SportsTech Ireland Co-Founders Share Start-Up Journey to Inspire Others

Attending the ‘What it takes to be an entrepreneur’ Network Ireland Limerick event at the No1 Perry Square Hotel & Spa were Special guest speakers and Founders of SportsTech Ireland, Emily Ross, Grainne Barry and Martina Skelly with Valerie Murphy, President Network Ireland Limerick and Valerie’s Breast Care and Gillian Horan, The Pudding.

SportsTech Ireland Co-Founders Share Start-Up Journey to Inspire Others

Three Limerick businesswomen spoke about the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur and the opportunity for start-ups in the SportsTech sector at a Network Ireland Limerick event supported by LEO Limerick at One Pery Square recently.

The co-founders of SportsTech Ireland, Grainne Barry, Martina Skelly and Emily Ross, shared their collective and individual experiences of running their own business and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. All three agreed on the importance of having a clear mission statement and values.

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“Know what you want, narrow down the people you need to meet and be specific in your asks and your objectives,” said Gráinne Barry, EMEA Operations Director, STATS Data & Technology Ltd and also co-found of SportsTech Ireland.

She was joined at the event by Martina Skelly, Co-founder and CEO of software company YellowSchedule and Emily Ross, Founder and CEO of InkVine Consultants in a fireside chat facilitated by Gillian Horan, The Pudding.

Not content with their own businesses and job roles, the three businesswomen came together to establish SportsTech Ireland which aims to champion Ireland as a leading destination for SportsTechnology and Innovation in 2017. 

According to Emily Ross, the opportunities for start-ups in the SportsTech sector is huge, “Data and the interpretation of data is hugely important in all sports and there are plenty of opportunities to exploit that and develop innovative products.”

The three entrepreneurs also highlighted the importance of having mentors and advisory panels with specialist expertise to guide you on your journey and provide a sounding board.

Valerie Murphy, President of Network Ireland Limerick said, “It was encouraging to hear the emphasis on mentoring. This is something that Network Ireland has really focused on in the last year and provides a free mentoring programme for all members. All three speakers caught the imagination of our attendees. Their openness and honesty about their highs and lows was refreshing and insightful. ”

Network Ireland Limerick provides a forum where women in business, the professions and the Arts can exchange business ideas and increase their business contacts.

About the speakers:
Grainne Barry, Martina Skelly and Emily Ross set up SportsTech Ireland which aims to champion Ireland as a leading destination for SportsTechnology and Innovation. It was established in 2017 and is headquartered in Limerick.

Gráinne Barry is EMEA Operations Director for STATS Data & Technology Ltd.  STATS are the most innovative sports technology company worldwide, headquartered in Chicago with its EMEA headquarters based in Limerick, employing 130 people.  Prior to STATS, Gráinne was COO with Irish healthtech company Salaso.  Gráinne holds multiple qualifications in business, management and computer science, and is a Chartered Director IOD.

Martina Skelly is Co-founder and CEO of software company YellowSchedule, Vodafone Start-up Awards Businesswoman of the year and the Irish Internet Association’s Net Visionary Awards Start-up of the Year 2014. Named by Silicon Republic as one of the top 100 women in STEM in Ireland 2014. She holds multiple qualifications in Marketing, Management and Technology.

Emily Ross is Founder and CEO of InkVine Consultants.  PR, SEO and Communications specialist, journalist and marketing strategist.  Former Director of Unicef Ireland and WhatClinic.com.

About Network Ireland Limerick

Network Ireland Limerick provides a forum where women in business, the professions and the Arts can exchange business ideas and increase their business contacts. It encourages women to achieve more satisfying careers and promotes women as worthy contributors to the Irish economy. Network Ireland Limerick is a branch of Network Ireland, a national organisation driving the personal and professional development of women with over 1,000 members and 12 branches throughout the country. 

Network Ireland Limerick holds monthly networking meetings where a guest speaker is invited to educate, inform and entertain on topics of interest to women. Members can develop and pool their individual skills through interaction with other women in a supportive environment which offers, training, mentoring and an opportunity for women who call on other members with specialist expertise for help. It also provides a forum for established women to develop professional and social contacts.

Network Ireland Limerick is sponsored by the Local Enterprise Offices in Limerick.  The Local Enterprise Office is the First Stop Shop for anyone seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in Ireland.  

AIB is a partner with Network Ireland and supports the organisation at both a national and regional level.

For further information please visit www.localenterprise.ie or  www.networkireland.ie

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