A look back at the Ireland Gateway To Europe trade mission to Chicago and Atlanta in April 2015. 3 cities, 4 flights, 10 events, 29 participating companies, 500 attendees, 8500 miles...

1. 2015 Trade Mission | A Week in Review

2. About Us
Established in 2012, Ireland GTE is a not-for-profit collective of Irish service
providers who showcase Ireland as Europe's premier investment location
through events in the US.
Our Vision
The vision of Ireland, Gateway to Europe is for US companies who are looking
to expand into Europe to choose Ireland as their location of choice and to have
the information, trust and contacts to execute their plans.
Connectivity - Information - Access

3. April 13th-17th 2015
“Ireland Gateway To Europe’s drive and
passion echoes the calls of Notre Dame
'Go Irish’!”
“Ireland Gateway To Europe’s drive and passion
echoes the calls of Notre Dame 'Go Irish’!”
Dr Mary McAleese, Former President of Ireland,
ESTEEM Lunch, University of Notre Dame, April 13th 2015

5. Our Group
29 Irish Service
providers
Plus representatives
from:
• IDA Ireland
• Enterprise Ireland
• Notre Dame University
• World Trade Center
• Sunday Business Post
• Irish Network USA
• Newstalk

6. ESTEEM Lunch
University of Notre Dame
Monday April 13th 2015

7. Business and networking lunch with
staff and students on ESTEEM
programme.
ESTEEM is an innovative 11-month entrepreneurship
master’s program designed to equip a person with the
specific skills required to launch a business. Unlike the
traditional M.B.A., an entrepreneurship master’s
focuses on the direct application of business skills to a
entrepreneurial environment. ESTEEM sets itself apart
from other entrepreneur master’s programs by putting
students in the middle of real-time start-up
development.
Highlights:
• Keynote speech on Ireland as a location for doing
business and entrepreneurship from Dr Mary
McAleese
• Address by Mary McEvoy, IDA Ireland
• Panel discussion: Sigmar Recruitment, Bank of
Ireland and MKO Partners
Attendees:
Academics from University of Notre Dame and students
on the ESTEEM program

9. Business Leader Meet Up
South Bend, Indiana
Monday April 13th 2015

10. South Bend Business Leader meet-up
in Union Station
Format of the afternoon:
• Welcome by Mayor of South Bend, Peter Buttigieg
• Address on South Bend as location for business.
• Panel discussion “Ireland as a location for doing
business”: The Panel, AIB and Squires
• Address by Mary McEvoy, IDA Ireland
• Address from enFocus
enFocus is a talent incubator and social innovation
engine based out of the Union Station Technology Center
in South Bend, Indiana, which aims to find bold and
innovative solutions that serve regional industries with
bright, young entrepreneurial talent. Fellows are
retained from local universities for one year to tackle the
regional challenges to help bring transformative
economic development to communities, shape socially
focused start-ups and create new commercial products
or innovations.
The event was attended by approximately 50 South
Bend business leaders and entrepreneurs.

12. Campus Tour & Reception
The Main Building, Notre Dame
Monday April 13th 2015

15. Invest in Ireland Breakfast Briefing
Willis Tower, Chicago
Tuesday April 14th 2015

16. Ireland – Gateway to Europe 2015C-level Investment Summit Breakfast on
Setting Up In Ireland - in proud
association with Willis Ireland
Format of the morning:
• Welcome address: Willis Vice Chairman William
Bartholomew
• Why Ireland: Enda Meehan, IDA Ireland
• Case study panel discussion moderated by Frank
Keane, MKO Partners
1. Chris Murphy, Horizon Pharma
2. Joanne O’Brien, Northern Trust
• In-focus discussion “Ireland – Global Center for
Talent” with Katie Burke, Hubspot and Robert
MacGiolla Phadraig, Sigmar Recruitment
• Key note speech: Pat Ryan, CEO Ryan Speciality
Group
Attended by approximately 100 business leaders and
entrepreneurs.

17. Top (l-r): Enda Meehan (IDA Ireland), William Bartholomay (Willis Group) and Pat Ryan (Ryan Speciality Group)
address a packed room at Willis Tower, Chicago.
Bottom (l-r): Chris Murphy (Horizon Pharma) and Joanne O’Brien (Northern Trust) in panel discussion with Frank
Keane (MKO Partners); later followed by in-focus discussion on Ireland as a Global Center for Talent with Katie
Burke (Hubspot) and Robert MacGiolla Phadraig (Sigmar Recruitment)

18. C-level Dinner
Chicago Cut, Chicago
Tuesday April 14th 2015

19. Ireland – Gateway to Europe 2015C-level dinner at Chicago Cut Restaurant
Attended by Participants, IDA Ireland, General Consul of Ireland
to Chicago and business people- Irish diaspora and Chicago
natives.
Photo: Matt Moore (Owner of Chicago Cut) , Matt Mohan (The
FKM Group) and Aidan Cronin, Consul General.

20. Setting Up In Ireland Lunch
1871, Chicago
Tuesday April 14th 2015

21. 1871 Lunch Setting Up In Ireland
1871 is Chicago’s entrepreneurial hub for digital start-
ups. Located in the famed Merchandise Mart, the
50,000-square-foot facility provides Chicago start-ups
with programming, access to mentors, educational
resources, potential investors and a community of like-
minded entrepreneurs that help them on their path to
building successful businesses.
Speakers Included:
• Tom Alexander, COO, 1871
• Adrian McGennis, Cofounder, Ireland Gateway To
Europe; CEO, Sigmar Recruitment
• Orla Battersby, Executive VP, Director North
America, Enterprise Ireland
• Frank Keane, Cofounder, Ireland Gateway To
Europe; Head of International Business, MKO
Partners
• Mary McEvoy, Vice President, Emerging
Businesses Division, IDA Ireland
75 people attended this event, from 1871 and external
start-ups.

22. Top (l-r): Tom Alexander (1871); Mary McEvoy (IDA Ireland); Mick Murray (AIB)
Bottom left: Panel Discussion with Frank Keane (MKO Partners), Orla Battersby (Enterprise Ireland), Mary McEvoy (IDA
Ireland), Adrian McGennis (Sigmar Recruitment)

23. Wrigley Stadium
Chicago
Thursday April 16th 2015

25. Invest in Ireland Evening
World Trade Center, Atlanta
Thursday April 16th 2015

26. C-level Investment Evening on
Setting Up In Ireland – World
Trade Centre Atlanta, GA
Event Format
• Welcome address: by John West , WTC Atlanta
• Introduction by Frank Keane, MKO Partners
• Video message featuring An Taoiseach, Enda
Kenny TD
• Why Ireland? Michéal Smith, IDA Ireland
• Case study panel discussion moderated by Robert
MacGiolla Phadraig, Sigmar Recruitment
1. Hilary Sherman, NeoMed
2. Jeff Laue, N3
3. Mary McEvoy, IDA Ireland
Q&A followed by networking, drinks and canapés
Attendance
Over 120 people attended this event

28. www.gatewaytoeurope.org