Joined Up Thinking for Irish Digital Business Platforms

The Irish online business networking platform, Women’s Inspire Network (WIN), has joined online representative body, Digital Business Ireland (DBI), in a collaboration that will see WIN members avail of new online supports, insights and business advisory services.

Ireland’s ‘Tweeting Goddess’, social media consultant, Samantha Kelly, founded the Women’s Inspire Network as the Twitter hashtag #Womensinspire originally in 2014 Twitter and is now a subscription-based online global network that does weekly webinars, mentoring and offers support to the Female Business owner who works mostly online.

The online business group launched more extensively three years ago on Facebook and is now a global online community with 400 active participants, with a reach of one million on Twitter alone.

Digital Business Ireland is the voice of the Irish digital commerce sector, set up in 2019 by Lorraine Higgins. The barrister and former Senator was previously chief executive of a retail representative body.

Announcing the link-up with WIN, Lorraine Higgins said that DBI is passionate about female participation in business, not just talking about the concept but rather acting on it.

“In working with Samantha Kelly and the Irish WIN members, DBI can support and help these female business owners to be the best they can be, online. A focus of DBI is to facilitate female participation in business and while some pay lip-service to this we have demonstrated our commitment by having 50% female representation on our Advisory Council and a dedicated ‘Women in eBusiness’ committee”, the founder of DBI says.

DBI provides membership services which include training and events, networking and general advisory, as well as advocacy and public policy campaigns, helping legislators create a better framework for online enterprises, so digital businesses can thrive and achieve market ambitions.

The natural synergies between the two business groups mean great potential for shared learning and resources, WIN founder Samantha Kelly adds.

“Our network of female entrepreneurs facilitates online business broadcasts, webinars and e-books, as well as in-person conferences and seminars, all of which represent valuable practical learning opportunities.

“Layering the expertise of DBI on top will be an amazing advantage, connecting the many businesswomen in our online community involved in e-commerce, so they can benefit from the experiences of other digital entrepreneurs”, Samantha Kelly says.

DBI is growing its membership across a range of online businesses including retail, hospitality, professional services, travel, transport, education, leisure, agri-business and property.

Lorraine Higgins says she established DBI to address the lack of single-focus representation for digital businesses in Ireland.

“With more businesses moving online over the years, the trend accelerated during the COVID-19 crisis, I noticed there was a pressing need for businesses to acquire insights, advice and learning opportunities to help them survive and thrive online”.

DBI works with an experienced Advisory Council representing different business sectors, leading e-commerce suppliers, and the Brussels-based, eCommerce Europe, to support Irish businesses in the digital sphere.

The representative body welcomes applications for membership from any digital business with an e-commerce platform, or using digital and social media means to market its business, products or services. DBI members must be based in Ireland to benefit from the full range of initiatives and support the group offers.