Coming off the back of the September Homecoming events in Belfast — where the city has moved from a place of promise to a city of delivery — last week’s Digital Irish Tech Week in New York felt like a natural continuation of that journey.
For me, it’s quickly becoming a must-attend annual tradition on both sides of the Atlantic.
The quality of entrepreneurs this year was truly impressive. The energy at the Civic Hall in New York was palpable — a room filled with builders, founders, and dreamers from both the South and the North of Ireland, joined by American investors, mentors, and friends of the ecosystem. It was a living example of what happens when talent, capital, and purpose collide.
Bridging Two Ecosystems
The U.S. and Ireland have always shared a special bond, but what’s exciting today is how that bond is translating into real, tangible opportunities for entrepreneurs. The progress made through public and private partnerships is working — from the incubators and accelerators in Belfast and Dublin, to the network effects that bring these founders to global hubs like New York. These ecosystems are no longer emerging; they’re thriving.
Founders can now build in Ireland — leveraging its deep engineering talent and supportive infrastructure — and scale into the U.S. at the right time and for the right reasons. That combination keeps innovation and technical excellence rooted in Ireland while enabling commercialization and market access in the world’s largest economy. TECH TROIKA: Jenn Byrne, Mike Flannery and Howard Kingston of Frontier AI
Why Ireland Works
Ireland has become one of the most attractive global locations for U.S. technology companies to establish European headquarters — and for good reason. The country offers a world-class talent base, favorable corporate tax structure, and a gateway to the European market. Beyond policy, there’s also a culture of creativity, adaptability, and collaboration that makes Irish entrepreneurs so effective at building globally relevant companies.
That same mindset was evident throughout Irish Tech Week — from early-stage founders sharing prototypes to scaling CEOs looking to bridge networks.
It was equally energizing to spend time with Gary Davidson, Ian Brown, and the Ormeau Labs entrepreneurs, alongside my colleague Jenn Byrne and Derek O’Doherty from Enterprise Ireland— a reminder that this community extends far beyond geography. It was so nice to have a wonderful networking event, and an opportunity to meet, and be welcomed by Gerald Angley, Consul General of Ireland in New York.
A Shared Future
The bridge between Ireland and New York is more than symbolic — it’s a pathway for peace, prosperity, and innovation. Each event like this deepens that relationship and reminds us how far we’ve come. As someone who’s been fortunate to work with founders on both sides of the Atlantic, I’m convinced that New York City is the ideal launch pad for Irish entrepreneurs — a place where ambition meets opportunity, and where community and capital work hand in hand.
For those of us who believe in this transatlantic ecosystem, the momentum is undeniable. Homecoming may begin in Belfast, but its spirit continues in New York — and beyond.
Mike Flannery is a General Partner at Grit Capital Partners in New York and recipient of the Belfast Ambassador Medal.
