9:00
Welcome from the Chair
Marc Coleman
founder, Octavian Research
Raising capital: What now for Ireland’s growth companies?
9:10
Raising capital in the context of Covid-19
Veteran investor Brian Caulfield shares his insights on the outlook for Ireland’s growth potential companies. He also discusses the steps to successfully raising capital during the Covid-19 crisis, how government can support growing businesses during and after the crisis, what it can do to attract public and private capital investment in firms and support scaling Irish enterprises
Brian Caulfield
Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist and Chair of Scale Ireland
9:25
PANEL DISCUSSION:
The role of stock markets in funding scaling companies
Stockmarkets provide a permanent source of capital in good times and in bad. Irish public companies have raised almost €2bn from institutional and private shareholders since the start of the Covid crisis. Our panel discusses the key factors influencing investor demand at the moment, the IPO and follow-on fundraising markets and what steps a company considering listing can do to be “IPO ready” and attract equity capital. The panel will also discuss when is the right time in a company’s development to “go public”
Jim Joyce
CEO and Co-Founder of Health Beacon
Dermot Crowley
Deputy Chief Executive, Dalata Hotel Group plc
Robert Stokes
Equity Investor, Heights Capital Management
Orla O’Gorman
Head of Equity Listing Ireland, Euronext Dublin
10:00
An entrepreneur’s insight…
From a two-man band to a €100m turnover business built over 26 years, John has survived many economic downturns. He shares his insights on surviving the current economic shock and building resilience for the future
John Purdy
Co-Founder and CEO, Ergo Group
10:15
Networking Break
10:30
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Perspectives on investing post-Covid and 2021 investor outlook
Our panel of industry insiders will examine the options for taking your business to the next level in the post-pandemic world and discuss opportunities for raising capital and how deal terms and investor engagement have changed post Covid-19
John Dolan
Managing Director of Private Equity, Cardinal Capital Group
Dr. Fergal McAleavey
Senior Investment Director, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF)
Elaine Coughlan
Managing Partner and Founder, Atlantic Bridge
Valuing your growth-stage business in a post-pandemic world
11:05
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Understanding business valuation
As valuations are impacted by the current environment, our panel examines the key fundamentals that drive business valuations. They’ll also discuss the metrics companies should be mindful of and the flow of capital to ESG investments
Mark Flood
Co-Founder, Renatus Capital Partners
Ian Huggard
Institutional Equity Sales, Goodbody
Rory Quirke
Partner and Co-Head of Investments, MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland
Saving viable businesses and supporting growth slowed
by the crisis
11:40
Networking Break
11:55
PANEL DISCUSSION:
Consolidation, restructurings and defaults
In every crisis, it will be necessary for some businesses to consolidate and restructure. Our panel looks at the outlook for the private debt market going forward, the sectors that are more likely to be impacted by restructurings and consolidations and we’ll hear a personal experience from entrepreneur Brody Sweeney
Myles O’Grady
Chief Financial Officer, Bank of Ireland Group
Brody Sweeney
founder and Chief Executive, Camile Thai Kitchen
Mark Thorne
Partner, Banking & Capital Markets, Dillon Eustace
12:25
Lunch Break
1:00
Welcome back from the Chair
Marc Coleman
founder, Octavian Research
Real-life experiences adapting to the “new normal”
by the crisis
1:05
PANEL DISCUSSION:
How have growth strategies changed and business models adapted during and post-crisis?
We hear from successful companies on how they have adapted to the new realities
Richard Kennedy
Chief Executive, Devenish
Adrian McGennis
CEO, Sigmar Recruitment Group
Eoin Leonard
Founder and CEO, i3PT
1:35
Interview with Sarah Newman
The former Dragons’ Den star talks about her business successes, how her dream life fell apart, her darkest moments in the public eye and how she has put her life back together again
Sarah Newman
Enrepreneur, investor and Ex Dragons Den star
1:55
PANEL DISCUSSION:
How can you be sure you’re getting a good investment deal?
Raising capital is one of the biggest challenges that any entrepreneur will face. So, once you do get an investor, how can you be sure you’re really getting a good investment deal?
Whatever route you choose, you need to recognise a good deal from a bad one to avoid getting burned. Choosing the right partner and establishing the right terms is key to a mutually beneficial deal that will grow your business into a success. Our panel of entrepreneurs share what you need to know before you pitch your business in the current climate and how to successfully engage with investors in both public and private markets
Philip White
Chief Financial Officer, Diaceutics PLC
Alan Foy
Chairman at Blueface and Co-Founder of Venturewave Capital.
Lorcan Tiernan
Partner and Head of Corporate and M&A, Dillon Eustace
Lulu O’Sullivan
Founder and CEO, giftsdirect.com