Irish business delegation to tour Silicon Valley

A group of Irish business people have formed their own delegation to tour Silicon Valley and create closer bonds with companies there.

The tour, nicknamed "PaddysValley", will start in November.

Tour organiser James Corbett said: "The general idea is that it is hard to attract inward investment and start collaborations when our startups are over here in Ireland while the largest group of investors and tech companies are concentrated in Silicon Valley.

"As a result it is hard to convince Valley investors and potential partners why they should come to Ireland when they have such rich pickings over there. With this current situation it was decided we should visit them, or as I like to put it 'if you can't bring the Valley to Paddy, bring Paddy to the Valley'."

It is hoped that the group will meet some of the big names of Silicon Valley as well as host an Irish night where Irish businesses will demo what they are doing to the Silicon Valley executives, venture capitalists and Irish ex-pats.

So far, 17 Irish companies have signed up for the tour but the organisers stress it is open to everyone.