Paul Walsh, the Irish Opportunist

You may or may not know this, but an events company called Net.works is amongst my tiny portfolio of small companies.

Net.works is a networking events company. We connect people who are serious about doing business by staging informal, fun events in relaxed surroundings.

Here are some of the events that are coming up…

OpenSoho

There’s a buzz around town following the 2008 launch of these monthly informal meet-ups for talented entrepreneurs working in the tech and media industries. OpenSoho has helped create a community of like-minded followers through its Facebook group and Twitter page, causing a clamber for tickets each time they’re made available. With a sponsored bar and late-night dancefloor, OpenSoho is a highly acclaimed night on the tiles for those currently causing waves and shaping the future of the UK digital, media and advertising scene. These folk work hard and play harder, come join in the fun.

Upcoming events for January, February and March 2010 - grab your ticket.

• January 20th
• February 23rd
• March 23rd

Digital Dinners

Up to twelve guests, each month are matched according to their business interests. We then ensure both the wine and the chat keep on flowing throughout a three-course meal in lavish surroundings. Topics are discussed, issues debated and contacts are made in a relaxed, fun and non-pressured environment. Dinner are held two to four times per month. Inspiring dinner party conversation often depends on who’s sitting next to you.

With the Digital Dinners format, there’s no need to sneak in beforehand and move the place-names around (although, we guess you can if you really want to). How you then choose to develop the contacts you’ll make after being wined and dined by us, is entirely up to you. Here who’s coming to our first dinner this month. Sign up to our mailing list and provide a short bio to receive your invitation to the next one (January 26th).

• Andy Hinder, Managing Partner, Steel
• Nicky Applegarth, Commercial Director, Steel
• Tom Bradley, Principal, DN Capital
• Bill Morrow, Founder, Angels Den
• Clare McDonald, Executive Creative Director    Sky TV
• Richard Daish, Digital Product Manager, Nike
• Abigail Harrison, Managing Director, thebluedoor
• Ben Tompkins, General Partner, Eden Ventures
• John Straw, CEO, Linkdex
• Paul Walsh, Founder, Net.works & Segala

Business Retreats

A focused exclusive business retreat abroad where a selected 24 success-driven entrepreneurs come together in a luxury environment to achieve the very best for themselves and their business. Pair this with 3 planned days of fun and strategy, and the rest is up to you.

We organise three-day business retreats in some stunning locations across Europe. Imagine, aligning your brand alongside 23 focused entrepreneurs staying in a 17th Century five-star French chateau and striving for success in inspiring surroundings.

Over the course of the three days, guests will find time to relax, indulge, have fun, build strong relationships and do a spot of work in the sunshine. As sponsor, you’ll be there to help, inspire and discuss how your brand can help with the day-to-day issues entrepreneurs face.

Each evening, themed dinners and entertainment will take the stress out of striving for business success. And on guest’s return to the UK, we’ll ensure they receive additional help and guidance from two carefully selected mentors on any of the business issues raised on the retreat. As sponsor, one of these mentors may be you. Check out our first retreat.

We have a cool retreat coming up in the next couple of months so sign up now to ensure you find out about it.

Check out the last one we did!

Sign up to the mailing list now and receive updates and invitations to special events and gatherings.

I know July 5th falls on a Sunday but if you can, you must make your way to JuJu, 316 - 318 King’s Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 5UH to meet some of the best known social media experts from the US (and the UK). I highly recommend this event and have been asked to help promote it. You have just under 2 days to get a ticket for just £10 20 - which will get you food and drinks!

Who’s coming to town

• Robert Scoble
• Craig Newmark
• Sarah Lacy
• Howard Rheingold
• Meghan Asha
• JD Lasica
• Tom Foremski
• Sarah Austin
• Susan Bratton
• Jeff Saperstein
• Renee Blodgett
• Jim Schuyler

To find out more and to register for the event, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/event/366118069

In preparation for my talk in Greece tomorrow. A massive thanks to Eileen Brown from Microsoft for sending them across to my office on time.

This is a talk I’m very much looking forward to, not just because I haven’t been back to Greece since managing a cocktail bar on the party island, that is Ios, but because I’m dying to hear their story. I’m looking forward to hearing what the benefits and hurdles are in Greece for entrepreneurs generally and women in tech specifically. I’ve been asked to talk about ‘my story’ - which means I’ll talk about my career path and highlight the good and bad choices I made. You can read more about the event on the Greek Geek Girl Web site.

So, if you’re in Greece and are reading this, I look forward to meeting you. Please feel free to ask plenty of questions during and after my talk. You can leave questions on this post if you like and I’ll take them with me to answer on the night.