More than 200 Irish entrepreneurs, innovators and recession-rebounding business people will converge on NUI Galway’s Cairnes Business School on Saturday September 11 for the first Galway Bizcamp, a conference for networking, learning and sharing.
Bizcamp is a free event where entrepreneurs of all disciplines can learn and share experiences with their peers. Kindly sponsored by Microsoft, NUI Galway and Enterprise Ireland, the event is run on a completely voluntary basis.
Unlike other similar yet expensive conferences, Bizcamp doesn’t fly in its speakers. Instead, over 30 experienced business people are giving presentations on starting, funding, managing and promoting a business and are doing so free of charge in the spirit of encouraging entrepreneurship.
The theme for Bizcamp Galway is ‘The Power of Failure’ and will feature a panel discussion between a number of successful entrepreneurs who have faced failure in the pursuit of success. Panelists include John Concannon, Managing Director of JFC Manufacturing, Pat Phelan of Maxroam.ie and Dr. Aidan Daly, Adjunct Professor of Marketing at NUI Galway.
Moderated by Padraic O’Maille, co founder of Bizpal business mentoring, panelists will share their stories of failure and show how such negative experiences can positively contribute to a business succeeding.
Speaking ahead of next week’s event, Bizcamp organiser, innovator and entrepreneur Paul Killoran of Starlight Solutions said: “Irish people and entrepreneurs alike are often plagued with a fear of failure. This can cripple our best ideas. Bizcamp is an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs and startups to lift ourselves to a higher level of awareness. It promises to raise some interesting debate leaving delegates empowered to face mistakes with confidence and reach their full potential.”
Presentations on the day will cover a range of topics from finance and funding to stress and nutrition. Speakers on the day include:
• Adrian Devane, www.babogbaby.com on Starting a Business in a Recession
• Ina O’Mhurchu, www.socialbits.net on Beyond Facebook into the Social Web
• John McGuire, www.imeegolf.ie on Raising Finance in Silicon Valley
• Mary Rodgers, www.stateside.ie on Recruiting and Doing Business in USA
• Maggie Heylin, www.gilligansmeats.ie on Diversifying for Continued Growth
• Caelin King, www.whatclinic.com on Pricing Models and Business Dynamic
As well as being highly informative, Bizcamp is also an excellent networking opportunity and promises to be highly beneficial for those who have recently lost their jobs and may be considering a startup.
Bizcamp Galway is proud to be part of a weekend of ideas and innovation. Another event Ignite The West is happening on Friday 10 September in Galway’s new hacker space 091 Labs. This event is a fun networking phenomenon that fuses the explosive power of ideas with the West’s popular reputation for positive banter.
For more information and to view list of speakers visit www.bizcamp.ie/galway
