Con Murray, manager, Limerick Authorities; Dr Maria Hinfelaar, president, Limerick Institute of Technology; and John Hartnett, ITLG founder. Photo by Kieran Clancy
Technology start-ups seeking potential investment from some of the most skilled and experienced executives in Silicon Valley are being encouraged to pitch at the next ITLG summit, which takes place in Limerick in January.
Up to 50 companies are expected to take part in Silicon Valley-style ‘fast pitches’, where millions of euros worth of potential investment could be on the table.
The next Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) summit, called the Global Technology Leaders Summit, will take place on 27 and 28 January in Limerick.
So far, tech companies that have attended the summits over the past six years have raised more than €50m in funding.
ITLG founder and president John Hartnett said the organisation itself has invested €10m in companies, with investments ranging from €100,000 up to €2.5m in individual stakes.
“One of the real strengths of our summit is that it will bring in some of the biggest venture capital investors in the world,” said Hartnett.
“This summit will be a unique, once-off opportunity next year for technology companies to tap into the ITLG’s powerful and influential diaspora business network.
“We are looking forward to seeing Ireland’s most innovative and disruptive technologies at the ‘fast pitch’ sessions. Entrepreneurs interested in pitching for investment from the global business leaders and investors should embrace the opportunity of the ITLG Summit and get in touch with us immediately,” he said.
Among the speakers already secured for the summit in Limerick next January are Craig Barrett, ITLG chairman and former chairman and CEO of Intel Corp; Barry O’Sullivan, senior VP Cisco; Liam Casey, CEO, PCH; John Herlihy, head of Google Ireland; and Rory McInerney, Intel.
A coup for the mid-west
Securing the event was the first tangible success under a new accord signed recently by key stakeholders from Ireland’s mid-west region promising to work together to rebuild the mid-west economy.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders yesterday, Limerick Institute of Technology president Dr Maria Hinfelaar said getting the summit to Limerick was like pitching for the Olympics.
“There will not be another opportunity like this in 2014 for technology companies to secure investment or grow their business. The ITLG Global Technology Leaders Summit has a phenomenal record for partnering companies with investment and helping them win new business,” she said.
Companies interested in pitching for investment at the summit are asked to visit the ITLG website.
