The tale of big changes

"Move on up and keep on wishin' Remember your dream is your only scheme
So keep on pushin'" Curtis Mayfield

It's September 2024, blog post three and two weeks into this new world.......and I have just done two massive things.

1) I have taken on the role as Accelerator Director for Founder Labs in Belfast.

For the last 3 months I have been working with the team as a Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) and I have really loved it. Not only is the programme amazing for founders but it's also managed/led by some of the most talented individuals I have met. I mean this from both the producers and players making the programme happen as well as the founders that make up the cohort. I was asked to take part in the current cohort as an EIR and coached five teams over 12 weeks.

When my last business was decimated and left as a pile of rubble, by powers beyond my control, my self perceived business acumen and self-esteem was at an all time low. It's one thing to lose everything in a business you loved but another to lose any control or input in your future. And it's not just you. You feel for the staff left jobless or rudderless and have no way to help them. I really have to thank Founder Labs for helping my rehabilitation back to where I need to be. The founders and their energy, their passion and their hunger for developing has been, and continues to be, inspiring stuff. Being able to support new founders on their journey and watch them develop is priceless.

Founder Labs really helped me connect again with my professional experience and drive to help others. I'm delighted to take that to the next stage with this new role. It's an infectious environment that inspires and encourages everyone involved, led by experienced founders who have seen the good the bad and the beautiful of start-up life. I can't think of a better place to be a part of in Northern Ireland's start-up ecosystem.

Applications for the next Founder Labs cohort are now open by the way so if you have a brilliant kick-ass tech business idea then get applying.

Founder Labs - Apply here

2) Launched the pre-registration for my new company Foundry Fuel

One of the massive problems I have witnessed over the years is the increased commoditization of technologists. I have heard horror stories worthy of a Stephen King novel at times and that leaves me as a business owner and technologist with "the fear"! Every recruiter has snappy jokes and makes out they want to be your friend. Separating the good ones (of which there are some by the way) and the sharks is a daunting task, especially for the neurodiverse amongst us.

There is a massive trust exercise taking place when people look for and apply for new roles and I feel this is increasingly abused. I want to hand, if not all then at least most, control back to the technologists so that they know and approve who is getting their data. I also want to help founders (technical and non-technical) as well as support the unconventional candidates out there who may have bags of talent but find it hard to find roles through conventional means. In all of this its about putting together the best technical teams without all the crap and baggage that technologists currently face when engaging with the existing recruitment world out there. It will always be free for technologists and where I can do so, it will also be free for community and early stage businesses. I want to maximise paying back to the tech community as well so that is a big factor. Without giving too much away, I know from speaking with people in these spaces that I am building something special and I'd love every technologist (across the whole of Ireland) to be involved in making this change.

If you'd like to speak with me about this then reach out on LinkedIn and we can discuss the plans.

You can also pre-register online now at www.foundryfuel.com

*A special thanks to Bia Analytical, which I am now sadly leaving, and the team there for supporting me in doing the EIR placement. They are a great bunch of people and have a very bright future leading the world in food authenticity.

Coming soon - Fighting with T&Cs / Toxic People / Prototypes and MVPs