A few weeks on from Digital Irish Tech Week 2025, the energy from our time in New York still pulses, vibrates and rings like New York sirens!
The event brought together founders, investors and innovators from both sides of the Atlantic, united by a shared ambition to build global companies with Irish roots. Held at Civic Hall, it felt less like a conference and more like a statement that Ireland’s creative and tech communities are relishing the international stage.
From AI and venture capital to culture and community, the conversations captured what makes this network so powerful: bold ideas, genuine connections and a belief that Irish-led businesses are amongst the best in the world.
With Ebow Digital as Lead Sponsor, we were proud to help make this year’s Tech Week happen. It was also the perfect moment to unveil the new Digital Irish brand identity that we have been working on for the team at DI. David Douglas, Managing Director at Ebow, took to the stage alongside Digital Irish Board Member Sarah Clarke and Founder Gavin Mc Mahon to present Building Community: Brand & Ambition.Together they unveiled the new Digital Irish brand, designed to capture the ambition and energy of this growing community. The refreshed identity feels fresh, confident and global. Its a true expression of connection, collaboration and forward momentum. It gives Digital Irish a bold new visual language as the organisation steps into its next chapter on the world stage. You can listen to the Digital Irish podcast now where the rebrand and ambition is discussed further between the two Daves.
The following session, Shaping Culture: The New Rules of Influence, was a really interesting look at how platforms and creators are rewriting the rules of digital engagement, and brought together David Hoctor (Head of US Enterprise Verticals), Michaela O’Shaughnessy (Editorial Lead at Meta) and Fintan Gillespie (Global Director, Ads Partnership at Snapchat). They explored how digital platforms are changing the way we connect and create. It was a lively conversation that captured the creative energy behind today’s digital world and the influence Irish talent continues to have within it.
The Lightning Pitch sessions were a big highlight of the event. Over a dozen powerful Irish startups took the stage and showed exactly why the next generation of founders is one to watch. Their energy and clarity made it clear that great ideas, storytelling and ambition travel well.
Other standout panels included:
- Aidan Kehoe (Founder, Nadia Partners) in conversation with Edwina Fitzmaurice (Global Innovation Market Activation Leader, EY) on The Ultimate Founder Journey: Scaling Ambition Globally.
- Mike Hanrahan, Entrepreneur & Investor in conversation with Sharon Cunningham (CEO, Shorla Oncology) shared what it really takes to Build Companies That Last.
The second half of Digital Irish Teach week saw us move to the Bank of Ireland Business Hub at 2 Grand Central Tower, and focused on the practical side of growth, with a focus on startups. Topics ranged from building strong teams and scaling operations to finding product-market fit and using AI for growth.
Dave Douglas from Ebow joined Gearoid O’Rourke, Director of Product and Design at Spotify, for From Idea to Impact: Cracking Product–Market Fit, moderated by Sarah Clarke. They spoke about what it really takes to turn an idea into something that resonates. It came down to user insight, design thinking and brand authenticity, all central to how we work at Ebow.
The events culminated with a reception at the Consulate General of Ireland in New York, hosted by Consul General Gerald Angley. It was a fitting close to an inspiring week. A celebration of Irish innovation abroad and the global community that continues to support and champion it.
Digital Irish Tech Week connects Irish creativity, engineering and entrepreneurship with global networks and investors. A few weeks later, what still stands out isn’t just the talks or panels but the sense of momentum. This community isn’t waiting for permission. It’s already building the future.
For Ebow, being part of that story is inspiring. It reminds us that digital transformation isn’t just about technology. It’s about clarity of brand, strong storytelling and the power of collaboration. The future of Irish tech is global, ambitious and full of possibility. We’re proud to play our part in it.