Events
Cyber Resilience in the Era of AI | Cork
Smarttech247 brings its four-city roadshow to Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Belfast. AI is reshaping the threat landscape fast, and each event cuts through the noise with real-world case studies, speakers who’ve handled incidents first-hand, and local voices sharing what’s working.
In Cork, Gavan Egan (CRO) and Robert Kehoe (CTO) of Smarttech247 are joined by David Parkinson, Senior Solution Engineer at SOCRadar, and Niall O’Farrell, Senior Information Security Specialist at Laya Healthcare, who has over 20 years’ experience in cybersecurity.
Expect straight answers to practical questions:
What would an AI-enabled attack on your business look like?
What are the three things to fix first?
What do regulators and insurers now expect?
How do you get buy-in without a scare campaign?
You’ll also see a live demo of VisionX, Smarttech247’s AI-enhanced MDR platform, showing real-time threat detection and response in action. Plus, there’s networking over breakfast to compare notes with peers facing the same challenges.
This event is for senior information security professionals. Registrations from personal email addresses will not be accepted.
Registration Link: Cyber Resilience in the Era of AI | Cork Tickets, Wednesday, November 4 • 9 AM - 11 AM | Eventbrite
Waypoint Cork
Waypoint Cork: AI in Practice, Told by Local Business Leaders
After the success of Waypoint Dublin in September, Waypoint is coming to Cork.
Join us at Republic of Work for a morning with owners and directors from Cork businesses sharing how they're using AI in their own companies, where it's proving most useful, and what they've learned along the way. No hype, just honest, practical insight from people doing it.
Cork will be a more focused session than Dublin, with places limited to 40.
Register your interest - https://events.nomad.sc/a/apply-cfso4s2lng9enlw4
Growth Workshop Follow-up Breakfast
Join us for a relaxed morning of networking with businesses and local supports that can help grow your business. Meet industry professionals, build valuable connections, share ideas, and explore new opportunities for collaboration - all over breakfast.
Whether you're an established supplier or a growing business, this is a great opportunity to expand your network and strengthen relationships.
Register now to secure your place..
Scaling Beyond Borders: First Steps into the UK, Scotland & Ireland
Expanding into a new market shouldn't require massive upfront capital, months of blind networking, or bureaucratic guesswork.
The First Sales Hire: Why Most Founders Get It Wrong
The wrong first sales hire can cost €100,000+ and 12 to 15 months of runway, yet most founders make it anyway. Join us at Republic of Work on Thursday, November 19, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM for a free, in-person session on what has to be true before you spend that money. No slides, no deck: Fred draws the framework live, tests it against your actual company, and sends you home with a one-page diagnostic tool and a straight answer on where you stand. Includes a 60-minute workshop, a clinic and a light lunch. Bring your numbers. Registration is required and places are limited.
For more information click here - https://www.ndrc.ie/masterclasses/the-first-sales-hire-why-most-founders-get-it-wrong
International Men's Day – Pints & Ponytails at Republic of Work
To celebrate International Men’s Day, Pints & Ponytails is coming to Republic of Work for an evening of positive masculinity, fatherhood and learning something new.
Brought to you by Cork barber Kiwi, Pints & Ponytails is a fun, hands-on workshop that teaches dads how to style their daughters’ hair, from everyday ponytails and plaits to more creative looks. It started as a small Cork initiative and has grown into sold-out events across Ireland, where dads get together for a bit of craic and leave with skills they can use at home.
No experience needed, just a willingness to learn and have fun!
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR €35 TICKET
90-minute hands-on workshop
QR code access to video tutorials for every style taught
€1,000 hair transplant voucher from KSL Clinic
Goodie bag courtesy of Sons
Complimentary beers provided by Clinks
Build with Love — Powered by Republic of Work x Lovable
Build with Love × Lovable at Republic of Work 💛
Have an idea for your business or startup, but never built software before? Republic of Work is teaming up with Lovable for Build with Love - a 3-hour hands-on evening buildathon designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and non-technical founders.
No coding experience is needed. The goal is simple: build something real for your business - like a simple online shop, booking site, or interactive web app - and leave at 9:00 PM with a working app published at a live link.
Hosted by Meg O’Keeffe (Lovable Ambassador and Founder of Playher).
🎟️ Spots are limited. Register for free here - https://luma.com/hyqrpsr3
The Traps Killing Your Partnering Success for Global Sales - Book Launch Tour
Join us at Republic of Work, Cork, for a morning session with Donagh Kiernan - CEO of Tenego Partnering, Director of the Boole Investment Syndicate, and author of the Amazon bestseller "The Traps Killing Your Partnering Success for Global Sales."
Whether you are launching your first partner program, evaluating channel hires, or an investor/angel looking at scaling strategies for portfolio companies, this session delivers practical reality checks before you commit further budget and effort.
Register here - https://luma.com/afrs56wu
AI in HR
AI in HR: Practical Agents for Small Teams + What Pay Transparency Means for You
Most AI-in-HR content is written for companies with a People Analytics function. This session is for the rest owner-managers, HR generalists, and office managers in teams under fifty, doing the whole HR function themselves with no time to experiment.
Led by Fionnán, an HR practitioner, who built a full workforce compliance platform himself using AI tooling; this session shares what that actually took, what worked, what broke, and what's realistic for a small business without hiring anyone.
What you'll get:
✅ A live, no-code demo of building an AI agent, handling policy questions, drafting job adverts, structuring performance conversations. Leave with a method you can rebuild on your own material the same week.
✅ A clear breakdown of the EU Pay Transparency Directive and why it's wrongly assumed to be a big-company problem. Salary ranges in job ads, bans on asking pay history, and unenforceable pay secrecy clauses apply to a team of twelve exactly as they apply to a team of twelve hundred.
✅ What's certain regardless of Ireland's still-unpublished Bill — and what small employers should stop doing now.
Reserve Your Spot! https://hubs.ly/Q04q-_Z50
Knowledge Roundabout with Altuent
To mark Global Knowledge Management Week, Altuent is hosting its first Knowledge Roundabout at Republic of Work. As AI becomes part of everyday work, managing knowledge well matters more than ever. This interactive session brings professionals together to share ideas on how knowledge management supports AI adoption while keeping humans in control.
Topics include:
Complying with KM and EU AI standards
Am I an accidental knowledge manager?
Reducing content debt for your AI chatbot
SOS for SOPs: deviance in the workplace
After “Humans in the Loop”, what’s next?
Stay afterwards to network over refreshments, and carry the conversation on as the Cork Jazz Festival gets underway.
Growth Workshop
Looking for a fresh perspective on your business?
Join us for a hands-on session where you'll explore innovation, overcome business challenges, and uncover new opportunities for growth. Connect with experienced mentors and fellow entrepreneurs while developing practical strategies to move your business forward.
Register your interest. This is an interactive group session, space are limited.
Innovation Summit 2026
Save the Date: The Innovation Summit 2026 is back!
The Summit brings together business leaders, innovators, investors and ecosystem partners to explore how organisations are improving competitiveness, embracing AI, accelerating digital transformation and driving sustainable growth.
Through expert speakers, practical case studies and high-value networking, the summit will showcase how ambitious organisations are turning ideas into action, and action into measurable impact.
Whether you're leading transformation within your organisation or developing the technologies driving business performance, The Innovation Summit is where Ireland's innovation ecosystem comes together to connect, collaborate and create opportunity.
The full programme and speaker line-up will be announced in the coming weeks.
Add to your calendar
Overpath Sales Workshop
Your best rep isn't more talented. They just execute.
Overpath makes every rep execute like your best one, on every deal.
You already built the methodology. Overpath is what makes it stick.
The revenue execution layer that enforces it deal by deal, not workshop by workshop.
Your playbook works. It just doesn't work when you're not watching.
Overpath is the revenue execution layer that watches every deal, so the playbook doesn't need you to.
Scaling to the UK
Thinking about expanding into the UK?
Join Republic of Work and Skillnet Innovation Exchange for a practical morning designed to help Irish businesses understand what it takes to successfully scale into the UK market. Enjoy a networking breakfast before hearing from experienced founders and industry experts who will share real-world insights, common challenges, and practical advice to help you navigate your next stage of growth.
Whether you're exploring expansion or actively preparing to enter the UK, you'll leave with valuable connections and actionable insights to support your journey.
Spaces are limited, be sure to register to save your seat.
You're Not Ready: A Fundraising Reality Check
NDRC Masterclass
Wednesday 16th September | Republic of Work
A full day for founders, starting with breakfast and networking and running through a hands-on workshop, expert Q&A, and one-on-one VC hours.
10:30am — Breakfast & networking
11:00am–12:30pm — Workshop with DC Cahalane (SVV)
1:00pm–3:00pm — VC Hours (20-minute 1:1 slots)
Claude Meet Up
Calling all builders, tinkerers, and AI enthusiasts — join us for an evening with the Cork Claude community. Grab a beer and a slice of pizza, meet fellow developers, and swap ideas on what you're building with Claude.
Hosted by Dave, Anthropic Ambassador for Cork.
When: Tuesday 15th September, 5:30pm–8pm
Where: Republic of Work
What: Casual meetup, drinks & pizza.
Building a Global Company from Ireland - Endeavor x Republic of Work
Join us for an exclusive fireside chat and Q&A as part of Endeavor's visit to Cork. We'll hear from Niall Horgan (Gym+Coffee) and Alan Holland (Keelvar) on building and scaling ambitious companies, followed by networking drinks at The Imperial Hotel.
📍 Republic of Work
National AI Challenge
We’re proud to be a Hub Partner of the TechIreland National AI Challenge 2026!
This August, 400+ developers, startups, and AI enthusiasts across Ireland will tackle real-world problems - from sustainability and health to fintech and immersive tech, inspired by the theme: ‘AI & Agents: Strategy, Processes and Roles’
28 Aug – 14 Sept 10+ Demo Day locations Mentorship from leading experts
Registrations now open https://rebrand.ly/techirelandnational3898e0
Experience AI in Action: Republic of Work & Zartis Present the Cowork Workshop
Experience AI in Action: Republic of Work & Zartis Present the Cowork Workshop
We are thrilled to partner with Zartis to bring the Cowork Workshop to Cork on 9 July. If you are a senior business leader tired of standard AI hype and want to see how AI-assisted work functions in the real world, this interactive session is built for you.
Instead of watching a presentation, you will collaborate directly with Claude Cowork to build working automations on the spot, giving you a practical framework for bringing tangible value back to your team.
Date: 9 July
Location: Republic of Work, Cork
Audience: Senior leaders & decision-makers (No technical background needed)
Spaces for this small-group sessions are highly limited.
Register to save your seat!
NDRC Pre-Accelerator Showcase: Summer Batch 2026
20 early-stage startups have been busy validating their tech businesses in the NDRC Pre-Accelerator, hearing from successful entrepreneurs, and diving into customer and product development.
Now, it’s time to pitch! Join us at the Summer NDRC Pre-Accelerator Showcase on June 25th to watch live startup pitches, meet entrepreneurs from all over Ireland, and connect with startup ecosystem builders in Republic of Work, Cork City.
Full Agenda
12:00 - 12:30 | Welcome & Networking
12:30 - 12:40 | Opening
12:40 - 13:15 | Startup Pitches 1-10
13:15 - 13:45 | Break & Refreshments
13:45 - 14:30 | Startup Pitches 11-20
14:30 - 15:00 | Closing & Networking
Register and join us for a great day of innovation
AI Effectiveness for SMEs
AI Effectiveness for SMEs
This webinar is designed for SME founders, business owners, commercial leads, innovation leads, product leads, and team managers seeking a practical understanding of how AI can create value in their business. It is especially relevant for SMEs curious about AI, those beginning to explore its potential, or who would like to use AI more effectively in their business.
What will be covered?
- Practical business applications of AI for SMEs
- Identifying real value versus hype or distraction
- Examples of AI supporting efficiency, service delivery, and innovation
- Understanding risks: data exposure, mistakes, and weak governance
- Structured and responsible steps to begin AI integration
Session Overview
This webinar helps SMEs cut through the noise to build a practical understanding of AI in a business context. The session focuses on where AI creates real value, how to identify worthwhile use cases opportunities for efficiencies, and essential considerations regarding risk, data exposure, and governance. The goal is to provide a clear, practical overview of AI effectiveness, helping participants move forward with confidence.
What participants can expect to learn:
- A clearer understanding of AI's value in an SME setting.
- Awareness of practical risks and the importance of oversight.
- Confidence in approaching AI practically and responsibly.
- A simple framework to identify strong AI opportunities.
Register to save your seat
Unlock innovation and growth for your organisation
Pathway to Innovate Innovation Thinking Workshop | Republic of Work
Angel Investing Playbook & EIIS Tax Relief
Exploring Opportunities in Early-Stage Startup Investing
Selling at Scale Training with Dr. Maria Coakley
Scaling Sales in an SME is about building a sales engine. Most SME leaders aren't short on sales ability - they're limited by processes that can't scale at the pace they need.
Our upcoming Scalable Sales Growth Workshop is designed to help SME leaders:
Move from founder-led sales to repeatable growth
Build a healthy pipeline and forecast with confidence
Design sales processes that scale
Improve retention, upsell, and cross-sell
Align sales and marketing for better conversion
🕒 4.5-hour interactive workshop
🎯 Practical tools, frameworks, and action planning
Ideal for SME Founders, CEOs, Sales Directors & Sales Managers
👉 Register here. Limited spots!
Office Hours with JETRO
Connect directly with JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) during their Office Hours at Republic of Work.
This is a unique opportunity for founders to meet with Yasuyuki Ozeki, Dublin Resident Agent at JETRO, for a 1:1 mentoring and feedback session (25 mins) , designed to help early-stage startups get tailored advice on fundraising, scaling, and investment readiness.
Have couple time slots throughout the day:
9:30am - 10:30am and 12pm - 1pm
Please complete the application form to register.
Scale to Japan: Innovation, Investment & Market Entry with JETRO
Navigating Japan’s market with the right strategy and support
An insight-driven session exploring how startups and scaleups can successfully enter the Japanese market, collaborate with leading corporates, and unlock investment opportunities. Featuring real founder experiences and practical guidance from JETRO.
Networking breakfast: 10:30am - 11am
Fireside chat: 11am - 12pm
1:1Office Hours with JETRO: 12pm - 1pm (limited spots available, complete application form)
Register for this exclusive event, space limited: Register for event
Tech Industry Alliance for TechFest 2026
Join Tech Industry Alliance for TechFest 2026: AI, Technology & The Future on 21 May at the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork. As the South West of Ireland’s leading technology conference, TechFest delivers a high-impact day focused on AI, innovation, and real-world application.
Register 👉🏻 https://lnkd.in/d7_sAEF6
Future-Proof Your HR: Pay Transparency & AI Strategies for Scaling Businesses
With new legislation on the horizon, are you ready for pay transparency or rise of AI in HR?
With guest speakers Mary O’Brien Williams, Master HR Solutions and Fionnan O’Sullivan, Ainm.ai,this session breaks down the EU Pay Transparency Directive, offering a clear update on where things stand and what employers need to do now to stay ahead.
We’ll also explore how AI is reshaping HR from recruitment to decision-making and what you need to know to use it effectively while staying compliant.
Republic of Work, Thursday 14th May 10:30am - 12pm.
Agenda:
Networking breakfast: 10:30am
Session kicks-off: 11am - 11:50am
Live Q&A: 11:50am - 12pm
Seats are limited: Register to save your spot.
Breakfast & Business with Cork Local Enterprise Office
Pathway to Innovate Local Enterprise Office Breakfast in Republic of Work
Pathway to Innovate Clinic
Join us Thursday 30th of April, 9am - 2pm in Republic of Work, alongside business experts for a fully funded, one-day workshop to identify real-world supports and practical insights that will assist you to grow your business and achieve measurable results. Register your interest here.
A structured in-person pathway helping SMEs secure the right supports, embed innovation and accelerate purposeful competitiveness and growth
Diagnose. Connect. Evolve.
Pathway to Innovate is Ireland’s national catalyst for ambitious SMEs ready to strengthen resilience, competitiveness and sustainable growth through structured innovation. Designed to help established, growth-oriented SMEs embed innovation at the core of their business strategy, turning ambition into action.
Pathway to Innovate is designed for established SMEs (typically 3+ years operating, €1m+ revenue, 10–50 employees) who are ready to scale with structure and intent.
If your business is ready to diagnose where you are, connect with the right supports and evolve with a clear roadmap for growth, we encourage you to register for this Innovation Clinic.
SPACES ARE LIMITED. Secure your place today.
SMEs engage directly with experienced facilitators, peers and ecosystem partners in a trusted in-person environment. The in-person setting makes agencies more accessible, builds real relationships and creates space for practical conversations and actionable guidance tailored to their specific challenges.
Who from my company should attend?
The clinics are best suited to: CEO, Founder or Co-Founder, Senior leaders responsible for growth, scaling or innovation, Gain clarity, build connections, and walk away with a practical 90-day innovation plan to grow your business. The programme is delivered by: Skillnet Innovation Exchange and IRDG Innovation Skillnet.
Register your interest here.
Accelerating Innovation Webinar with Skillnet Innovation Exchange
Accelerating Innovation Webinar in partnership with Skillnet Innovation Exchange
AI & Cybersecurity for SMEs: AI without the Chaos
Republic of Work, in partnership with Skillnet Innovation Exchange, is hosting a hybrid (in-person and online) high-impact 60-minute session focused on AI and cybersecurity, with expert Kamil Mahajan and keynote speaker Mark Bronson.
Designed for business leaders, innovation leads and decision-makers, this practical session will deliver clear, insights into AI risk, cybersecurity readiness and what real-world scale-up looks like in today’s environment.
If you're looking to strengthen your organisation’s approach to emerging technologies while managing risk with confidence, this session will provide the clarity and direction you need.
Also suitable for anyone curious about AI or cybersecurity.
Republic of Work, Wednesday April 15th 10:30am - 12pm.
Agenda:
Networking breakfast: 10:30am
Session kicks-off: 11am - 11:50am
Live Q&A: 11:50am - 12pm
Seats are limited: Register to save your spot.
VC Office Hours & Mixer with WakeUp Capital
Connect directly with WakeUp Capital VC during their Office Hours and Fireside chat at Republic of Work on April 9th, 2pm - 7pm.
This is a unique opportunity for founders to meet with Andrew Parish, Partner at WakeUp Capital, for a 1:1 mentoring and feedback session, designed to help early-stage startups get tailored advice on fundraising, scaling, and investment readiness.
Please complete your application for 1:1 Office Hours: Here.
Register for fireside chat and mixer: Here
Business 101: tax, legal and investment workshop
This workshop is designed for founders who want to build strong foundations, avoid common mistakes, and structure their startup for growth. Gain insights into:
A Legal, Tax & Investment Workshop Register: Here
Office Hours with WakeUp Capital also available in afternoon. Please register here.
Hybrid event: join in-person or online.
Networking Breakfast: 10:30am - 11am
Workshop: 11am - 12pm (Hybrid)
Register for the workshop: Here
NDRC StartUp Sprint
A 1-day sprint designed to turn ideas from concept to reality. Connect with other passionate entrepreneurs for a day of workshops, startup resources, and access to entrepreneurial mentors to help formulate your idea and explore the potential of creating a globally scalable business.
Applications close March 26th.
Start with simply an idea, build a team, and ask lots of questions. Finish with a diverse and supportive network, validated market research, and a refined problem statement & solution that you can turn into a startup.
Register: https://www.ndrc.ie/startup-sprint
Prepare to Innovate | Pathway to Innovate Webinar
Join us on Thursday, March 26th | 10:00–11:00am for Prepare to Innovate, an introductory webinar designed for organisations considering their next phase of growth through structured innovation.
During this session, Conor Carmody will outline who the Pathway to Innovate programme is designed for and how ambitious SMEs can engage with the upcoming Innovation Clinics.
The team from IRDG will also share how they will deliver the Innovation Clinics, providing practical insight into how organisations will diagnose opportunities, connect with the right supports and evolve their innovation capability.
We will also hear from Maria Cosgrove, who will present Innovation Thinking in Action: Solving Real Challenges & Bringing Ideas to Life — exploring how organisations can turn innovation thinking into real business outcomes.
During the session, we’ll explore:
🔹 What innovation really means in practice
🔹 The mindset required to embed innovation across teams
🔹 Why innovation can sometimes stall — even in ambitious organisations
🔹 The role of disciplined, structured thinking in driving results
🔹 How regional engagement with Pathway to Innovate can support your innovation journey
Register today.