“Inspire Ireland” is an initiative designed to stimulate new business in Ireland. Following on from the hugely successful inaugural Irish Executives Summit held in Galway this September, Irish businesses at home and abroad have offered €150,000 worth of in-kind business services to the top three entries.
The project was initiated through the voluntary efforts of “Irish Executives Network”, a 3.5-year-old LinkedIn group, with over 8,000 members in Ireland and abroad, dedicated to networking Irish business interests both at home and abroad.
“We are using our LinkedIn group and our newly announced online collaboration platform; Irish Executives TV, to make something tangible happen which will make a real difference in Ireland” said Pascal Derrien of Microsoft Ireland and a member of the Irish Executives’ Leadership Team.
Generosity, collaboration and idea sharing are the key principles behind the initiative. It is a message to the community about the power of pulling together for the greater good of Irish business.
“We have simply asked our members who have managed to get their businesses up and running to now offer their products or services to support someone else, it’s simple but very effective,’ said Barry Walsh, MD of People Development Co, Kinvara, Co Clare a member of Irish Executives who initiated this project.
The winners can self-select from a range of products and services listed. Irish Executives’ goal is to share skills and resources to create at least one profitable business for the Irish economy.
The competition is open to anyone with a business idea that will help. A simple online application form is available on www.irishexecutives.com Seven finalists will be chosen by the end of November and each will present his/her idea live on Irish Executives TV on December 12 next.
Irish Executives is a 8,000 member virtual network on LinkedIn, the social media site for business people. Since its inception in 2008 by Galwayman John Keogh, a range of online comments debating the business affairs of Ireland has stretched from Ballsbridge to Bangkok and back again.
The aim of the group is to share knowledge and expertise and to link the Irish Diaspora with the Irish executives in Ireland to promote Ireland and bring business back home where possible.
The Irish Executives LinkedIn group invites new members to join the group at any time to build a large strong membership for the benefit of the Irish economy. Email [email protected] for more information on the ‘Inspire Ireland’ competition today.