Young Irish Business Group

Adjogranty

Hi All,

I have decided to set up a group where young people with a genuine interest in business and entrepreneurship can meet discuss and compare ideas.

The old guard has fallen, it is now up to the young people to create businesses and return the country back to prosperity. With the IMF at the gates there is a need to build a new network of connections, of young business, of people who are staying here and want to build their futures in Ireland.

My hope is for this group to provide assistant and advice to young people looking for way to commence with their dreams of success in commerce.

Please reply to this thread if you are interested

michealsad

Just launching a start up myself, so I would be really interested in this

Adjogranty

Hi Michael,

I am a 25 year old accountant with significant experience in business and international business. I work for a software company which has recently been taken over by a venture capital company so I can advise on measures of financial control. The other member of the group is my friend who at 25 is about to open his first business as an owner of a major franchised opticians. We share a genuine love for business. I have noticed a lot of connections sort of groups in the states and thought it would be a good idea to connect with like minded people. What kind of business are you starting?

Acoshla

Started my own business this year, you're right that in a lot of ways it is up to the new generation of entrepreneurs who are staying put in Ireland to get things going again, would be very interested too.

bigneacy

Would be very interested!

Bog Warrior

Interested, I have ideas and want to give entrepeneurship a shot (think I would be suited to it). Eager to learn more

Kinetic^

I'd be interested.

Adjogranty

Its great that a number of you are interested. I want to set up an initial meeting as sort of a consultation process with a view of kicking off in the new year.

The way I figure it we can invite guest speakers to speak. Have social events and a contact registry.

We can run workshops on business plans, managing people, managing debtors/creditors and obtaining finance.

Are there any further initial suggestions?

Zonua

I'd be interested in this.

I set up in June this year.

Btw, what's 'young'? Under thirty? Under forty? Under fifty? I don't see any advantage to keeping to a lower age range of any kind tbh. There are lots of 'older' entrepeneurs out there, especially at the moment, and could bring good experience and ideas to the meetings.

The Good Agent

Adjogranty,

I'm sure you've seen startups.ie, maybe you could coordinate and collaborate with Stephen, who runs the site, to avoid fragmentation of the community.

I do think you're on to something, though. There are plenty of opportunities out there and it's great to hear so many people following the start-up route.

Do you have any plans for starting an Irish start-up/entrepreneurship podcast? I would certainly subscribe.

Best regards,
Barry

RATM

Im 32 and also starting my own business- just incorporating next week hopefully. I'd be very keen to get involved with like minded individuals for meets in Dublin if people are up for it.

Adjogranty

Apologies for the late reply guys I was in Galway the weekend with my karate club.

The Good Agent wrote: »

Adjogranty,

I'm sure you've seen startups.ie, maybe you could coordinate and collaborate with Stephen, who runs the site, to avoid fragmentation of the community.

I do think you're on to something, though. There are plenty of opportunities out there and it's great to hear so many people following the start-up route.

Do you have any plans for starting an Irish start-up/entrepreneurship podcast? I would certainly subscribe.

Best regards,
Barry

Barry the thread started to see if people would be interested in such a group. I am meeting with my friend Doug during this week to begin to formalize ideas for this group ( we have been talking about a business mastermind group for some time). Although your podcast idea seems very appealing and solves a lot of the problems I was envisioning about financing and such initially (I am a beancounter after all). I want this is be a social and a workshop based group. If we could start our workshops online through podcast and get contributors to ring in via podcast that would be a lot easier demographically. In addition maybe do a live workshop / seminar once a month. I will be sure to check out start-ups.ie.. Thanks for your input. More would be welcome. The goal for myself and Doug was to meet more business minded people like us. We are aiming for a kick off in the new year to give us plenty of time to prepare.

RATM wrote: »

Im 32 and also starting my own business- just incorporating next week hopefully. I'd be very keen to get involved with like minded individuals for meets in Dublin if people are up for it.

Best of luck with it. Could you start a blog or a diary we could link to based on your experiences? Just a few lines per week.

Zonua wrote: »

I'd be interested in this.

I set up in June this year.

Btw, what's 'young'? Under thirty? Under forty? Under fifty? I don't see any advantage to keeping to a lower age range of any kind tbh. There are lots of 'older' entrepeneurs out there, especially at the moment, and could bring good experience and ideas to the meetings.

Hi Zonua,

I have thought about this for the weekend. I agree with you that input from others would be great but we have chambers of commerce for that where it is very much an old boys club. I want this group to be unique and identifiable. We can have older entrepreneurs come and give talks or workshops but I would rather encourage the majority of the membership be under 40. Thats not saying older people cant join if they want and it would be foolish to ever turn away experience. I would like to distinguish the group as "young people: stepping up", not just emigrating because they are having the first set backs in their lives". Keep in mind the people who created the Celtic Tiger also made it consume itself. Fresh ideas and a fresh approach.
Although it would be up to democratic opinion on that point. Im not looking to start a dictatorship.

---

Guys suggestions are welcome and if anyone would like to join to organizing committee. Please PM me. This group is for us to share ideas has anyone previously set up a podcast? Im am going to organize a Facebook ASAP. We are hoping to have a website live for Jan/Feb.

DaMagooster

I would also be very interested in this. I was just the other day thinking to myself that I know around 25 people with a Masters each in various disciplines. Yet they are all unemployed and being tempted towards the airports as am I. It would be great if something like what the op is suggesting was set up to encourage these people to be creative and not get sucked into the recession bug. This group would have the potential to be very powerful and in my opinion could be moulded into very successful future business leaders. After all all it takes is a good idea to start a business but 18-20 years education each should help! Too often these days are people saying "ah shur what’s the point in college, you will only be drawing the dole like the rest". This mentality has to be stopped to encourage new business start ups. This group could serve to motivate a lot of people.

Great idea op..

seandouglas

Hi all,
Sean Douglas here. I'm delighted to see so many people interested in joining the group. Personally, my hope for it would be to augment each others learning of business from our respective fields and industries. As Adam said he's the beancounter(!) I'm starting up a retail franchise and I was chatting to a friend who is in recruitment and before that was in direct sales. I've no doubt that with all who are interested that between us we'd have a huge depth and breadth of knowledge between us to cover the whole gamut of topics that are involved in successful business practice.
I see the scope for this group is huge so any more suggestions you have for the group, what you'd want out of it etc are hugely welcomed.

For the name, how about BizMinds? ...
Problably cheesy but what it's simple so it could stick...

theunderdog

I am very interested in this. Since a young age i have been searching for ideas and i am always on the look out for opportunities. I agree it is up to us young pepole to make change. I am 18 and currently studying commerce in Galway.Thank you

Clearpreso

I'd be interested for sure. Where you thinking of getting this going? Also if anyone in on twitter, you can find me at @clearpreso

Look forward to seeing if we can get something going here.

seandouglas

Hi 'underdog',
that's great you're getting a headstart in business education. I had no formal education in business until two years ago when I did a Diploma in Finance and one in Management in the IMI. With that and the 30+ books I've read on the topic it's a sign that anyone can learn about it!

It wouldbe great to have the cutting edge info you're being taught and I'm sure you'd find it beneficial to hear real-life situations where you could apply your knowledge.

So is this going to go ahead, because honestly I think it'd be very worthwhile discussing certain facets of each others minds and divulging into how we can succeed through the mess which is Ireland.

theunderdog

seandouglas wrote: »

Hi 'underdog',
that's great you're getting a headstart in business education. I had no formal education in business until two years ago when I did a Diploma in Finance and one in Management in the IMI. With that and the 30+ books I've read on the topic it's a sign that anyone can learn about it!

It wouldbe great to have the cutting edge info you're being taught and I'm sure you'd find it beneficial to hear real-life situations where you could apply your knowledge.

Thank you for your response. I agree , it doesnt matter how much i learn in my degree, the only way to really learn and develop skills is to apply this knowledge to real-life situations.

moggie4000

I'd be very interested in this.

Just set up my own business recently. i was involved in the BNI a while back which was quite good. The thing about networking is, you get out of it what you put into it.

Would be great to meet up with like minded people.

When you thinking of setting up the first meeting?

Moggie

sweetcupcakes

Count me in

Joseph

I was only thinking about this the other day, definitely interested!

Adjogranty

First Blog: http://welcometobizminds.blogspot.com/2010/11/welcome-to-bizminds.html

Join Us on facebook: Search for Bizminds.

Clearpreso

Nice one guys,

The monthly meet up is a great idea. I wonder if it might be a good idea to get smaller meetups going inbetween these. For instance I work from a home office in glenageary and would be up for meeting up with fellow business owners who live near the area for casual coffee.

Maybe a section on the site where we could put up a mini "profile" would be a good idea. We could include, biz name, area, expertise etc.

Sorry if you have already suggested this!

Adjogranty

Clearpreso wrote: »

Nice one guys,

The monthly meet up is a great idea. I wonder if it might be a good idea to get smaller meetups going inbetween these. For instance I work from a home office in glenageary and would be up for meeting up with fellow business owners who live near the area for casual coffee.

Maybe a section on the site where we could put up a mini "profile" would be a good idea. We could include, biz name, area, expertise etc.

Sorry if you have already suggested this!

That is a great idea. Put up a request on the discussion board. I think we may need a dedicated forum for the site as the Facebook one is a bit limited. All baby steps. The biggest fear for me and Sean is to not put the ample preparation in to Bizminds. We want to attract companies and prominent people to talk on the podcast. To do that we are going to have to have a membership charter. We are working out the finer details at the moment.

Romka

I would be very interested myself! Though I am not Irish, but live in Ireland for the last 5 years.. would you accept me?

Adjogranty

Romka wrote: »

I would be very interested myself! Though I am not Irish, but live in Ireland for the last 5 years.. would you accept me?

Of course, Join the Facebook and introduce yourself.
search for Bizminds. (Page is in progress)

seandouglas

Adjogranty wrote: »

First Blog: http://welcometobizminds.blogspot.com/2010/11/welcome-to-bizminds.html

Join Us on facebook: Search for Bizminds.

Find us on Facebook:
http://touch.facebook.com/#/profile.php?id=163584193681060

seandouglas

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Want advice to maximise your business performance?
Ask us a question on Facebook for FREE answers,
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Adjogranty

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bizminds/163584193681060

Romka

I joined your facebook page before I got your approval..
Will introduce myself there in a sec.

Thanks guys!

Zonua

This looks like a great idea, thanks for the answer earlier re age OP. Will check out the FB page now.

million79

Hi,everyone,That's a great idea to set up a website like that.I'm from China,have been living in Ireland over 6years.I'd like to get to know everyone who 's interested in business,my plan is to be a reliable supplier when I back to China one day,maybe next year.

BusinessForums

Hi Guys,

I recently setup a site where people can netork with others in their area. The idea is based loosely on the the model where by people meet up early in the morning. The obvious advantage to our site is that it is free and can be done at any stage of the day or night.

Have a look and see if it is something you would be interested in.

www.BusinessForums.ie

Romka

Hi BusinessForum,

I miss skype section there at the contact details.. Maybe it is just a small thing but I think a lot people use it now.

seanphil

hi fellas. i'm interested and put a comment on fb page. hope to here from ya soon.

RATM

Why not just set up a LinkedIn group on this rather than an actual website?Unless you plan on making money from the website further down the line? If not and this is solely about networking the I think LinkedIn has all the infrastructure you'd need to get this going in an afternoon. The groups have discussion sections, jobs, afvice and organise the networking events.

YouProduce

RATM wrote: »

Why not just set up a LinkedIn group

I second this, good point. This would be a free space to start discussions and you could always set up a dedicated forum a little later. Goodluck lads, I hope this gets going, I was asking for it a couple of months ago, great to see, and I'll support it as much as I can:)

Adjogranty

Hey Guys,

The linked in is a great idea and im in the process of setting one up. The website was more somewhere to document the progress of the group. A membership charter and that kind of thing.. Plus if I am to get speakers for the podcast it is something to show we are serious...

I am interested in kicking off the meetings and podcast early in the new year. I want to thank you guys for your input and joining the facebook site. Any ideas for someone to interview on the first podcast??

It has been a weird few days for Ireland but I think its a good thing we got the bailout and didnt have to wait until the middle of next year thus adding to our uncertainty... Being employed by a multinational I could have lost my job this week with one decision about the tax rate. This has galvanised my ideals that to be in charge of your own destiny you must be in business for yourself.

EPjnr

Hi,

Great idea. I'm very interested.

Wouldnt really count myself as in business. But just graduated with a business degree and I've a profit share and a managment position in a small business for 2years now also in the process of two small start-ups but always on the look out for new ideas and I think this is a great idea. Thought of emigration already, but would really love to stay and build up some successful businesses in this country.
only 22 and think its a great idea to keep this for the young bizz minded people.

Adjogranty

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