ThinkBusiness.ie
ThinkBusiness.ie, powered by Bank of Ireland, has been created for Irish business owners and managers who are seeking information, resources and help on a range of business topics. It provides practical, actionable information and guidance on starting, growing and running a business. It offers guides, tools, templates, checklists and a wealth of other content tailored to meet the needs of Irish business owners and managers. It also showcases case studies, with insights, tips and advice from Irish start-up entrepreneurs and business owners. Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.URL: www.thinkbusinessTwitter: @thinkbusinessieLinkedIn: ThinkBusiness.ieFacebook...
Episode 310 - Jayne Ronayne and Sarah Sexton, founders, Oac Snacks
We talk to entrepreneurs Jayne Ronayne and Sarah Sexton about their new business Oac Snacks, which is on a mission to create healthy snacks that actually taste good. Jayne previously founded employee experience platform Talivest, which raised over €3 million from investors, while Sarah previously founded Bean Brownie, the Cork healthy treats brand that became a cult favourite over almost a decade.
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.
Episode 309 - Patrick Murphy, CEO, Codex Office Solutions
We talk to Patrick Murphy, CEO of Codex Office Solutions, about his mission to make Irish workplaces more inclusive for everyone. Codex has partnered with AsIAm, Ireland’s national autism charity, to launch Ireland’s first neuroinclusive workplace product range. Codex’s Neuroinclusion in the Workplace report found that among neurodivergent people 61% said noise was their biggest workplace barrier followed by 56% citing lighting and 55% struggling with social interaction.
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.
Episode 308 - Ruairi Gough, founder and CEO, Paytient Payments
We talk to Paytient Payments founder Ruairi Gough about how the Wexford business is giving dental businesses greater control over their destiny. He talks about bootstrapping and evolving from the start-up to scale-up phase and how Paytient plans to expand into other areas of the healthcare industry, including opticians, vets and cosmetic clinics.
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.
Episode 307 - Duncan Graham, CEO, Hidden Hearing
We talk with retail industry veteran Duncan Graham, CEO of Hidden Hearing, about how hearing loss is affecting a younger demographic. He believes in transforming access to care through innovation, partnerships with GPs and a strong focus on patient experience. He also talks about bringing Hidden Hearing into a new era by being more accessible to communities across Ireland.
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.
Episode 306 - Ray Ryan, Noledge Group
Ray Ryan, co-founder and CEO of Noledge Group, talks about how the Irish business is growing exponentially in the UK through a disciplined march into that market. He reflects on his own career in the Irish software sector and how businesses can stay relevant by adapting to technological changes.
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.
Episode 305 - Kevin Canning, Quintas
Quintas Capital’s Kevin Canning talks about how the investment firm was spun out of an accountancy business three years ago and is now one of the homegrown private equity players to watch. In 2024 it invested €10m in Irish growth firms and grew to €35m in 2025 by focusing on stable, low-risk businesses.
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.
Episode 304 - Jo Gilfoy, director of Business, Vodafone Ireland
Vodafone Ireland’s business director Jo Gilfoy talks about spearheading the connected future in a world where AI and digital transformation are the future of business. She discusses her career in telecoms from Nokia to some of the world’s largest telcos and supporting other women working their way to the top.
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.
Episode 303 - Mark Loftus, Paddy Box
Mark Loftus, founder of Paddy Box, talks about how the company has become an
integral link connecting the Irish diaspora with family and friends. He discusses the business’s origins, growth and challenges as well as the fundamentals of running an e-commerce business where logistics is the life’s blood.
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.
Episode 302 - Niamh Collins, Guinness Enterprise Centre
Today we talk with Niamh Collins, centre director of the Guinness Enterprise Centre in the heart of Dublin’s Liberties. Ranked as the Number 2 Private Business Incubator in the World, she talks about how in 25 years the Centre has supported more than 1,500 start-ups.
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.
Episode 301 - Thomas Arnold, Fearless Media
Today we talk with Thomas Arnold, founder of Fearless Media and co-founder of Ireland’s original TikTok house. Listed as one of Ireland’s 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurs, he talks about how he plans to help ordinary people become part of the influencer economy.
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.
Episode 300 - BITCI All-Island Climate Action Programme graduation
Today we're exploring a remarkable success story - 40 SME business have just completed Business in the Community Ireland’s All-Ireland Climate Action Programme, doubling the participation from last year. The programme, delivered in partnership with Business in the Community Northern Ireland, brought together these SMEs with support from major corporates including Bank of Ireland Group, ESB, and SSE Airtricity.
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.
Episode 299 - How AI will inform the digital future of healthcare
We explore the innovations shaping the future of healthcare where we’re joined by Simon Wallace, Chief Medical Information Officer for Microsoft UK and Ireland, to discuss Dragon Copilot, a groundbreaking technology that’s redefining clinical workflows.
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.
Episode 298 - Tomas Sercovich, CEO, Business in the Community Ireland
Business in the Community Ireland has been instrumental in moving sustainability from the margins to the mainstream in Irish business. Tomas Sercovich, CEO of Business in the Community Ireland, talks about why climate change and inequality remain urgent challenges.
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.
Episode 297 - Stephen Cluskey – The Irish entrepreneur who refused to let a disability hold him back
At just 18 years of age, Stephen Cluskey suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralysed from the neck down. Today he is an accessibility advocate and an entrepreneur whose business Mobility Mojo is working with more than 100 businesses worldwide to make workplaces better for people with disabilities. He talks about his personal journey and his passion for entrepreneurship.
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.
Episode 296 - Phil Barnes – Mapping the Future of Fleet Management
We spoke with Phil Barnes from Geotab at the Nevo Electric Vehicle Show about the emergence of green electric vehicle fleets in Ireland, how businesses can get the most out of their investment in electric vehicles and how AI is transforming telematics.
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.
Episode 295 - Derek Kavanagh of Bank of Ireland at Nevo 2025
We recently attended the Nevo Electric Vehicle Show where we spoke to Bank of Ireland head of Motor Finance Derek Kavanagh about new vehicle ownership trends driving the Irish market.
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.
Episode 294 - Meet the Buyer, Belfast 2025
ThinkBusiness witnessed the brilliant Meet the Buyer event in Belfast, connecting SMEs with large supply chains. The event, organised by Northern Ireland Chamber and supported by Bank of Ireland saw SMEs attend more than 230 one-to-one meetings with large government and corporate buyers.
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.
Episode 294 - Meet the Buyer, Belfast 2025
ThinkBusiness witnessed the brilliant Meet the Buyer event in Belfast, connecting SMEs with large supply chains. The event, organised by Northern Ireland Chamber and supported by Bank of Ireland saw SMEs attend more than 230 one-to-one meetings with large government and corporate buyers.
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.
Episode 293 - Geoff Allen, founder and CEO, Mersus Technologies
Geoff Allen from Athlone-based Mersus Technologies discusses how his business is delivering on VR-based training for businesses and outlines how Ireland can take a lead in the development of this technology.
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.
Episode 292 - Emmet O'Neill, CEO, StoryToys
Emmet O’Neill from StoryToys talks about how the Dublin-headquartered company landed a lucrative deal to bring the popular Bluey animation series to life through a deal with LEGO and BBC Studios. He explains how StoryToys is on a mission to inspire childrens’ curiosity and animation through digital learning.
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.
Episode 291 - Marie O'Connor, COO, Sogeti Ireland
We talk to Marie O’Connor, chief operating officer of Sogeti in Ireland, about her forecasts for GenAI over the next few years and how firms can scale using the technology.
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.
Episode 290 - Peter McCarthy, CEO, Speed Fibre Group
On the heels of acquiring BT Communications Ireland, the CEO of Speed Fibre Group Peter McCarthy overseas a network of more than 10,000 km of fibre connecting 94 towns across Ireland. He is on a mission to future-proof Ireland’s growing digital economy.
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.
Episode 289 - Dee Coakley, Boundless
Dee Coakley, CEO of Irish start-up Boundless, questions whether current AI tools are making hiring better or just replicating existing biases. She talks about why jobseekers need to be cautious with AI-generated applications and how we can leverage AI to enhance human judgement in recruitment.
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.
Episode 288 - Blas na hEireann 2025
In a special ThinkBusiness Podcast recording at the Backyard at Blas in Dingle, supported by Bank of Ireland, three artisan food producers reveal how quality, tradition and sustainability are driving growth in the Irish food sector. Eugene McKenna of Silver Hill Duck, Felix Oster of MĂłr Taste and Owen Mullins of Zanna Cookhouse represent different paths to the same destination: creating products that resonate with consumers seeking genuine, locally-produced food with clear provenance.
Visit www.thinkbusiness.ie for more news and supports for start-ups and SMEs in Ireland. If you want to start and grow a b...
Episode 287 - Kieran McCorry, Microsoft Ireland
Irish workers are increasingly viewing AI as a gateway to career advancement. We talk to Microsoft Ireland’s national technology director Kieran McCorry about how rather than threatening careers, AI can actually be a career catalyst and stave off burnout.
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.
Episode 286 - John Delves, UCD Professional Academy
We talk to John Delves, CEO of the UCD Professional Academy about the changing pace of the professional education landscape and how continuous skills development holds the key to bridging the skills gap and unlocking career longevity.
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.
Episode 285 - Walter Walsh, SocialTies
We talk to three-time All-Ireland winner Walter Walsh about his new digital platform SocialTies, which is designed to help community groups and grassroots organisations manage their communications and operations in one unified space.
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.
Episode 284 - Brian Lee, founder and CEO of TRYKA
TRYKA, founded by Brian Lee – the entrepreneur behind healthy fast-food chain Freshly Chopped – positions itself as a community-first alternative to global events like Hyrox, with multiple race formats designed for all fitness levels from beginners to elite athletes. On the eve of the launch of the race league, we talk to Lee about his entrepreneurial journey and why he sees a market gap in fitness.
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.
Episode 283 - Marie Donnellan, CEO, Platform94
We talk to Marie Donnellan, the CEO of Platform94 about her pioneering fractional C-suite initiative that brings world class C-suite capabilities in areas like finance and HR to scaling businesses across the west of Ireland. She believes the opportunity to create a community of strong, scaling businesses across the west has never been greater.
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.
Episode 282 - Fidelma McGuirk, CEO, Payslip
We talk to Fidelma McGuirk, the CEO and founder of Payslip, a global fintech player that is empowering payroll professionals all over the world through its software-as-a-service platform. She talks about establishing a business in the west of Ireland and scaling it globally.
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.
Episode 281 - Galway start-up SymPhysis to bring its cancer device global
As Galway medtech SymPhysis Medical prepares for US regulatory clearance for its device for cancer patients, we talk with founders Michelle Tierney and Tim Jones about their ambition to spearhead a transformation in the care, and quality of care, of patients.
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.
Episode 280 - Nevo 2025 drives Ireland toward an electric future
As the Nevo Electric Vehicle Show returns to the RDS this November with its most ambitious programme yet, we catch up with Derek Reilly from Nevo and Derek Kavanagh from Bank of Ireland. Running across two days, Friday 7th November for businesses and Saturday 8th November for the general public, it will be Ireland’s largest ever event dedicated to electric vehicles, clean energy, and sustainable mobility.
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.
Episode 279 - Getting to Grips with AI in your Business
Ahead of a Bank of Ireland AI workshop for business owners, we speak with Mark Kelly from AI Ireland and the Bank’s head of Technology, Media & Telecoms Paul Swift about how firms should be approaching the use of AI in their business.
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.
Episode 278 - Meet Belfast's hottest start-ups in 2025
We meet some of Belfast's emerging young innovative start-up businesses at Catalyst where they are addressing a myriad of problems with breakthrough ideas and solutions.
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.
Episode 277 - Bank of Ireland's Agri advisers at The Ploughing 2025
We speak with Bank of Ireland's various Agri Development Managers at the Ploughing Championships 2025 to discover the challenges and opportunities facing Ireland's farmers in a time of climate change and geopolitics, how farmers are faring and how they are making the green transition.
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.
Episode 276 - Alan Dunne, Archive Capital
Experienced investment manager Alan Dunne of Archive Capital explains why family offices are growing in prominence in Ireland as a means for successful businesspeople to manage their legacy and make an impact for decades to come. So what are family offices? How do they work? And why are they suddenly stepping into the limelight?
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.
Episode 275 - Sinead Quinn, IP Telecom
There is a lot of change happening in the Irish telecoms business and Sinead Quinn, a board member of Irish business IP Telecom is at the heart of it. She talks to the ThinkBusiness Podcast about the technological shifts that will change telecoms and why the industry needs more strong female leadership.
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.
Episode 274 - Liam Dunne, CEO, Klearcom
We speak to EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist Liam Dunne about the Waterford business’s remarkable growth. With revenues set to rise 80% in 2025 driven by the AI revolution, the business is active across 100 markets and counts Fortune 500 giants as customers. Dunne talks about his late arrival to entrepreneurship, proving you can start a business at any age.
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.
Episode 273 - Eoin Lowry from Bank of Ireland and Stephen Coen from Senus on Ploughing 2025
Ahead of the 2025 National Ploughing Championship, Bank of Ireland’s head of Agriculture Sector Eoin Lowry talks about the changing landscape of farming in Ireland. We are also joined by Stephen Coen from Senus, an Irish start-up, that is making environmental health reviews available to Irish farmers.
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.
Episode 272 - Gary Lavin, founder, Vit Hit
We talk to EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist VIT HIT founder Gary Lavin about how his vitamin drink brand overcame a myriad of obstacles to becoming a growing and recognisable brand locally and globally. From an insolvency in 2007 to this year being on track to sell 45m bottles of VIT HIT in 18 markets, Lavin talks candidly about staying true to one’s vision.
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.