Entrepreneur
Sean Gallagher is widely recognised as a champion of business and job creation.
For over 25 years, he has been immersed in the world of business and economic development, working firstly with Government Enterprise Agencies and later as an entrepreneur himself.
With a passion for coaching, Sean has over that period trained or mentored hundreds of emerging entrepreneurs.
A University of Ulster MBA graduate and a former finalist in the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, Sean was one of the first investors on the popular Irish TV Show, Dragons’ Den (Shark Tank in the US).
He is also a director and shareholder in a number of businesses in the biotech and pharma engineering sectors in both Ireland and the US.
Clyde Real Estate
SEAN IS CURRENTLY CEO OF CLYDE REAL ESTATE, A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT COMPANY WHICH HE CO-FOUNDED WITH TELECOMS ENTREPRENEUR, COLM PIERCY.
Since its establishment in 2015, Clyde Real Estate has invested almost €100m in office, production and date centre facilities across Ireland.
Focused on indigenous, corporate and multinational firms seeking to establish or expand their operations in Ireland, tenants include Nokia, Intel, Citibank and Digital Realty. With over 1m sq. ft. of space already acquired, the company is continuing to raise capital and acquire assets both inside and outside of Ireland.
Smarthomes
Prior to Clyde Real Estate, Sean was co-founder in 2000, along with Derek Roddy, of Ireland’s largest home technology company, Smarthomes.
A pioneer in connected home technology, Smarthomes was shortlisted as a Finalist in the 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. In addition, the company went on to win numerous other awards including; the Rising Star Award as part of Deloitte's Technology Fast 50, Innovator of the Year Award, from the SFA and All Ireland Seedcorn Business Award from IntertradeIreland.
After the economic crash in 2008, Smarthomes wisely pivoted the business to spin out a new company, Climote, whose innovative remote home heating control technology continues to gain traction in the home energy sector.
Dragons’ Den
( Shark Tank in the US)
Sean was an investor for the first three seasons on the popular TV show where promising entrepreneurs pitch their idea to a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs who invest their own money in exchange for equity in these new business ventures.
Sunday Independent Newspaper
Sean is a strong believer in the power of positive stories to inspire action.
From 2012 to 2018, Sean wrote a weekly article in the Business Section of Ireland's largest selling newspaper, the Sunday Independent - with a readership of almost 1 million per week.
‘SECRETS TO SUCCESS’ – Inspiring Stories From Leading Entrepreneurs.
Inspired by the courage of the many entrepreneurs he had written about in his weekly column in the Business Section of the Sunday Independent and driven by a desire to help encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs, Sean published his first book in 2018, Entitled ‘SECRETS TO SUCCESS – INSPIRING STORIES FROM LEADING ENTREPRENEURS’.
Honest and insightful, it is packed full of great advice and real-life insights, shared by the entrepreneurs themselves about their experience from start-up to success.
Nutriband, Orlando, Florida
In 2018, Sean joined Florida based, Transdermal patch company, Nutriband as a director and President of the company.
Set up by Dublin man Gareth Sheridan, Nutriband is focused on the development of scientifically formulated dermal patch technology (taking medication and nutriceutical products through the skin as opposed to orally).
Team Horizon
Sean joined the board and later became an investor in Team Horizon.
Set up in 2010, the company provides manufacturing engineering solutions to the life sciences sector. Its client base includes 15 of the top 30 global medical device firms, 16 of the top 30 global pharmaceutical firms and five of the top ten global biotechnology firms.
IntertradeIreland
Sean was appointed by the Irish Government to serve as a Member of the Board of InterTradeIreland.
InterTradeIreland is the Trade and Business Development Body set up under the Good Friday Agreement to promote trade co-operation and innovation opportunities to the mutual benefit of Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Sean also served as Chair of IntertradeIreland's Equity Network Initiative, helping to promote Venture Capital and Business Angel Investment in Early Stage Businesses across the island.
County Enterprise Boards / Local Enterprise Offices
Sean served for 5 years as Deputy, and later Acting CEO, of one of the country’s Local Enterprise Agencies where he provided direct financial support to new and existing enterprises as well as helping to promote entrepreneurship at community and school levels. It was during this time that Sean’s passion for coaching and mentoring emerging businesses took root.