Startup founders, entrepreneurs and SMEs from all over Galway are being invited to attend a special AI Advantage workshop in Galway on Wednesday, March 5th.
The workshop is being organised as a regional event as part of Local Enterprise Week (LEW). It is aimed at helping businesses to tackle real-world challenges, streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for growth.
The AI Advantage: Transforming Challenges for Startups and SMEs workshop will take place at BIA Innovator Campus in Athenry, Galway. It will run from 12 noon until 2.30pm on Wednesday, March 5th, with registration from 11.45am, and a light lunch included.
The event is being organised by Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Galway, in conjunction with LEO Mayo and LEO Roscommon, and in collaboration with the team at The PorterShed in Galway.
Speaking ahead of the event, Rosemary Gallagher, Programmes Lead at The PorterShed, explained that the AI Advantage workshop is for any startup founder, entrepreneur, leader or manager, who has said to themselves, “there must be a quicker way”.
“AI is such a buzz word, we’re being dazzled by headlines about huge company valuations, training large language models, curing disease, and changing the world. But we’re not going to talk about any of that.”
“We’re going to talk about the bottle-necks in individual businesses, and the things holding us back. Then we’re going to look at simple practical tips, small changes that businesses can make in their day-to-day, so that the leaders and their team can gain the AI Advantage,” she continued.
The workshop will explore specific challenges within Galway businesses, helping attendees discover how to simplify complex processes using AI.
By the end of the two-and-a-half-hour workshop, SMEs will have a concrete plan on how to integrate AI into their business operations.
Along with the experienced team from PorterShed, the workshop will be co-delivered by experts who work directly with businesses to help them navigate challenges using AI.
As a result, attendees will not only learn about various AI tools, but will also hear real-world use cases and success stories.
Among those speaking will be entrepreneur, software designer, builder and now You-Tuber Robert O’Shaughnessy, who will share his insight into how businesses can use practical AI tools to maximum benefit.
Looking ahead to a busy schedule in Galway for LEW, Caroline McDonagh, Head of Enterprise at LEO Galway, said, “Local Enterprise Week is a fantastic marker in the road for any business.”
“It’s an opportunity to take stock of where you are, see where you can grow, where you can innovate or maybe become more sustainable.”
“Understanding AI and how to use AI can be a challenge for micro enterprises and this event will demonstrate for businesses how to navigate and integrate AI into their business operations to help them become more efficient and competitive.”
Throughout LEW in Galway, there will be a whole host of events taking place across the county including a series of Growth & Networking Lunch and Learn events – in Clifden on Monday, in Ballinasloe on Tuesday, and in Tuam on Thursday.
There will also be the beginning of an online Start Your Own Business Course on Monday, and a How To Start A Podcast online workshop on Tuesday. An online Grant Aid and Funding workshop will take place on Wednesday.
Business Advice Clinics will be held in Gort on Wednesday and in Loughrea on Friday. On Thursday, there will be an event in Crew entitled Designing The Future: Innovation, Impact and Enterprise.
Finally, on Friday, there will be a Leading The Way event at the Radisson Red Hotel, focussing on celebrating International Women’s Day with Network Galway.
To register for AI Advantage, visit galwayleo.clr.events/. For more details on events taking place in Galway for LEW, visit www.localenterprise.ie/Galway/
