The U2 guitarist, whose real name is David Howell Evans, visited Ormeau Baths to meet some of the technology enthusiasts in his role as chairman of Endeavor Ireland, a global not-for-profit organisation. The organisation supports and helps “accelerate high-impact entrepreneurs by connecting them with talent, capital and a worldwide peer and mentor network”. The company’s board includes Rosaleen Blair, deputy chair of Kainos, and hotelier Paddy McKillen, with The Edge holding the role of founding chair.
Tuesday’s visit to Belfast came just months after five founders of Northern Ireland’s most exciting start-ups were selected to take part in the mentorship programme. They are currently in the midst of a five-month programme set up by Endeavor. The five who were selected include Belfast-born Ryan Donnelly, co-founder of AI governance platform Enzai, which has been described as Northern Ireland’s first possible unicorn – a company which is worth a billion pounds.
The start-up, which was born in Belfast’s Ormeau Baths, made headlines last year after it raised $4million in funding in just over two years. The rocker was joined in his Belfast trip by Rosaleen Blair, founder of Alexander Mann Solutions and member of the boards of Kainos and Endeavor Ireland, alongside the Endeavor Ireland team, including managing director Rory Guinan and Ellen Ryall, senior associate. Speaking to the Ms Blair said she could sense the “heartbeat” of Belfast’s tech sector.
“I was.
