Speakers

John Harbison is Chairman Emeritus of Tech Coast Angels – the largest Angel investor group, where he has led 14 deals and invested in over 60 startups. He is also an active investor in public companies, and has realized returns from 100x – 1100x in five companies (Microsoft, Apple, Abbott Labs, Nucor and McGraw-Hill). He currently serves on the ACA Board, and has served as a Director on Boards of many early stage companies -- John enjoys mentoring and helping these companies succeed. Previously he co-founded Next Autoworks – a disruptive new American car company backed by investors such as Kleiner Perkins and Google Ventures. Before that he served as CEO of network security software SilentRunner Inc., and as President of Raytheon Commercial Ventures Inc. where he launched four businesses in two years leading to two successful exits and a third company which achieved $700 million in annual revenue within eight years. Earlier in his career, he was a strategy consultant and partner at Booz•Allen Hamilton where he led the firm’s Aerospace/Defense Practice, its Strategic Alliances functional practice, and opened its Los Angeles office. He has an BA cum laude from Harvard College, an MS in accounting from NYU Stern and a MBA from Harvard Business School with first year honors.

John is commercially driven to identify, create and scale new business opportunities. He has grown and scaled companies, including his own, in Ireland, the UK and in the USA. These include several start-ups; one in the UK, three in Ireland (most recently RecommenderX AI) and GM of a games company in Chicago. His domain knowledge is in the AI, Software, ICT, MediaTech & Animation/content sectors.

John is involved with all stages of funding (Equity, Debt, Grant, R&D) and stages of development from M&A exit transactions, Series A, Seed and R&D, and has also engaged in early stage Research (H2020 and the European Commission).

Through his engagement with Dublin BIC, the Halo Business Angel Network, the AIB Seed Fund and Enterprise Ireland he has his “Finger on the Pulse” of entrepreneurial activity in Ireland.

John is also the co-founder of RecommenderX (www.recommenderx.com), Chair of lifestyle learning content brands Knowhowdo (www.knowhowdo.com ) and the Independent Chair of Animation Ireland (www.animationireland.com ) with members employing over 1,500 and annual revenues ~ €100m. Sometimes artist, sometimes sailor...

Niamh is the Co-founder & Board Member of several high performing export driven companies both in Ireland and the UAE.  Most recently  her digital publishing company is targeting the U.S market.

With over 20 years Directorial & Senior Executive experience, Niamh brings a wealth of commercial and customer focused insight to her new role.  She has developed & implemented viable business growth strategies & cohesive business processes, exercising control and accountability for driving revenue growth & profitability.

She has a dynamic career spanning both the corporate & entrepreneurial space with a passion & energy for delivering results and is a key member of the team to build strategic partnerships and negotiate contracts across the UAE and MENA regions. 

Niamh is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Julian is a proven business development professional with over 18 years international experience in Telecoms, ICT, Cleantech, Education, NGO and FMCG sectors.

He has held senior sales roles with Diageo in Germany, Ericsson, Telecom New Zealand and is former Head of Operations for ECDL Foundation. He has also worked as Head of Industry Engagement for The Green Way, Dublin's Cleantech cluster.

Julian has a 1st class MSc in E-Commerce from DCU, an honours degree in Marketing also from DCU and post graduate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from UCD's Innovation Academy.