the Consul’s private residence in New York City on Tuesday, May 25th. Eminent Irish American business people, US publishers and a number of literary figures will attend the event.

“Literature and writing are some of Ireland’s most successful exports, and we are hoping this initiative will help Irish publishers to benefit from our country’s rich cultural output,” said Jean Harrington, President of Publishing Ireland.

The island of Ireland has made a disproportionately large contribution to the world of literature, producing some of the 20th century’s greatest writers, including James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, George Bernard Shaw and Seamus Heaney.

“Despite the fact that Ireland continues to punch well above its weight in the world of literature and writing, Irish publishers have yet to see significant sales in the US,” said Ms Harrington.

She added that even though Irish publishers nurtured the talents of, and published early works by renowned Irish authors such as Maeve Binchy, Roddy Doyle, Colum McCann, ColmTóibín, Joseph O’Connor, Eoin Colfer and Neil Jordan, British publishing houses ultimately reaped the dividends of their international success.

Ireland has strong historical and cultural ties with the US – over 36 million Americans claim Irish ancestry and St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in dozens of cities and towns across the US. Ms Harrington said these links provide an impetus for increased trade contact between Irish and American publishers.

A number of Irish publishing houses have already established successful partnerships in the US; recent successes include: Little Brown acquiring Celine Kiernan’s Moorehawke Trilogy from the O’Brien Press and St Martin’s Press purchasing rights in Ken Bruen’s break-out Jack Taylor novels from Brandon.

Jean Harrington, President of Publishing Ireland, is available for interview. Contact Gert Ackermann on +353 86 176 9287, or email gert.ackermann@gmail.com.

Published May 19th, 2010 by eoin in Archive, Consumer, EI Client News, Events, News Press | Post a Comment »