Longford startup selected to showcase Irish tech at Web Summit 2024 in Lisbon

Longford firm Scopey, which helps manage additional client requests on digital projects, has been selected to represent Irish tech startups at Web Summit 2024 in Lisbon. 

Scopey is one of 36 Irish startups being showcased globally by Web Summit - the world’s biggest tech events business - at its flagship technology gathering in the Portuguese capital next month. 

More than 70,000 attendees, 3,000 startups and 500 investors from around the world will attend the Lisbon event, which sees many attending startups secure international contracts, investment or business partnerships. 

“We are absolutely thrilled to be selected for the Irish Startup Network initiative and to attend Web Summit this year,” said Jenna Farrell, CEO and Founder of Scopey. 

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our work on an international stage and connect with potential partners, investors, and other leaders in the tech industry. 

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“Attending Web Summit will allow us to gain invaluable exposure, expand our network, and learn from global innovators pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in technology - as well as potentially winning new customers, securing investment or creating business partnerships.” 

Since being set up by Jenna and co-founder Gillian Laging, Scopey has gained recognition for its innovative solutions in scope of work software and sales. 

Originally from Wellington in New Zealand, Jenna moved to her husband’s farm in his native Co. Longford, and after the Covid-19 lockdown decided she wanted to make a career change. 

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The company was born out of Jenna’s decade of experience owning a web design and software design agency and her frustration with projects often growing in scope with additional work going unbilled. 

“I hadn't realised how great Ireland was for tech startups,” said Jenna. “I told someone in my coworking space about my idea for a startup based on my pain points of owning a web design and software agency for a decade, and that conversation was the start of going ‘all in’ and when my side project became a business. 

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“Working in web design I often found that when you quote a project it then grows and everyone has extra ideas - we call this scope creep. 

“This ‘out of scope’ work, once we'd quoted a project, was costing us 15 percent of our revenue and having a huge toll on our mental health. We were working long hours but not billing for them, and it was becoming unsustainable.” 

Scopey fixes this issue by allowing clients and providers to capture additional requests and wishlists beyond approved work, making sure they are addressed immediately - before they turn into unbilled work or surprise invoices. 

Jenna continued: “We don't want to stop the ideas flowing, but I knew there had to be a more collaborative and fluid way to scope the work so that a client can see the value and cost of their out-of-scope requests. 

“I’ve spent the last two years developing the business, testing with users and we launched our MVP (Minimum Viable Product) at the end of July 2024 - with 110 new accounts created since then. 

“I’m now looking to raise our pre-seed investment, so I’m excited for Web Summit to guide us in the right direction and open some doors to take the business to the next level,” concluded Jenna. 

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Web Summit CEO and Founder Paddy Cosgrave said that bringing Irish startups to Lisbon was a hugely important part of the company’s mission as an Irish business. “Web Summit has the world’s best tech networks, but we’re also an Irish startup ourselves,” he said. “I’ve experienced the challenges of growing and scaling an Irish business to global success: so it’s really important for us all here that we use our experience, our networks and our insights to help support future generations of Irish founders too.” 

Web Summit, which is headquartered in Dublin and now employs over 300 people worldwide, has committed to bringing the selected Irish startups to the Lisbon event as part of its efforts to support Ireland’s tech ecosystem. Web Summit has said it wants to help ensure that founders here in Ireland are supported as they seek to build the tech firms of the future. 

As part of the Irish Startup Network initiative, Scopey will receive a complimentary startup package to exhibit at Web Summit Lisbon, including full access to the three-day event, as well as an exclusive space on the event floor and dedicated pre-event support to get the most out of the experience. 

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Web Summit Lisbon, taking place from November 11-14, 2024, is one of the world’s largest and most influential tech conferences, attracting over 70,000 attendees, including top industry leaders, investors, and media. In addition to the Lisbon event, Web Summit also hosts global tech conferences in Qatar, Rio de Janeiro and Vancouver - making it the world’s biggest technology events company.