Digital Irish Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Elena Levine, Founder and CEO of Forcoda and the newly launched Forcoda Ventures. Elena has spent over a decade building a US-based product and engineering agency from the ground up as an immigrant founder, shipping more than 200 projects for enterprise clients including M&T Bank, Shake Shack, Oral-B, and the University at Buffalo — while also helping startup...

Digital Irish podcast celebrates Irish innovation and the Irish startup ecosystem: connecting founders, investors, and innovators across Ireland, the diaspora, and beyond. Each episode features candid conversations with VCs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders sharing the real story behind building companies: the setbacks, the playbooks, and the lessons you don't find in press releases. Whethe...

In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Tallon, a Partner at McCann FitzGerald, one of Ireland's leading law firms, where his practice focuses on emerging companies, venture capital, and M&A. Stephen trained in Ireland before spending almost a decade in London at Orrick, a global firm with deep roots in Silicon Valley, where he worked on some of the biggest deals across Europe and the US...

Marty Loughlin is back for round two. Where the first conversation was about why Irish founders think globally, this one's about what actually happens inside the room. Dave and Marty get into how DIVF makes decisions, what they do after the cheque is written, and some pretty blunt advice for any founder preparing to raise. Marty Loughlin is a partner at the Digital Irish Venture Fund (DIVF), t...

In this episode, we sit down with Marius Smyth of the Digital Irish Venture Fund (DIVF) for a follow-up to our earlier conversations with Marty Loughlin. Where Marty walked us through how DIVF picks founders and the realities of pitching the fund, Marius zooms out to the layer underneath: how DIVF is building the Irish diaspora into a working venture ecosystem rather than relying on it as a goodwi...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael O'Loughlin, Managing Partner at Argonautic Global, to get into the practical realities of Irish companies entering the US market. Michael has spent two decades working across banking, payments, regulation, central banking and venture capital — with experience spanning Ireland, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. Before his current role, he s...

Marty Loughlin from the Digital Irish Venture Fund joins Dave to unpack what makes Irish founders default to global markets from day one, why Ireland punches so far above its weight on founder output, and what the next wave of Irish startups crossing the Atlantic means for the US-Irish business ecosystem. If you're an Irish founder thinking about scaling internationally, or anyone curious about wh...

This is the second episode in Digital Irish’s Venture Capital and Fundraising Demystified series: designed to pull back the curtain on raising capital for Irish founders and give you the confidence to walk into any funding conversation knowing exactly what’s on the other side of the table. In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy Harper, Partner and Director of Investments at ERA — the Entrepreneu...

This episode is the first part of our series designed to demystify venture capital for Irish founders — pulling back the curtain on how VCs really think, what they look for, and how to build relationships with them long before you ever need to raise. In this episode, we sit down with Amy Neale, Delta Partners, one of Ireland’s most active early-stage venture capital firms. Amy works closely with a...

This podcast episode is a featured highlight from our live Digital Irish webinar. To see the full presentation, including the technical deep dives and audience Q&A, watch the video here connect.digitalirish.com In this episode, we’re cutting through the noise of AI experimentation to look at what it actually takes to get a model into production inside a global enterprise. We’re joined by Conor...

How are leading founders actually using AI day to day? In this episode of the Digital Irish Podcast , we’re sharing highlights from the first session in our Practical Artificial Intelligence series — focused on real, hands-on experiences with AI from people building and using it right now. Our guest is Sean Blanchfield — Irish entrepreneur behind Demonware and Phorest , and founder of his latest v...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Kelly, a true digital pioneer and veteran of the media and AdTech landscape. For more than two decades, he has been at the front edge of every major wave in media, marketing, and technology, building, scaling, and transforming high-growth companies across the U.S., UK, and Ireland, including giants like AOL, Time Warner, and The Weather Company. As co-foun...

This special episode takes you behind the scenes of Irish Tech Week — from the 17 Irish startups who flew into New York to a sold-out conference day at Civic Hall — and brings you conversations with the founders, supporters, and partners behind it. As a bonus, we introduce a new recurring segment to help you stay plugged into what’s happening across the wider Irish startup ecosystem. Featured Gues...

The Morrison Legacy Foundation: https://morrisonlegacy.com/   In this episode, we uncover the remarkable story behind the Bruce Morrison Legacy Initiative, a project honoring the groundbreaking visa program that gave tens of thousands of Irish immigrants the chance to build new lives in America. Our guest, Elaine Brennan, shares how the initiative began, why preserving these immigration stories ma...

The Morrison Legacy Foundation: https://morrisonlegacy.com/   In this episode of the Digital Irish Podcast, we explore how curiosity, experimentation, and a single bold decision can shape an entire life and career. Feargal O'Sullivan — founder and CEO of USAM Group Inc ., and a Morrison Visa recipient — shares his remarkable journey, from arriving in New York with no money and few plans to bec...

In this episode of The Digital Irish Podcast, we sit down with Alan Crabbe, founder of FrontCover.io, a cutting-edge fintech solution transforming digital memberships in the entertainment industry. Alan shares the inspiring story behind FrontCover.io, born from his experience with crowdfunding for live music in Melbourne. He discusses the platform's unique features, its value proposition for venue...

In this episode of The Digital Irish Podcast, we sit down with Alan Costello, one of the earliest employees at Afterpay, to uncover the inside story of its incredible journey from a small startup to a publicly listed, multinational business. Alan shares his firsthand experiences navigating the highs and lows of startup life, the challenges of rapid scaling, and the near-shutdown during the COVID-1...

In this episode of The Digital Irish Podcast , we explore the growing global reach of Irish innovation, with a special focus on Australia as a key hub for Irish businesses and professionals. Digital Irish Australia is a chapter dedicated to fostering collaboration between the two nations, and in this episode, we sit down with Kian Jackson and Stephen Mullen, the dynamic leaders behind this initiat...

This week we chat with John Hill, VP of Story at Whop (whop.com), about building community and driving impact at scale. We explore his journey from LinkedIn and Techstars to Whop, and the personal influences behind his drive. Key Discussion Points: Whop's Mission & Impact: John shares his excitement about Whop's mission to enable sustainable income and discusses the company's rapid...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Sophie Colgan, the host of the popular podcast "Navigating New York." Sophie shares her personal journey to the city that never sleeps, discussing the allure, challenges, and rewards of living in New York City. In this episode, we delve into: Sophie's Personal Journey: Learn about Sophie's motivations for moving to New York and the uniq...

In this episode of Digital Irish, we dive deep into the world of New York City real estate with Sara Kennedy, a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson with the Noble Black & Partners Team at Douglas Elliman. Sara, a fellow Irish expat and a member of the Digital Irish Board, shares her invaluable expertise on navigating the NYC market. We cover: Understanding the NYC Real Estate Landscape: Different...

In this episode of the Digital Irish Podcast, we delve into the world of US immigration with Fiona McEntee, a leading immigration attorney and founder of McEntee Law Group. Fiona provides guidance on navigating the complexities of the US immigration system, with a special focus on visa options for Irish entrepreneurs and startups. We explore a range of topics, including: Understanding different vi...

Join us as we sit down with Dermot McCormack, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, affectionately known as "Digital Dermot from Dublin." Dermot takes us on a full circle journey through his remarkable career, from his early days as a young engineer to his current role as a mentor and investor. We’ll delve into his early career, exploring his move to the US and his involvement in the internet boom...

Join us as we sit down with Barry O'Reilly, a renowned entrepreneur, author, and business advisor, to discuss the future of innovation, the power of unlearning, and the art of building a successful venture studio. We'll delve into the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, the importance of embracing failure, and the role of technology in shaping the future of business. Key Takeaways: The Ven...

In this episode of Digital Irish, we sit down with Tim Griffith, the CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland. Tim brings a unique perspective to the organization, having transitioned from a background in advertising and agency work. We delve into what drew Tim to the social entrepreneurship sector and how they've adapted their skills from the advertising world to drive positive change. We also discuss...