I think that this doesn’t really do Irish firms any favours at all. Especially in Digital Media where we are competing in global markets, if there isn’t a solid business case for using an Irish company then I don’t think we should. Being able to physically meet and the lack of language difficulties is a solid business reason but has to be balanced by quality and costs.

I believe that especially in the current climate everyone will start to do cost benefit analysis on their service providers and if costs are higher from using Irish companies then this will make them less competitive. Will our global economy mean the end of rip-off Ireland as we look for a better deal? Should we buy Irish anyway to try and support Irish firms or should those firms rationalise and look at the international market and adjust rates and quality to compete?

I say go for the best deal no matter what, but if it’s a close run thing then buy Irish. What do you think?

In partnership with the Media Cube at IADT, we are organising a national Mini-conference, networking event and breakfast for digital media companies focusing on those who have come through the many incubation centres around the country.

When: Wednesday the 17th of December commencing at 8.00 a.m. There is no attendance fee and breakfast will be provided.

Where: The Media Cube, IADT, Dun Laoghaire.

The event is designed to provide a way for digital media related companies around the country to network, so if you’re involved in Web, mobile, games, animation or content creation and delivery here’s a chance to network and meet other people in early stage digital media companies.

Our intention is that the event generates real business for the companies who attend and that those attending will have the opportunity to hear about startup programs and benefits from the likes of Microsoft, EI, Intertrade Ireland, and business angels focused on the sector will also be there.

A full schedule will be available shortly.

Expo: A limited number of presentation podiums are available to companies if they want to to demo their products and services. We are also in the process of working out an incentivised hotel deal for those who wish to stay over the night before and can provide more details on this to interested companies.

Click here to register to demo in the Expo.

Please register below if you are you wish to attend. Thanks and we’ll see you there.

3 Year Tax exemption for Start-up Companies

New start-up companies which commence trading in 2009 will be exempt from tax, including capital gains, in each of the first three years to the extent that their tax liability in the year does not exceed €40,000.

This measure is being examined to ensure it is in compliance with EU rules on State-Aid. Further details of this incentive will be contained in the Finance Bill.

What this means is that a new company starting to trade in 2009 can earn up to €320,000 in profit per year (tax liability of €40,000) without paying corporation tax. It’s important to note that that is profit NOT turnover and it also includes capital gains tax. This is a per year allocation so, as I understand it and please correct me if I’m wrong, this means that a startup commencing to trade next year could make €960,000 in profit in the next 3 years and not pay corporation tax.

I’ll be watching this to see how it runs through the compliance stage but it’s definitely good news for the startups and entrepreneurs. Might even encourage a few startups from abroad to locate here. Admittedly it doesn’t help those who’ve already started trading but we rarely get everything.

This brings us back to a popular subject of late which is what can be done to foster innovation started by Pat Phelan on his blog in the run up to our panel on the subject which had some more interesting feedback on the ranging from the lack of angel investment, lack of venture capital, difficulties in dealing with Enterprise Ireland and the huge issues of lack of adequate broadband coverage. I’ll be interested in hearing what Joe Drumgoole of Putplace has to say on the subject at an upcoming IIEA roundtable.

Neil Leyden has ideas regarding a Digital Content Sevices Centre which is an interesting idea and one I’d be interested in hearing peoples views on.

How can this and other measures help foster innovation in Ireland? What measures would you like to see specifically? Can we use innovative homegrown companies to navigate the country to calm waters in these stormy economic times? I’d love your thoughts…

Ryans been a big Fan of the Irish Scene since the FOWA roadtrip and Web2ireland Demobar last year. So I guess he final got himself an excuse to come back.

When: Future of Web Apps comes to Dublin Friday March 6th 2009! 10am - 5pm

Where: Liberty Hall Theatre Eden Quay, Dublin

After Party: The Dandelion Club and Digital Island Meetup should be doing something with them for that.

There will be a limited number of seats at €115 on a first come first served basis then it goes up to €175.

This is the event link but it’s not live till tomorrow (Thursday 13th): http://events.carsonified.com/fowa/2009/dublin

They really have some great speakers too!

• David Heinemeier Hansson - 37signals and Ruby on Rails
• Blaine Cook - ex Twitter & Yahoo! Brickhouse
• Mike Butcher - TechCrunch
• UK Contrast.ie - UseQwitter.com
• Ryan Carson - Carsonified and DropSend
• Matt Ogle - Last.fm Simon
• Simon Willison - Co-creator of the Django web framework
• Emma Persky - TrampolineSystems.com

It’s great to see these kind of conferences coming to Ireland and shining a light on some of the really great things going on here. I hope to see you there.

6:45-7:15 – Opening presentations from

• Dr. Jimmy Devins, Minister of State for Science and Innovation
• Paul Rellis, Managing Director of Microsoft Ireland
• Cliff Reeves, General Manager of Microsoft’s Global Strategic and Emerging Business Group.

7:15-7:45 – Panel Discussion:- ‘How can we foster start-ups and innovation in Ireland today’. Panel members include:

• Cliff Reeves (above),
• Brian Caulfield, Irish Venture Capitalist;
• Pat Phelan, MAXroam, entrepreneur and winner of the IIA Net Visionary Award 2008
• Anton Mannering, CEO of Irish Startup Udoogoo, Organiser of Digital Island Meetups, Network Facilitator All Island Digital Media Network at Digital Media Forum
• Pat Brazel, CEO of Irish startup Zignals;
• Conor O’Riordan, CEO of Irish startup Tradefacilitate

7:45 Presentations from Mobile startups

• Locle
• Justroutes

From when their done we’ll have the usual networking featuring OpenDemo. WE should have some interesting companies opening up their laptops to demo at the event stay tuned for announcement of who’ll be there later on.

Here are some sample questions for the panel discussion but arm yourself with your own for the night.

• What are key drivers of innovation in other market places – how can we replicate that in Ireland?
• What are the biggest blockers to innovation? How can we overcome them?
• What assistance is available to help bring technical solutions to market in Ireland? From government bodies / corporations?
• Please comment on the drop in computer science graduates – will this negatively impact our efforts to become a centre of tech innovation?
• What do you see as the big opportunities in the IT sector in the next 5 years? Future areas of investment?
• Web 2.0 has seen a lot of start-ups with an ad-based business model – what are the drawbacks to this model – any recommendations from the panel about alternative business models?
• How can small businesses attract investment?
• Any tips for expanding your business into international markets – what support is there from government bodies / corporations?

Agenda will be some informal networking then a (VERY short) talk about the All Island Digital Media Network and what it’s aims are followed by some discussion on that. Then I’ll be looking for some feedback on what you guys think formats for breakfast events should be in the future.

We’ll get the coffees and the croissants you just get yourself there.

You can view the article at www.calico.ie

We are looking for your comments on the article so that we can build upon and add to the ideas suggested within and submit as part of a larger proposal. 

You can post your comments on the blog at www.calico.ie (just under the article) or if you prefer, send your thoughts privately to us at: neil@digitalmediaforum.net

Please let us know if you want your comments attributed to your company in our submission. 

Thanks.

Winner of the Overall Netvisionary Award was Cork Entrepreneur Pat Phelan. Pat is the behind Maxroam and twitterfone to mention a few and is always forthcoming with advice for young entrepreneurs. Well deserved.

Here’s the full list of winners

Overall Net Visionary
Pat Phelan, MaxRoam

Web developer excellence
Jennifer O’Brie, Webtools Software

Web design excellence
Karen Hanratty, www.pixeldesign.ie

Social Contribution
Niall Devine, MyCharity.ie

Mobile Internet Innovation
Johnny Beirne, downloadmusic.ie

Journalist Award
Marie Boran, Silicon Republic

Internet Marketer
Michele Neylon, Blacknight Solutions

Internet Entrepreneur
Derek Quinn, MyAddress.ie

Innovation
Niall Devine, MyCharity.ie

Educational Contribution
Paul Whelan, Lichens.ie

eGovt
Cathy Clarke, www.itsyourmoney.ie

Best Use of Social Media:
Marcus Mac Innes, Pix.ie

Best Online Trader Ireland
Brian Fallon, www.daft.ie

Best Online Financial Service:
Martin O’Leary, RaboDirect

Online Exporter
Lulu O’Sullivan, www.4giftsdirect.com

Best Online business use of Irish
Niall O’Driscoll, vStream

Best Business Podcaster
Alex Gibson, www.thepersuaders.com

Best Business Blogger
Michele Neylon

I’d like to add my congratulations to all of these guys. Well done to to the Irish Internet Association and all involved.

Ok folks two things. First of all there’s a change of venue for the Digital Island Meetup on the 6th of November. We’re heading to the (very posh) Four Seasons Hotel in Ballsbridge for the meetup. Sorry for the late change but it’ll be worth it.

The second thing is that Microsoft will be launching a new program for startups at the Digital Island Meetup. Details of the program are under wraps at the moment but Paul Rellis, GM Microsoft Ireland and Cliff Reeves, GM Microsoft Global Emerging Business Team will be there to tell us about the program. So we can safely assume that this is a big announcement for Microsoft.

Here’s some of the admittedly vague details of the program. The announcement is at 6:30pm so get their early to get all the juicy bits and don’t worry it won’t drag on.

Members of the program will get

1. All the software and tools they need to both develop and deploy their solution,
2. Technical and business support
3. Lots more visibility to potential customers, partners and investors.
4. The program also offers start-ups in Ireland and Northern Ireland some great discounts on hardware and hosting packages

After they do the launchy thing we’ll be having a short panel discussion on fostering start-ups and innovation in Ireland, featuring some local start-ups, and representatives from industry bodies and even a few VCs as well. Come along and grill them if you like…

Then we’re back to MoMo territory with some short presentations from three mobile startups and then we’re into OpenDemo and networking.

Go signup to come along now so we know who’s coming.

Where: Cafe Urbano, IFSC, Dublin – Tuesday, 4th November, 7:30am-ish

We do evening events regularly but we want to offer more. We want to run a smaller event at the other end of the day for Digital people who can’t make it in the evenings.

The theme of the event is open for now but there will be a Q&A about the progress of the network project and the Digital Media Forum and I’d love your suggestions ideas and inputs for future events and initiatives.

We will be running another breakfast in Dublin for Enterprise week on Friday 21st on the theme of “Funding in a tightening economy” more details to follow on that one.

The format will initially be relatively free flowing with some networking and informal discussions. That’s not fixed though so we’re open to the idea of this becoming seminar based or otherwise. We’d love your input into what type of event this eventually becomes. So come along and add your views.

Coffee and pastries will be provided and some good networking to boot. See you there…

Please leave a comment below if you’re coming. (Gives us an idea of numbers)