Over 80 companies are finalists in The Blacknight SME Awards in Cork this weekend, and technology and innovation are at the core of many of them. Most can be found in the ‘New Business – Digital’ category which is sponsored by Microsoft Ireland, but the list also includes long established digital and online businesses which […]
Tag Archives | LoveSMEs
Valentine’s is Business as Usual for SME Spouses
With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, The Blacknight SME Awards carried out a survey this week of the spouses and partners of SME owners. The results confirm that entrepreneurship can be challenging for couples, while family support is seen as an essential resources for SMEs. “If the people at home don’t believe in the project, they may as well call it […]
The Blood and Sweat of Irish People [Audio]
Michele goes on something of a patriotic rant on this week’s podcast – well it is the centenary of the 1916 Rising. “Forget about these bloody multinationals who are set up over here and have absolutely no loyalty or ties to the country. What about the Irish companies built on the blood and sweat of Irish […]
The Beans-on-Toast Way to Build Startups in Galway [Video]
It’s Startup Gathering all over Ireland this week, and Technology.ie went to Galway Startup Weekend. We spoke to Paul Killoran, founder of bootstrapped success story Ex Ordo (more about them next week). He was there to mentor others, and spoke about the Galway City Innovation District which is ambitiously targeting “20,000 jobs and Galway’s first billion dollar company!” Galway has unique […]
Cake Café’s Ethical Business Makes a Story for Social Media [Video]
The Cake Café in Dublin is a business built around a story: a message of sustainability and environmental responsibility which underpins everything they do, and gives them lots to talk about on social media, as well as in books, TV and other media. It also helped them to win the Best Environmentally Minded Business Award at The […]
Accepting Payments Online is Easier than Ever – Realex Payments [Video]
Ireland’s SMEs have lagged behind internationally for the ability to accept payments online, but they are catching up fast, says Paul Dunne of Realex Payments. He was speaking at a free seminar for SMEs organised by Mulley Communications, in conjunction with the recent Blacknight SME Awards. Setting up an account with Realex Payments is as simple […]
Blacknight SME Awards: Mr Crumb [Video]
Mr Crumb won the B2B SME Growth Award at The Blacknight SME Awards. It’s a family business which began supplying breadcrumbs and then progressed into stuffing and other value-added products. Growth has been driven by exports and now they employ up to 120 people in their home village of Finea, Co Westmeath. Technology.ie – like the SME Awards […]
Blacknight SME Awards: Fernhill House Hotel [Video]
There were lots of family businesses at The Blacknight SME Awards, and we were reminded that families are part of communities, which they contribute to and benefit from. The winner of the Community Minded Business category was Fernhill House Hotel in Clonakility. Community involvement is a family affair, explained manager Michael O’Neill. They sponsor more than 50 local organisations and help to […]
Blacknight SME Awards: L Mulligan Grocer [Video]
“That’s the thing about an SME: you work with people; you don’t work for people”, says Colin Hession of L Mulligan Grocer. First things first: it’s not a grocer; more of a craft beer and gastropub dining experience. And it won the Best Retailer (Offline) Award at the Blacknight SME Awards. Technology.ie – like the SME Awards – […]
Blacknight SME Awards: Rocket Rainbow Studios [Video]
Christian Schinkoethe is co-founder and CTO at Rocket Rainbow Studios, a games development company. At The Blacknight SME Awards they took the prize for the Best Under-30s Business. Moments like these make it all worth it, says Christian. Technology.ie – like the SME Awards – is brought to you by Blacknight. Ireland’s premier provider of web hosting and […]