A popular US podcast series has been showcasing some of Ireland’s most innovative companeies to new audiences. Launched in January, The Next Innovation podcast, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, serves as a platform for discussion about the key drivers of global change, with a strong focus on Irish-led innovation.
“We were looking for new ways to support our clients in the US market,” explains Enterprise Ireland global marketing manager Neil Curry. “We wanted to give companies at the forefront of innovation in their sectors an opportunity to showcase their stories. The podcast series gives them an opportunity to create awareness and connect with a new audience. They can use the podcasts as part of their marketing toolkits.”
Hosted by Bloomberg consumer technology reporter Samantha Murphy Kelly, the first season of the podcast explored a range of areas including AI, medtech, sustainability and digital transformation. “It did really well in terms of its chart ranking,” says Curry. “It was in the top 10 of technology podcasts for 20 days and reached number three at one point. It also charted at number 90 for all podcasts in the US.”
The series kicked off with an episode exploring how telehealth and virtual care are transforming the patient experience by streamlining in-patient processes and enhancing the connection between doctor and patient. “It featured OneView Healthcare which provides hospital patients and staff with virtual care through its innovative tablet technology,” says Curry. “The company’s technology has been implemented in a number of US hospitals.”
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Marine data company Xocean featured in the second episode. “The company’s uncrewed vessels and survey designs empower scientists and mariners to better understand the seabed and other aspects of the ocean,” says Curry. The episode looked at “how these vessels can unlock the secret to combatting the climate crisis”.
Gamification trends in the workplace were the subject of the next episode, which explored the topic of rewards systems as a way to incentivise employees. Workhuman showcased its platform for recognising and celebrating employee efforts in a game-style set-up.
Moffett Automation contributed to the episode which explored how people and companies around the world are incorporating robots into their lives and processes, influencing communication, work and business decisions.
Cora Systems and Swoop Funding featured in the programme on business transformation. “The episode looked at how entrepreneurs are using business intelligence, including data analytics and AI, to enhance efficiency, support project management and more,” says Curry. “Both companies provide enterprise project and portfolio management solutions to customers around the world.”
The series concluded with two special episodes, he adds: “The first was a roundtable where we invited some leading technology journalists to discuss the latest and most exciting tech trends for 2025. We had Rachel Metz, AI reporter for Bloomberg, Adam Rogers, senior correspondent for Business Insider, and Matt McFarland, former CNN tech reporter and writer of the tech-focused Green Rocketship Substack newsletter.
“Among the topics discussed was how AI may function to make the world safer, with the example of Enterprise Ireland CameraMatics, which uses AI-powered cameras to help drivers detect blind spots and avoid collisions.”
Other Enterprise Ireland client companies mentioned were We2Sure and Manna Drone Delivery.
The other special episode was broadcast live from SXSW in Austin, Texas in March where host Murphy Kelly sat down with William Fitzgerald, co-founder of Enterprise Ireland client Bard Global, Dr Susan Leavy, ethicist and professor at University College Dublin, and Dr Matt Lease, computer scientist and professor at the University of Texas to discuss the ethical considerations of AI-generated content.
“Feedback from clients has been excellent,” says Curry. “That’s what’s most important for us. It is helping the companies involved appeal to their target market in the US and making it easier for them to connect with potential buyers. A number of those prospective customers have featured on the shows as well.”
The second series kicked off last month with an episode looking at how extended reality is reshaping storytelling, art and technology, which featured The Giant Company, Eirmersive and Glasseye. This was followed by a programme on sustainable business featuring Climeaction.
“We have a new host for the second series,” Curry points out. “Jennifer Strong brings a wealth of journalistic and storytelling experience to the series. She is an audio journalist covering the impact of AI on the way we live and work and has created several successful US technology podcasts for top-tier newsrooms. Her work focuses on the intersection of technology, ethics and society, making her uniquely equipped to lead discussions on innovation with clarity, insight and a global perspective.”
Future episodes will focus on sports technology, dairy innovation and agritech. “The great thing about podcasts is that they stay up online long after the initial broadcast. The Next Innovation represents an evergreen investment on behalf of our clients.”
The Next Innovation podcast series can be accessed at enterprise-ireland.com/en/insights-webinars/the-next-innovation
