Ireland Brothers Inc. Who's in? Down to business (over a New York lunch!)

The Ireland Brothers Inc. initiative is a fantastically simple yet game changing idea.

The Board and Promoters (private sector individuals with proven track records from across the island and the US) intend to attract up to 32 companies (stemming from the availability of 32 units of 500 to 750 sq. ft.) and create 32 relationships for them on the other side of the Atlantic. A relationship is defined as a Mentor, Capital Provider, Customer, Collaborative Partner or Supplier.

In addition we intend to instigate or stimulate 32 relationships on the other side of the Irish border, thus giving opportunity for companies from Limerick, Galway, Cork, Dublin, etc. as well as Belfast. We will also encourage relationships across the Irish Sea, recognising that the #1 trading partner of Northern Ireland is Great Britain, as is also the case for the Republic of Ireland.



The initiative is ready to roll, subject to locking down the Participation Agreements and will take 12 months from soup to nuts. In the meantime the work of identifying the best and brightest talent in Belfast (and beyond) is underway and relationships can and will be established before the Real Estate component is complete.

UI + Relationships = $£€

Michael Flannery tells of the importance of pre-validated relationships in USA and partnering with the right people in exporting technology and Creative talent from Northern Ireland.

He explains the importance of the right relationships, smart capital and management team. Many fail by 'setting up shop with the wrong partners'. From experience Michael talks about 'de-risking' early stage companies.

He draws parallels between New York and what is going on in Belfast, with the broadband connections, ecosystem and great Universities.



Quoting Mary Meeker of Morgan Stanley we are told that by the year 2012 more people will access the internet using mobile technology than their PCs.

Belfast understands the importance of 'UI' - the User Interface - the importance of design and how people relate to and interact with Apps and their devices. The University of Ulster for example produces more creative industry graduates than any institution on the island of Ireland. Add to that the riches of Queen's University and the Belfast Metropolitan College (to be illustrative rather than all-inclusive) and you can see Belfast and Northern Ireland has much to offer.

Michael Flannery on a snowy Bryant Park

I'm just back from a hectic but invigorating trip to New York City, Washington and Philadelphia.
We spent time with great Friends of Belfast, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
We tapped into an incredible ecosystem of technologists, creative industry professionals and financiers.

The mood was interesting (more anon), but the opportunity for the north was palpable.

I love New York, it neighbourhoods and ironically its subtleties. Michael Flannery, New York based Chairman of Ireland Brother Inc. and Patron Trustee of The Presidents' Club gave us this personal tour of a snowy Bryant Park.



Mark

Hurricane Quinn

Someone said Hurricane Quinn hit landfall in County Antrim yesterday.

They were referring to the boundless energy of Christine Quinn, Speaker & President of New York City Council who has also been described as the third most important New Yorker!

Speaker Quinn has come to Belfast, influenced by Máirtín Ó Muilleoir of Belfast Media Group and myself at The Presidents' Club.

Christine is officiating at tonights prestigious Aisling Awards.....more about that again...

This morning Christine led a discussion at the Presidents' Club with an eclectic group of entrepreneurs, technologists, investors, fund managers, creative companies and professionals. She gave us ideas about innovative tax credits for small businesses, about lowest tender +10% to favour local businesses, about creative use of old buildings, of a community industrial kitchen to stimulate entrepreneurs in the food sector......

Many thanks to Belfast Media Group for the pictures and support. Good luck all with the Aisling Awards tonight ;-)

Cup half full or half empty?

The old adage asks if you are a 'half full' or 'half empty' type.

I think it doesn't matter, just as long as you know where the bottle is!

I read and listened to details of the Ernst & Young report on the economy that indicates that Northern Ireland is in the midst of its worst ever slowdown and that the all-island economy will shrink by 7% this year.

The radio report said that Northern Ireland would be hardest hit because the island [Republic's] economy was so badly affected.

I say nonsense! Bring it on! We are going to have record new trade on the island; new contracts; new partnerships; new collaborations; new frontiers. Com'on, given the pre-existing low base of single island trade, improving attitude, a cost competitive environment and our new found confidence things can only look up!

The road is nearly complete. The train line is nearly fixed....

2010 is going to be a great year.....I know where the bottle is!

bringing home the bacon

Well Tim Brundle and Gareth McAleese are now proudly staring in Apple's new iPhone Marketing initiative filmed in and around Cathedral Quarter.

This is a direct result of the visit of the so called Band of Brothers (so named by a senior Invest NI official) to Apple in Cupertino back in March when we promoted Belfast a City of 7 Quarters and in particular focused on Cathedral Quarter as a World Centre of Excellence in Creative Industry, Digital Content and Media-tech.

The University there produces more creative industry graduates than any institution on the island of Ireland. We have a legacy of great wireless and mobile industry technology companies. We have some of the most creative individuals and SMEs. We have fantastic people, broadband capacity swelled by Project Kelvin, brilliant hotels and café society city life.....

This is the future of Belfast....

This recognition by Apple is just a start, now let's see what more we can achieve in bringing home the bacon.

Well done boys.

Good for the Goose, Good for the Gander

I was struck by two things:-

1) In driving to watch Ulster Rugby against Munster, it took me no time at all from Belfast to Dublin Airport/M50 and indeed onwards to Limerick and Shannon - and that is before the road is complete around Newry and between Nenagh and Limerick.

2) The piece on the front page and page 3 of today's Irish Times about Charges at Dublin Airport that may rise sharply.

I suggest the travelling public (business and leisure) may join the shoppers in increasing numbers in taking the opportunity to come north to fly from Belfast International and Belfast City Airports - as it takes no time at all from Dublin to either!

That said, I am also conscious that Gordon Brown is taking approx £100.30 in Airport Departure Tax (due to rise by another approx £15 in 2010) from an ordinary Coach passenger flying to NYC - compared to approx £64.30 in Dublin.

Business Class (the vital economic link that we must encourage ) is even worse at approx £145.30 compared with £64.30 ex-Dublin).

What an opportunity we have. I do hope that the Executive presses Gordon Brown - or perhaps Sir Reg Empey presses David Cameron to do something about this, to allow us to seize the day.

We have got to build a set of simple economic tools that will together make the north an attractive business proposition.

Maybe this will be a topic of discussion on Tuesday 24th November when The Presidents' Club hosts Conor Lenihan T.D., Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation & Natural Resources, Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

Members and guests will have an opportunity to quiz Minister Lenihan as to his Government's views of all-island business development and cooperation in important areas such as infrastructure, R&D and International Development.

The idea behind our Thought Leaders Series of events is that the leader 'moderates' (a good Presbyterian term!) discussion around a theme, rather than 'talks at' the audience.

If you have interest in attending (£25 contribution towards costs) or have questions for the Minister let me know!