Irish start-up funding group wins European accolade
HBAN’s Business Angel Roadshow raised a total of €6m in new angel funding and recruited 35 new angels in just 48 hours last November HBAN, the all-island group responsible for the promotion of business angel investment in Ireland, has won the best Business Angel Week award at the European Business Angel Awards. Angle investment provides capital for business start-ups, often in exchange for a share of ownership in the company. HBAN, which is a joint initiative of InterTradeIre

Synopsis of Sunday business pages
Sunday Business Post
Brendan Drumm, the former HSE executive, reminds us that we are considered one of the highest spending countries in the OECD on health and that throwing more money at the system, as is the current suggestion, will not solve our escalating health care problems. Only three countries in Europe spend more on health than Ireland per head of population.
The government Help-to-Buy scheme, whereby buyers get up to €20k of a tax rebate, is now expected to be wo


Fired-up pizza entrepreneur beat recession with real taste of Italy
Shane Crilly's dream to grab a slice of the gourmet market hasn't disappointed Shane Crilly, who founded Base Wood-fired Pizza in 2008, in his Glenageary shop — one of five stores in Dublin. Photo: Gerry Mooney 'The first time I heard the word 'recession' was in August 2008. I was listening to Ryan Tubridy and he said we were officially in recession, and I thought 'Wow'." Shane Crilly was just weeks away from opening the doors on his dream business when it became official tha


Synopsis of Sunday business pages
Sunday Business Post
In addition to the UK elections, there is a lot written about the public sector pay deal which involves an almost complete restoration of boomtime pay levels by 2020. There is also a focus on the AIB flotation.
Hugh O’Connell has an interview with EU agricultural commissioner Phil Hogan who thinks the role of social media is having a big influence on politicians’ lives.
A number of medical professionals who have had their tax structures involving lim


Consumers unhappy because almost one in four SMEs is offline
Almost a quarter of Irish small and medium-sized companies are completely offline, despite half of them acknowledging that an online presence is important for generating business awareness, according to a new report by the IE Domain Registry (IEDR). The research further found that of those SMEs which do not have a web presence, 68pc of them felt that there was "no need'" to have a website. When questioned in further detail, 78pc of SMEs that are offline said that the majority

Under 35? Looking for funding and mentoring? This competition could be for you
The Ireland Funds, in partnership with NDRC, has launched the ‘Business Plan Competition 2017’ (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The Ireland Funds, in partnership with NDRC, has launched the ‘Business Plan Competition 2017’, offering funding and mentoring to emerging young entrepreneurs under the age of 35. Students and recent graduates from Ireland are invited to submit technology proposals for the competition that are at pre-investment stage. Up to 10 individuals or teams will the


Synopsis of Sunday business pages
Sunday Business Post
There are many pages focussing on Leo Varadkar becoming the leader of Fine Gael and the soon-to-be leader of the country. It is reported that Fianna Fáil will vehemently oppose his plan to merge USC and PRSI into one social charge.
The Sunday Business Post reports that the potential investors in AIB have reportedly been told that they can expect repossessions of non-performing loans to increase after the sale of 25% of the government's shareholding to


Stakes are high as Chinese tourism ready to take off
Kieron Branagan, CEO, OpenJaw Technologies, Martin Shanahan, Chief Executive IDA Ireland; Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor; and Dr Yue Xiaoyong, Chinese Ambassador. Photo: Jason Clarke A direct air link between Ireland and China is looking like a case of when, not if. As reported in this column some months back, and firmed up in the Sunday Independent recently, growing airline Hainan looks the most likely choice. And their stakes are very high indeed. A summit held in the

