Tech Club opens its doors!

Following the phenomenal success of the London Angel Clubs and in response to sustained demand from large numbers of Angels, Angels Den is pleased to announce the launch of the new Tech Club. I'd also like to introduce myself to those of you I haven't met, I am the latest addition to Angels Den and will be managing the Tech Club, assisted by Alex Hilbrown.

The Tech Club aims to bring together the most innovative technology start-ups with Angels who have the desire to invest, and the experience to add value. The investment opportunities are pre-screened to ensure that they meet the investment criteria set out by the founder members of the Club.

The founder members of the Club are a diverse group of experienced investors, successful technology entrepreneurs and finance professionals. Our Lead Angel, Mitch Pender, is a partner at Antrak Capital (a VC firm specialising in high-growth technology companies) and has a wealth of experience in tech start-ups from inception to sale.

As with our London Angel Clubs, each Club member is able to share their expertise and insight to co-invest in successful companies and share the costs of due diligence. The Tech Club Manager will facilitate the screening process, ensure that the entrepreneurs are ready to pitch, and co-ordinate the follow up and due diligence, making the process as easy and straightforward as possible for all involved. All standard equity investments made by the Club will be able to make use of the free Investment Document Service from Edwards Wildman, available exclusively to Angels Den.

Our next London Tech Club event is on Wednesday 22nd February at Edwards Wildman from 4 pm to 7pm. If you are already a founder member of this Club or the London Angel Club and would like to attend, please contact  Alex@angelsden.co.uk.

Facebook IPO imminent !

 At last, the IPO that the investment world has been awaiting with varying degrees of impatience appears likely to make its debut. And if those who have had an early peek at Facebook’s pending IPO filing are right, the deal could value the social networking giant at $100 billion – more than four times the valuation that Google (GOOG) commanded during when it went public not quite a decade ago.

But while there will be a lot of buzz surrounding Facebook as the road show gets underway and eager investment bankers talk up the company’s unparalleled ability to bring people together – have dinner! Organize a high school reunion! Plan a revolution in the Middle East! – it’s important not to forget that what is more important than where Facebook has been is where it is going next. How much more room is there for the company – already ubiquitous among even Internet novices in their 70s and 80s – to generate the kind of outsize growth in revenues and profits that investors will expect in exchange for the premium valuation it is seeking? Unlike another iconic brand,Apple (AAPL), Facebook doesn’t manufacture a tangible item that can be purchased, so its growth will rely on its ability to generate a different kind of growth and produce earnings from different kinds of places.

Read More

By SUZANNE MCGEE, The Fiscal Times

Update from Birr Meetup SMECommunity

Silicon Ireland was proud to support the #SMECommunity Birr Event. Here is an update from them:

Big thanks to all of the wonderful people that make up #SMEcommunity.

Last Friday was, we think you'll agree a HUGE success.  Our speakers George Mordaunt and Vincent Byrne were fantastic, as was our MC on the day Kehlan Kirwan.  And the hotel, was of course fantastic - huge thanks to County Arms Hotel.  

Not forgetting of course the wonderful macaroons supplied by @Talentpool purchased from everybody's favourite cake-shop Armelle's Kitchen and @Totalshave for the shaving oil which our male members are currently enjoying.

 Also a special thanks to Chris Gordon or @Taagstore for sharing his fantastic news with us first, well done on a great deal that many amongst SME Community will be able to avail of.

It was a great opportunity to put faces to those we're tweeting every day, but such was the size of the group we know that it simply wasn't possible to connect with everybody. 

So, we're asking for a little information - if you'd like to share that is!

We're sending out a final email for #Birr2012 later this week and if you'd like to be included, simply send us the following by Wednesday 10pm;

• Twitter names for company and/or those who attended
• Company website address
• Facebook page
• Business email address for enquiries or information
• Google Plus business page
• Contact phone number
• Linkedin personal profile links if you're open to connections

Irish Primary Schools urged to ‘Spring’ into Science

~Greenwave Programme Helps Irish Primary Schools Monitor the Signs of Spring ~

Discover Science and Engineering is calling for all national primary schools to get involved withGreenwave 2012, the mass science project which sees primary students tracking the arrival of spring as it moves across the country.  When viewed from outer space, it is said that a ‘green wave’ begins in the south of Europe in February and as the temperature rises, it moves up across Europe travelling at approximately four miles per hour; similar to the speed at which a human walks. Last year 153 Irish primary schools took part in the Greenwave project, submitting 815 official records of common species and 4,572 weather observations. 

Between the months of February and March, students are asked to log their sightings of six species; ash, horse chestnut and hawthorn trees, the primrose, the swallow and frogspawn on the website. They are also asked to measure and record wind speed, rainfall and temperature. The results are recorded on www.greenwave.ie in order to map the arrival of spring.  The project also caters for Gaelscoileanna, with materials available in Irish on the website. 

Speaking at the launch of Greenwave at Dublin Zoo, Minister Sean Sherlock said:

“Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are vital to the growth and progress of our economy. To ensure we maintain that priority, we have to teach our children to appreciate their significance from an early age. The Greenwave initiative does just that giving children an opportunity to engage with science in an interesting and fun way by monitoring the signs of spring.  By dipping into the STEM subjects in an innovative and hands-on way at an early age, children can discover the enjoyment that comes from exploring science.”

The project allows schools to investigate whether the timing of spring is changing by noting the swallow’s arrival and other identifiers of spring.  The results are submitted to the website,www.greenwave.ie, and mapped to determine where and when spring starts and the pattern in which it moves across the country.

Speaking about Greenwave, Programme Director at Discover Science and Engineering, Peter Brabazon said:

“The Greenwave project offers students a hands-on experience in observing, measuring, classifying and recording the patterns of spring.  It is a practical way to get involved with the social, environment and scientific education (SESE) curriculum in Ireland. It also helps to develop students’ ICT skills in terms of recording and submitting their results online.  I urge all primary schools to get involved with this exciting project and to play their part in recording the arrival of spring in Europe.”

By taking part in the Greenwave project, schools will have completed part of Step 1 of the Discover Primary Science and Maths, Awards of Science & Maths Excellencehttp://www.primaryscience.ie/awards_12.php

During 2011, Greenwave was extended to 17 European countries ranging from Portugal and Greece in southern Europe to Denmark and Sweden in the north. A total of 1,888 official records of a range of species and weather conditions were submitted from these countries onto www.greenwave-europe.eu. The Greenwave Europe project will continue again in 2012

ENDS

For further information/image requests:

Laura Wall / Morwenna Rice

Drury

01 260 5000

laura.wall@drury.ie / morwenna.rice@drury.ie

Notes to Editors

About Greenwave

Last year Greenwave was extended to Europe as part of the Fibonacci Project, with schools in 17 countries taking part ranging from Portugal and Greece in southern Europe to Denmark and Sweden in the north.

Each country has a number of participating schools who record sightings of two mandatory species (swallow and frogspawn) and two other species local to their area. Schools can also measure temperature on a daily basis, as well as submitting data from rain gauges and anemometers.

As with the Greenwave.ie site, participating schools can view their sightings and observations on an interactive map which provides an exciting demonstration of how the Green Wave moves across the continent.

Check out the Greenwave Europe site and keep an eye on the sightings timeline as the season unfolds – www.greenwave-europe.eu

About Discover Science and EngineeringDiscover Science & Engineering (DSE) which is currently managed by Forfás aims to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among students, teachers and members of the public.

Our mission is to contribute to Ireland’s continued growth and development as a society that has an active and informed interest and involvement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Overall DSE’s objectives are to increase the numbers of students studying the physical sciences, promote a positive attitude to careers in STEM and to foster a greater understanding of science and maths and its value to Irish society.

Global Shapers Community

Introducing the Global Shapers Community

50% of the world’s population is under the age of 27, the majority of whom live in urban areas. With this in mind, we are becoming increasingly aware that solutions to our global challenges must purposefully engage youth, at all levels – locally, regionally, nationally and globally. This generation has the passion, dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit to shape the future. The state of the world today has never been more complex, in many ways we are entering uncharted territory – a period of extraordinary opportunities, yet fraught with unprecedented imbalances and tremendous risks. In this context, it is significant that the millennial generation consider themselves as “active agents of change” rather than passive bystanders. In a recent study, 92% agree that the world must change; 84% consider it their duty to drive this change; and almost 82% believe they have the power to make it happen. In large part, this generation is increasingly self-empowered and given access to information and technology, which has catalysed tremendous opportunities for interaction and collaboration. The World Economic Forum has successfully established a history of engaging young leaders to positively and proactively impact the global agenda. In addition to its existing community of Young Global Leaders, who are in their mid to late 30s, the Forum is establishing a special community of young people in their 20s. This new community – the Global Shapers Community – will provide youth with a global platform to shape the future – integrating the personal, community and global dimension. Through the unparalleled convening power of the World Economic Forum, the Global Shapers Community is diverse in demographics, geographical areas and sectors. However, it is united by a common desire to channel the members’ tremendous energy and enthusiasm into building a more peaceful and inclusive world.

Who Are the Global Shapers?

• Young extraordinary individuals with great potential for future leadership roles in society
• Between 20 and 30 years of age at the time of nomination
• Representing all walks of life and sharing a spirit of entrepreneurship in the global public interest
• Highly committed to developing their leadership potential towards serving society
• Adhering to the highest standards of moral and intellectual integrity
• Possessing unique qualities that set them distinctly apart from the mainstream
• Entrepreneurial track record, having already initiated and delivered a major project or founded a company or organization, exceptionally contributing to serving society at large
• Ready to deeply engage in the community, reinforcing its mission and objectives and supporting fellow shapers in their individual and professional development
• Endorsed by an existing shaper or another member of the World Economic Forum Community

Where Are the Global Shapers?

View Global Shaper Hubs in a larger map

What Do They Do?

Shapers are organized in a network of local hubs based in each major city around the world. They undertake events and activities that generate a positive impact within their local community. The community is vitalized by the manifold interactions generated inside each hub, between hubs and on a global level. Complementing face-to-face meetings, particular emphasis will be placed on the virtual dimension – enabling shapers to collaborate and learn from each other through the community platform. Global Shapers will have an impact by catalysing and enhancing, individually and collectively, fresh ideas and entrepreneurial solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Shapers will also get involved in crossmentoring with other World Economic Forum communities. 

Who was the Global Shaper for Ireland - Paddy Cosgrave. From Dublin Web Summit. We met him in Davos, he was one of 70+ Shapers at the WEF conference.