A University of Limerick economics professor has appeared as part of the Forbes Under 30 Forum, which took place in Limerick this Monday.
Stephen Kinsella, Professor of Economics and Head of the Department of Economics at UL’s Kemmy Business School, took part in the first panel discussion with Randall Lane, Chief Content Officer at Forbes at the event in the Strand Hotel.
Joining them for the wide-ranging discussion on ‘Setting the stage: Limerick’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem’ was Chris Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Tracworx, who studied at UL before leaving to establish the company.
“What makes Limerick unique is that we all had to pull together and wear the green jersey,” Professor Kinsella said, while talking about Limerick’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the role third level can play within that.
Professor Kinsella told the audience that “all you need is an idea” to become an entrepreneur and said that Limerick had a “much more developed institutional ecosystem here” now.
Mr Lane said he was looking forward to sharing the story of Limerick’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem with the brand’s global audience.
The Forbes Chief Content Officer was speaking at the event which was attended by local entrepreneurs, business school students and Forbes 30 Under 30 honourees – including those from the newly-minted Forbes Under 30 Europe class of 2023.
The event at the Strand Hotel was held in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council.
Forbes committed to bringing a promotional conference to Limerick after the publication withdrew a contentious article in 2021.
Mr Lane explained: “The local leadership here spoke up, the people of Limerick spoke up, and we realised that the story did not meet our standards. We thought maybe we should apologise but those are just words and what really matters is action so we made a promise that Forbes would come to Limerick.
“It was a chance to write a new ending of the story together,” he added.
The hosting of the event was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Lane said he looked forward to finally being able to share Limerick’s story.
“I’m very excited to spend the rest of today listening, learning, and then sharing. We are a global brand reaching audiences around the world and we are going to share with them what is going on here in Limerick,” he said.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Francis Foley was delighted to welcome senior Forbes staff to the city.
“Forbes have made good on their commitment to come to Limerick and in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council they have delivered an exceptionally positive event. The Forbes Under 30 Forum shone an international spotlight on Irish innovation while also showcasing Limerick’s thriving business landscape. Limerick has a rich heritage, a vibrant city and a rich pool of talented young people. It is a city and county that we can all be proud of.”
Chief Executive of Limerick City and County Council Dr Pat Daly said: “In Limerick, we are a city fuelled by a unique kind of energy, an energy that stems from our thriving business landscape and the dedication of our young and talented professionals. These individuals are not merely shaping the future of industry in Ireland, but they are also creating a positive international spotlight that shines upon our beloved Limerick. Our vibrant economy thrives across a diverse range of sectors. Limerick presents itself as an attractive opportunity for businesses, providing a high standard of living at a relatively low cost compared to other major Irish cities.”
John Hartnett, Founder and CEO, SVG Ventures, who spoke on the panel around Limerick’s next generation of entrepreneurs, said: “Words are easy but actions are hard. To Randall and Forbes we want to say: thank you for coming to Limerick.”
The Forbes Under 30 Forum at Limerick’s Strand Hotel featured panel discussions exploring Limerick’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, innovation and opportunity in Ireland and Ireland’s finance and investing landscape.
Randall Lane said it was a good time to be a young entrepreneur.
“This is the first time in human history that it is not a disadvantage to be young. You have the first generation of truly digital natives. People who grew up with a smartphone in the hand from birth. So, this is the generation that’s able to see things in a way that people my age can’t see.
“We have young stars here who think differently, their brains are wired differently. We live in a time where you don’t need to build a factory to start a billion-dollar company. You just need an idea. And if you have the idea the money will find you, you’ll have a chance to start it. That didn’t even happen 30 years ago.”
Forbes Under 30 is a 365-day global platform, elevated by live summits in the US, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The Under 30 platform and community continues to expand globally to reflect the young disruptors from around the world who have rewritten rules, reshaped industries, and are breaking ground towards a brighter future.