Technology showpiece TechTides returns to Derry on October 27 with an international line-up of tech and business leaders.
The conference has grown significantly since its Derry debut in 2025, expanding to Belfast and attracting more than 600 attendees.
And this year’s programme also introduces a start-up pitch competition, bringing 10 early-stage businesses from across the island of Ireland in front of a panel of investors.
The selected start-ups span sectors including health tech, property, cyber security, equestrian sport, motor retail and AI infrastructure, with founders based from Derry and Belfast to Donegal, Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.
The 10 businesses are Arlo, VacTimmune, Signal PropTech, Cavalloré, Portava, HeartPath, Picari, Dealer Control Hub, KarbAI and ClearKey.
Each is developing a solution to a specific industry challenge, from AI-powered clinical notes and vaccine research to equine injury prevention and property intelligence.
One of the headline speakers for TechTides is Derry-born Colm Long, who served as vice-president of global operations at Facebook and VP of online sales and operations at Google.
Also due to speak are Martin Moran, who founded Salesforce’s international business as its first employee in Europe and grew it beyond $250m in annual recurring revenue; Naomi Timperley, innovation and growth specialist and one of Computer Weekly’s Most Influential Women in UK Tech 2025; and Ross Sylvester, travelling from San Francisco as co-founder and CEO of AI sales platform Adrata.
They are joined by voices including Maria McMenamin, the first sales hire at Stripe’s Dublin operation, and Robert Hill, director of the Northern Ireland Space Office.
Across the programme, six themes will be explored - namely AI implementation; manufacturing technology; start-ups and entrepreneurship; governance and responsible AI; tech thought leadership; and recruitment, HR and careers.
