Google, Morgan Stanley and Riverdance composer Bill Whelan among more than 50 speakers set to explore the future of Irish enterprise, innovation and investment.
Some of the biggest names in technology, investment, business and culture will gather in Castlebar this October as West X West returns with an expanded two-day programme focused on the future of Irish enterprise.
The festival, which takes place on 15 and 16 October, will bring together founders, investors, global enterprise leaders and cultural figures from Ireland, the UK and the US for discussions on artificial intelligence, scaling international businesses, cybersecurity, MedTech, venture capital and the commercial space economy.
“This is not simply another pitch competition. We want it to create meaningful connections with US VCs, generating opportunities that continue long after the event”
West X West organisers say the event will feature more than 50 speakers, nine panel discussions, a live founder competition and 18 cultural performances across Castlebar.
The West is awake
Among the confirmed speakers are Mimi Underwood, Senior Director at Google; Malcolm Craig, Country Head of Revolut Ireland; Bobby Healy, founder and CEO of Manna Drones; Cormac Whelan, CEO of Nitro; Ruairí O’Healai, Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management; Amy Neale, General Partner at Delta Partners; and Bill Whelan, the internationally acclaimed composer behind Riverdance.
The programme will also feature contributors from UiPath, Payslip, Learnosity, CitySwift, Daon, Cytidel and a range of Irish, UK and US venture capital firms including Plug and Play, HOXTON VC, Left Lane Capital and Seraphim VC.
Key discussions will focus on how Agentic AI is reshaping enterprise technology, what investors are looking for in the next generation of Irish MedTech companies, the path to international exits, and how startups can scale successfully from Ireland to global markets.
Derek O’Doherty, founder of West X West, said the event was created to help ambitious Irish founders connect with investors and experienced business leaders.
“West X West is built around a simple idea: in an age of AI and remote working, the barriers to building global Irish tech businesses are falling, and bringing ambitious and interesting people together in the market will spur tangible activity and growth.”
He added: “We host several US, UK & Irish VCs here to meet Irish founders…along with global enterprise leaders, to have mature, authentic & challenging debates about building the next wave of incredible Irish tech firms. The innate creativity shared by both Irish tech founders and our culture leaders is central to that experience, creating an atmosphere where conversations and connections can continue long after the panels finish.”
A major feature of the festival will be Future Foundry, a live competition aimed at pre-seed Irish companies working in sectors including MedTech, AI, FinTech and B2B software. Thirty-two startups will compete through quarter-finals, semi-finals and a grand final in front of investors and enterprise leaders.
Four winners will earn the opportunity to travel to New York to participate in Irish Tech Week at the Nasdaq building, connecting them with US venture capital firms and international business networks.
Speaking about the initiative, O’Doherty said: “There is no shortage of ambitious founders building potentially world-class companies in Ireland. What many need is access to experienced investors, enterprise leaders, international networks and opportunities to tell their story on a bigger stage.
“Future Foundry is designed to create tangible access to US VCs. It begins with 32 founders pitching in Castlebar on Thurs, October 15th, with the four winning founders being flown to New York on Sunday, October 18th, to take advantage of Irish Tech Week at the Nasdaq building on Monday, October 19th.
“This is not simply another pitch competition. We want it to create meaningful connections with US VCs, generating opportunities that continue long after the event.”
Alongside its business and technology agenda, West X West will place a strong emphasis on culture and creativity. The evening programme will include performances and appearances from Bill Whelan, Niall Breslin, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Kevin McGahern, FeliSpeaks, Róisín El Cherif, Dani Larkin, Ispíní na hÉireann and Slyrydes.
Organisers say the event aims to create connections between technology, investment, enterprise and culture, allowing conversations that begin during the day to continue through evening performances and networking events.
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