Press Release

Launch of Open Coffee Sligo – 18th March 2009

Open Coffee Sligo is a free, informal networking event for business minded individuals to get together and chat about new projects and  new business ideas, and how to do existing business better.

Already up and running in over 8 locations around the country, the organisers of Open Coffee Sligo hope that it will become a monthly event where people can share an interesting couple of hours discussing business and learning from others.

According to Heather James who set up the website www.opencoffeesligo.org to publicise the event “Already, there’s interest from people in a broad range of sectors. That’s the upshot of the scale of Sligo; people with ideas, in start-ups, from the arts, from not-for-profits and established businesses are signing up.”

“We’ve chatted to a number of the organisers of Open Coffee events around the country, and we’re learning what has worked well with these events” said Kevin Peyton. “While Open Coffee has traditionally focused on technology startups, we think that the involvement of more traditional businesses is also crucial for a good mix of views and opinions – we can all learn from each other”.

“The recent growth in networking activities like these is a positive response to the current economic situation. There’s a great positive vibe of opportunity, and pulling together right now. If you’re not feeling it yet, you should come along for a boost, or at least a kick in the pants.” said James.

Topics covered at other events have included product demonstrations, start up issues as well as the steps involved in raising  business capital and interacting with business angels and mentors.

“We’re not going to be precious about the topics covered – in fact, we’re more than happy to take suggestions from the people that attend on what areas are of interest and of use to them” said Peyton.

The first Open Coffee event will run on Thursday 2nd April at 11am in the Clarion Hotel Sligo, with subsequent events planned for the first thursday of each month.

For more details go to the Open Coffee Sligo website on www.opencoffeesligo.org or follow updates on twitter (www.twitter.com/opencoffeesligo)