The Irish Tech News Podcast

We chat with Niall O'Reilly, who is the CEO and founder of Waivlength. See more about their crowd funding campaign on Spark Crowdfunding here. Waivlength is an autonomous social media platform backed by a fully verified userbase.  More about Niall O'Reilly We're changing the social media landscape and putting the power back into the hands of the user. Transitioned into Web 3.0 after KPMG in 2021 and have been exploring the many new opportunities presented with the evolving tech space of blockchain, cryptocurrency, business and finance. Identified huge potential for this technology to be utilized in a social media environment. Excited to grow network and connect with other thought-leaders and entrepreneurs in this space. Every day brings a valuable lesson for those prepared to heed it. Formerly of KPMG. Specialized in financial statement audit, working with top global aircraft leasing companies including GECAS, Goshawk, Orix Aviation Systems, Nordic Aviation Capital and several ABS vehicles. Undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from University College Dublin. Waivlength Waivlength is a verified, autonomous social media platform built on blockchain creating a fairer and more rewarding network for its community. The Waivlength platform is in the build phase but has already received backing from the Algorand Foundation and a 10,000+ person community from a prior token offering to support the creation of its network. We're delighted to share that we are now listed live on Spark Crowdfunding for our first investment round! We are targeting €300k of investment from Spark investors in exchange for equity in the Waivlength company through a SAFE Note. As an Irish startup it meant a lot to be given our first vote of confidence from an Irish group, especially one with such a proven track record for successful raises. Given the decentralised nature of the Waivlength project, doing our first equity fundraise via crowdfunding seemed most fitting. If you'd like to get involved, you can sign up with Spark here

First Fridays for Startups is back and Google, HubSpot, Microsoft and Salesforce are on board as the new revised All-Ireland version launches today. To help lead it veteran startup advisor and founder of Cork’s Republic of Work innovation hub, DC Cahalane, will join Dogpatch Labs as Director of First Fridays for Startups. Ronan talks to DC Cahalane about the new First Fridays for Startups, the Irish Tech ecosystem, unicorns and more. More about DC Cahalane: DC is passionate about Disruptive Innovation, Business Models, Starting and Scaling Businesses, Entrepreneurship and his home city of Cork, Ireland. DC has led Growth and Marketing with some great companies like Teamwork.com and Trustev. DC is the ex CEO of REPUBLIC OF WORK and has now joined Dogpatch Labs as Director of First Fridays for Startups.

In this podcast, Shane is joined by Rick Pastoor, Author of GRIP: The Art of Working Smart (and getting to what matters most) which launched at the beginning of the month. Rick discusses the inspiration behind writing the book and explains what the GRIP system is and how it can each section can be used. The three sections of the GRIP system are GRIP your week, GRIP your year and GRIP your life. Rick is also an entrepreneur and co-founder of Rise Technologies. He discusses the recent investment Rise has received and the Rise Calendar Application he is currently working on. Finally, Rick shares his tips for anyone struggling to set realistic goals for the year ahead and what his plans are for the year ahead. About Rick Pastoor Rick Pastoor has always liked experimenting at work. He’ll try things out, then keep what works, ditch what doesn’t. Try. Rinse. Repeat. In his time at Blendle, the New York Times-backed journalism startup, Rick steadily refined his methods. That’s where GRIP was born, a flexible collection of tools and insights that helped the team do their best work. Originally self-published in Dutch in 2019, GRIP became an overnight bestseller in Holland. Rick’s mission today is the same: helping people make smarter decisions about their time. He divides his own time between his young family in Amsterdam, giving talks on GRIP, his weekly newsletter “Work in Progress,” and a new startup, where he’s building a next-generation calendar called Rise. Rick's Twitter: https://twitter.com/rickpastoor GRIP: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grip-working-smart-getting-matters/dp/0008510571/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1637239821&sr=1-2 About Shane Shane is currently interning with Irish Tech News. He is in his third year of studying Journalism at NUI Galway where he also studies IT and has an interest in programming and web development.

Jitender Tokas is Co-founder and Chief Business Officer of Delta Exchange, a High-Performance Bitcoin & Altcoin Derivatives Exchange that offers Futures & Options with 100x Leverage. Since 2018. www.delta.exchange Twitter: @tweetofthetokas Jamil Hasan is a crypto and blockchain focused podcast host at the Irish Tech News and spearheads our weekend content “The Crypto Corner” where he interviews founders, entrepreneurs and global thought leaders. Prior to his endeavors into the crypto-verse in July 2017, Jamil built an impressive career as a data, operations, financial, technology and business analyst and manager in Corporate America, including twelve years at American International Group and its related companies. Since entering the crypto universe, Jamil has been an advisor, entrepreneur, investor and author. His books “Blockchain Ethics: A Bridge to Abundance” (2018) and “Re-Generation X” (2020) not only discuss the benefits of blockchain technology, but also capture Jamil’s experience on how he has transitioned from being a loyal yet downsized former corporate employee to a self sovereign individual. With over one hundred podcasts under his belt since he joined our team in February 2021, and with four years of experience both managing his own crypto portfolio and providing crypto guidance and counsel to select clients, Jamil continues to seek opportunities to help others navigate this still nascent industry. Jamil’s primary focus outside of podcast hosting is helping former corporate employees gain the necessary skills and vision to build their own crypto portfolios and create wealth for the long-term.

Jawad Ashraf is CEO and Co-Founder at Terra Virtua, a NFT ecosystem Jawad is a top performing technical specialist and entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience. n focus. Jawad has managed and built projects in the UAE, USA, Turkey, Australia, Norway and the UK – with teams consisting of onshore/offshore developers, business analysts, quality assurance engineers, third party suppliers and partners. Terra Virtua is an original metaverse and NFT gaming pioneer. www.terravirtua.io @jawadterra Jamil Hasan is a crypto and blockchain focused podcast host at the Irish Tech News and spearheads our weekend content “The Crypto Corner” where he interviews founders, entrepreneurs and global thought leaders. Prior to his endeavors into the crypto-verse in July 2017, Jamil built an impressive career as a data, operations, financial, technology and business analyst and manager in Corporate America, including twelve years at American International Group and its related companies. Since entering the crypto universe, Jamil has been an advisor, entrepreneur, investor and author. His books “Blockchain Ethics: A Bridge to Abundance” (2018) and “Re-Generation X” (2020) not only discuss the benefits of blockchain technology, but also capture Jamil’s experience on how he has transitioned from being a loyal yet downsized former corporate employee to a self sovereign individual. With over one hundred podcasts under his belt since he joined our team in February 2021, and with four years of experience both managing his own crypto portfolio and providing crypto guidance and counsel to select clients, Jamil continues to seek opportunities to help others navigate this still nascent industry. Jamil’s primary focus outside of podcast hosting is helping former corporate employees gain the necessary skills and vision to build their own crypto portfolios and create wealth for the long-term.

Mr. Alex Tapscott is an entrepreneur, author and seasoned capital markets professional focused on the impact of Bitcoin, blockchain and other digital assets on business and financial markets. Mr. Tapscott is the co-author of the critically acclaimed non-fiction best-seller, Blockchain Revolution, which has been translated into more than 15 languages and has sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide. He is also the Editor and Co-author of Financial Services Revolution (January 2020). Mr. Tapscott is sought after world-wide for his expertise by business and government audiences. He has delivered over 200 lectures and executive briefings at firms like Goldman Sachs (Talks at GS), Google, Allianz, IBM, Microsoft and Accenture. His TedX talk, “Blockchain is Eating Wall Street” has been viewed over 700,000 times. Mr. Tapscott has also written for The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, The Globe and Mail, National Post and many other publications.In 2017, Mr. Tapscott co-founded the Blockchain Research Institute (BRI), a global think-tank investigating blockchain strategies, opportunities and use-cases. Previously, Mr. Tapscott was Director of institutional equity sales at Canaccord Genuity. Mr. Tapscott is a graduate of Amherst College (Cum Laude) and is a CFA Charterholder. Jamil Hasan is a crypto and blockchain focused podcast host at the Irish Tech News and spearheads our weekend content “The Crypto Corner” where he interviews founders, entrepreneurs and global thought leaders. Prior to his endeavors into the crypto-verse in July 2017, Jamil built an impressive career as a data, operations, financial, technology and business analyst and manager in Corporate America, including twelve years at American International Group and its related companies. Since entering the crypto universe, Jamil has been an advisor, entrepreneur, investor and author. His books “Blockchain Ethics: A Bridge to Abundance” (2018) and “Re-Generation X” (2020) not only discuss the benefits of blockchain technology, but also capture Jamil’s experience on how he has transitioned from being a loyal yet downsized former corporate employee to a self sovereign individual. With over one hundred podcasts under his belt since he joined our team in February 2021, and with four years of experience both managing his own crypto portfolio and providing crypto guidance and counsel to select clients, Jamil continues to seek opportunities to help others navigate this still nascent industry. Jamil’s primary focus outside of podcast hosting is helping former corporate employees gain the necessary skills and vision to build their own crypto portfolios and create wealth for the long-term.

In this episode, Shane is joined by Andy Last, CEO of MullenLowe Salt and Author of Business on a Mission: How to Build a Sustainable Brand. The First Edition of the book launched in 2016 and with the second edition launching recently, Andy explains the inspiration behind the book and why he wanted to write a second edition. Andy also talks about the effect the pandemic has had on businesses and their ability to build a sustainable brand, what influence gen z can have on a business and finally, Andy gives his top tips for businesses trying to build a more sustainable brand. About Andy Andy Last co-founded salt, one of the first UK companies to be accredited as a B- Corporation, and has advised businesses for the last 20 years on how they can improve performance by addressing social issues. He has worked since 2006 on Lifebuoy soap’s award-winning social mission, described as the ‘best social program ever’ by David Aaker, Professor Emeritus at the Haas School of Business, Berkeley.  He led the launch of salt Singapore in 2012 and salt’s acquisition by MullenLowe Group in 2017. He is a regular speaker on the role of business in society, at conferences in Europe, America, Asia and Africa and as a visiting lecturer, including for Cambridge University’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership and ESADE Business School in Barcelona. He is a member of the Medinge Group, the Brands with a Conscience Think Tank, and a B-Corp Ambassador Witnessing firsthand the success of Unilever’s life-saving handwashing project in Nairobi, Kenya, Andy saw how Unilever was building its business in Africa by giving it a social mission. He was inspired to write his book, Business on a Mission: How To Build a Sustainable Brand, sharing not just the Lifebuoy story, but the wider story of how business lost and then refound its social purpose and how different organisations have developed social missions, reinforcing the idea that businesses can be both profitable and fulfil a social purpose. The first edition won a bronze medal in the AXIOM Business Book Awards and the second edition of Business on a Mission was published in January 2022, featuring new chapters, interviews and case studies charting the rise of ESG investing, the growing pressures on business from the effects of climate change and demands for social equity, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  It is available from the publishers, Routledge, at https://www.routledge.com/Business-on-a-Mission-How-to-Build-a-Sustainable-Brand/Last/p/book/9781032009414 and Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Business-Mission-Build-Sustainable-Brand-ebook/dp/B09LX19Z9B. Andy's Twitter: https://twitter.com/saltylast About Shane Shane is currently interning with Irish Tech News. He is in his third year of studying Journalism at NUI Galway where he also studies IT and has an interest in programming and web development.

In this podcast today Melanie Boylan sits down to chat with Dr Benton about Mental Health and how even though we are stepping out of the pandemic, it's not a case we are doing any better.  In our chat she offers her insight on the importance of embracing work-life balance, addressing anxiety in the workplace, recognizing the signs of career burnout and even how to implement mental health awareness in a work setting. Dr Benton introduces us to the new app that has been created that supports its users in building better habits, supportive tactics and reducing overwhelm.  Some great tips in this podcast.  About Dr. Benton: Dr. Sherry Benton,  founder and Chief Science Officer of TAO Connect, is an esteemed  psychologist in both research and practice, and has more than 25 years  of clinical and research experience in counselling and psychology  and college student mental health. Her experience as a director in the  college counselling world revealed a need for a more efficient and  effective way to deliver mental health therapy. She saw students in need  of treatment sit on a waitlist, and by the time  they received services, they may have already lost an entire semester  due to mental health problems. Sherry is Board Certified in counselling Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology, and she is a  Fellow in the American Psychological Association.  She served as President Emeritus of the American Academy of counselling Psychology and President of the Association of counselling Centre Training Agencies. Dr. Benton has many  professional publications and presentations, particularly related to  college student mental health. The book Dr. Benton co-authored, “College  Student Mental Health: Services and Strategies,”  is published by the National Association of Student Personnel  Administrators and regarded as an important resource in the college counselling arena. About TAO Connect: TAO  Connect is a virtual platform committed to reducing behavioral health disparities by bringing  affordable, effective, and accessible treatment to people who have  limited access. The online program provides therapeutic educational resources for common behavioral health problems using a comprehensive platform of virtual tools for therapists and clients. The tools provide information about client education, interaction, accountability, and progress assessment to facilitate effective results.  TAO’s tools can be used as self-directed, minimally supported help with  peer counsellors or case managers, custom group support, brief  psychotherapy sessions, traditional (50-minute) psychotherapy, or as a transition from inpatient back to the community.

How to Launder Billions in Bitcoin and Hide in Plain Sight - Lessons from the Bitfinex Hack and Mars Stealer Malware Threats Justin Choo - Cabital Justin currently heads the global Compliance function at Cabital, a global cryptocurrency company based in Singapore with business presence in Lithuania, Malaysia and China. He is responsible for global licensing and Compliance risk management initiatives for the company’s cryptocurrency business, and is the point of contact for Compliance matters for the company’s banking partners and venture capital investors.A seasoned Compliance professional with global experience in the crypto, fintech and banking industry, Justin has led successful fintech licensing and registration initiatives in Singapore (Payment Services License) and the European Union. Having held regional Compliance leadership roles in leading fintech firms YouTrip and Airwallex, as well as previously heading the Global AML/CFT Policy & Governance function at United Overseas Bank (UOB), Justin is familiar and conversant with the regulatory requirements on AML/CFT/Sanctions in the APAC region (Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia), as well as various financial crime risk management technology solutions.He has, over the years, had regular engagements with regulators, particularly on new Compliance initiatives.  Being one of the first payment services companies licensed under the Payment Services Act, Justin was (when at YouTrip) consulted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) extensively  on key areas of risks that the new law should address when regulating fintech companies. As the lead policymaker for the UOB Group, he represented the bank in the National KYC Utility Project, which was initiated and sponsored by the MAS to align the AML/CFT Compliance policies and workstreams amongst the major banks in Singapore. Jamil Hasan is a crypto and blockchain focused podcast host at the Irish Tech News and spearheads our weekend content “The Crypto Corner” where he interviews founders, entrepreneurs and global thought leaders. Prior to his endeavors into the crypto-verse in July 2017, Jamil built an impressive career as a data, operations, financial, technology and business analyst and manager in Corporate America, including twelve years at American International Group and its related companies. Since entering the crypto universe, Jamil has been an advisor, entrepreneur, investor and author. His books “Blockchain Ethics: A Bridge to Abundance” (2018) and “Re-Generation X” (2020) not only discuss the benefits of blockchain technology, but also capture Jamil’s experience on how he has transitioned from being a loyal yet downsized former corporate employee to a self sovereign individual. With over one hundred podcasts under his belt since he joined our team in February 2021, and with four years of experience both managing his own crypto portfolio and providing crypto guidance and counsel to select clients, Jamil continues to seek opportunities to help others navigate this still nascent industry. Jamil’s primary focus outside of podcast hosting is helping former corporate employees gain the necessary skills and vision to build their own crypto portfolios and create wealth for the long-term.

What role do cloud solutions play within today’s financial services industry? How has the infrastructure and partnership ecosystem evolved to support the needs of the global market? In order to compete in today’s fast changing world, how can fintechs of all sizes best embrace and accelerate innovation?  In this episode of One Vision, Theo and Bradley chat with Briana Frank and Chris Rosen from IBM about market trends — from the future of work to cybersecurity and data compliance — and how banks and fintechs can adapt to these changing dynamics in order build faster, more securely, and anywhere — across clouds and on-premises.