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Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept – it’s rapidly becoming the operating system of modern business. From global tech giants to family-run farms in North Dublin, the ability to harness AI is quickly defining who scales, who competes, and who gets left behind. And yet, while the vast majority of Irish SMEs recognise AI’s transformative potential, many remain stuck at the starting...

Hello and welcome to the latest ThinkBusiness Podcast powered by Bank of Ireland. Today we’re exploring fintech innovation and international expansion.  We’re joined by Lydia Foott, an Irish entrepreneur who co-founded Qashio in Dubai, and Kevin Gallagher, the company’s General Manager for Europe, as it prepares to launch in Ireland with a new Dublin office and 50 jobs across multiple functions. Q...

The music industry has always been shaped by technology — but today, the pace and scale of change is unlike anything we’ve seen before. From the early days of mobile music to the rise of streaming, and now the disruptive force of artificial intelligence, the question is no longer just how music is made or distributed—but how it is owned, protected, and valued. Few people have had a front-row seat...

Today, we’re exploring one of Ireland’s quieter global success stories—where finance, technology, and aviation intersect. I’m joined by Teddy Murphy, founder and CEO of Miagen, a Dublin-based company whose financial planning platform is used by CFOs to model complex decisions and maximise performance. Its reach is remarkable—supporting financial modelling for roughly one in five of the world’s lea...

Ireland’s transition to electric vehicles is gathering pace, but for many drivers, the journey from curiosity to commitment has often felt complicated. Understanding costs, comparing models, and figuring out finance can still be barriers to making the switch. Now, Bank of Ireland, in partnership with Nevo, is aiming to change that with the launch of Ireland’s first dedicated EV marketplace. Design...

When Irish tech firm CalypsoAI was acquired by global security giant F5 for $180 million, the spotlight landed on its AI security technology – but there’s a deeper story behind the deal. In fast-moving categories like AI, it’s not just what you build, but how you’re perceived. CalypsoAI didn’t just compete in AI security – it helped define it. And that positioning can directly influence who gets a...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the evolving world of finance operations and the growing strategic importance of Accounts Payable in the Office of the CFO. I’m joined by Paul Kearns, CEO of Irish software company Kefron, which has more than 30 years’ experience helping organisations manage and protect critical business information. Paul leads the development of Kefron AP, an accounts payable...

In this episode of the ThinkBusiness Podcast, Oishi founder Ciara Troy shares the real story behind building one of Ireland’s best known food businesses, from early mistakes and near burnout to scaling sustainably. Joined by Lucy Ryan, Head of Food & Beverage at Bank of Ireland, this episode explores funding, margins, resilience and what it really takes to grow a food brand in Ireland. Visit w...

Today, we’re exploring the growing momentum behind Ireland’s bioeconomy – a space where agriculture, energy, and sustainability intersect to create new opportunities. From biomethane and renewable fuels to circular farming systems and new revenue streams, this is about rethinking how we use resources – and how we build a more sustainable future. In this episode, we hear from leaders across finance...

Ireland is fast becoming one of the most AI-enabled economies in the world — with over 90% of organisations already using or planning to use artificial intelligence. But beneath that headline success story, a more complex picture is emerging. A new report from Trinity College Dublin and Microsoft Ireland reveals a growing divide: while large organisations are accelerating ahead — unlocking thousan...

We are joined by Alan Dunne, founder of Archive Capital, for a wide-ranging conversation on how investors are navigating an increasingly uncertain world. From shifting market dynamics to structural challenges in Ireland, we explore what’s really on investors’ minds right now – and whether traditional approaches to investing are still fit for purpose. We dig into some of the big questions facing Ir...

Ireland is at near full employment—but beneath that headline success lies a stark contradiction. Around one in five people in Ireland lives with a disability, yet fewer than half of those of working age are in employment, creating one of the widest disability employment gaps in the European Union. It’s a gap that isn’t about talent or ambition—but about how our systems, workplaces, and policies ha...

Today I’m joined by someone who sits right at the centre of the future of work technology and business transformation. Alvina Antar is the Chief Digital Officer at F5 – and notably, the first to hold that role in the company’s history. At a time when organisations everywhere are trying to move from digital ambition to real transformation, Alvina is helping redefine what that journey actually looks...

Everyone’s talking about AI replacing jobs. Very few are asking what happens next, especially for the people just starting their careers. Dee Lyons is one of those few. She’s the Founder and CEO of Acuru, an AI-powered capability platform working with some of the largest professional services firms in Ireland and the UK. And she’s got a front-row seat to a structural shift that’s only just beginni...

Ireland has built a reputation as a global hub for financial services – but building world‑class fintech and insurtech companies from a small island still comes with very real challenges. From attracting talent and scaling internationally, to regulation, capital, and competition – success doesn’t happen by accident. Today, I’m joined by Gary Leyden, the CEO of Instech, who is focused on positionin...

We are joined by Fergal Doyle, Chief Commercial Officer of The Arboretum, one of Ireland’s most distinctive retail and hospitality brands. Arboretum has built a business that goes far beyond the traditional garden centre — blending retail, food, sustainability and experience in a way that continues to resonate strongly with Irish consumers. In this conversation, we’re going to explore how the busi...

In just weeks, the EU’s Pay Transparency Directive comes into force — and for most Irish SMEs, it’s landing faster than they’re ready for. Only a tiny fraction of businesses believe they’re prepared. Many can’t evidence how pay decisions were made. And once the law arrives, there’s no going back to fix the past. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on what this really means for Ireland’s 400,000 small...

New research from the ESRI and Ireland's Department of Finance warns that AI could displace close to 200,000 Irish jobs – nearly 7% of the workforce – in the short to medium term. But according to Ian Dodson, the answer isn't panic; it's upskilling. The co-founder of the Digital Marketing Institute, which trained over 75,000 professionals before being acquired by BPP Education Group...

Neil Sands – From Whiskey to Water: Building Brands That Last Neil Sands has done it all – founded a whiskey brand now sold in 30+ countries, spent a decade advising Silicon Valley giants as well as organisations like Deloitte, Forbes, Booking.com and the NHS, and most recently launched Clír Water, a multi-million euro water production venture creating jobs in Co. Armagh. In this episode, Neil sha...

We talk to the founders of Otonomee Aidan and Hilary O’Shea about how the Cork-born business is scaling to more than 500 people just four years after starting up. The business, which is targeting global expansion, was founded on the premise that the traditional call centre model was broken and that a remote-first digital model was the future. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports f...

We chat with Charis Aherne from Irish business Climeaction, a business leading the charge with an agtech platform using video‑guided audits, AI and cloud analytics to make farm‑level carbon data scalable and verifiable. She joins us to discuss agtech innovation, sustainability as a competitive advantage, and how Irish climate tech is helping build global food infrastructure. Visit www.thinkbusines...

We talk with the founders of Tekenable Nick Connors and Peter Rose, a company born during uncertain times and that has grown into a €20‑million a year business with over 200 people, that is helping organisations apply AI responsibly. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness .

In this podcast Bank of Ireland Chief Marketing Officer, Laura Lynch, and Folk VML Managing Director, Enda Kelly, talk about the journey behind our new brand promise and why we have placed financial confidence at the centre of it. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a business, ThinkBusiness .

Today, we’re joined by Tim Jones of SymPhysis Medical, diving into how the Galway company is building its US go‑to‑market long before expected FDA clearance in 2026. From reimbursement and discharge planning to home‑based pathways, Tim shares why mastering America’s clinical ‘plumbing’ is key to successful adoption for their device for cancer patients. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and...

Kieran Daly, co‑founder and general manager of HealthBeacon, joins us to discuss the company’s journey from public listing to turnaround and renewed global growth under HamiltonBeach. He shares why healthcare must become as convenient as home appliances, and how better adherence and human‑centred design can transform patient outcomes. Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start...