MORE than 100 of Ireland’s best and brightest entrepreneurs travelled to Austin, Texas, and New York for the annual EY Entrepreneur of the Year™ CEO retreat, including EOY alumni, Mayo businessman Harry Hughes of Portwest UC.

The retreat is the island of Ireland’s largest unofficial trade mission, specifically focused on fostering entrepreneurship.

The aim was to support, inform, and challenge the entrepreneurs – a cohort that includes a mix of this year’s 25 EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalists and alumni – through inspirational talks from international, political, and thought leaders. The entrepreneurs spent the week between Austin, Texas, and New York City, where they participated in an agenda of executive coaching and education, as well as sessions with the leaders of some of America’s most successful businesses.

Said Roger Wallace, partner lead for EY Entrepreneur of the Year: “Austin is recognised as a nexus for technology, start-ups and innovation, so we knew there was no better place to kick off the retreat, and you can’t beat New York City for its energy and enthusiasm, as well as its incredibly diverse and vibrant business-friendly environment. With both cities home to some of America’s most celebrated entrepreneurs, it made perfect sense to bring our own entrepreneurs to the birthplace of many of the world’s most impactful and successful business ideas.

“The CEO retreat was a rare opportunity for our entrepreneurs to learn from the very best in business, entrepreneurship and academia. Year on year, it helps generate hugely valuable relationships for the Ireland’s most prestigious entrepreneurs, and helps to create opportunities that fosters new relationships and helps to unlock the immense opportunities for Irish businesses in Ireland, and overseas.”

Since its inception, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year community has grown to a tight-knit network of more than 585 alumni who harness each other’s wealth of experience, with three quarters (75%) conducting business with one another. Together, the EOY alumni community generates revenues of €21bn, and employs more than 170,000 people across the island of Ireland.