We’ve all got our part to play in Ireland’s transition to net zero, and at Dogpatch Labs we are working with our partner ESB to facilitate this through open innovation – starting with entrepreneurs inside the organisation – via the X_Potential incubator programme, as part of a five-year sustainability innovation partnership announced in 2021.

ESB’s Chief Exec Paddy Hayes joined us in Dogpatch this October, to share insights with each team and deliver an inspiring address to the 24 intrapreneurs. Hayes stressed the importance of blending diverse skill sets to drive innovation and urged participants to challenge themselves, think differently and share ideas openly saying,

 “Instead of saying it can’t be done, ask instead what it would take to get it done.”

The CEO of the country’s national energy supplier also noted how collaboration across the innovation ecosystem is key to successful innovation.

“This is not about getting a perfect working model, it’s about taking the skills you learn in this incubator programme and the connections you make here in Dogpatch, and bringing them back into the business. The way you think about innovation is going to be broadened because of this programme.

So, challenge yourself to do things you’ve never done before, and put yourself out there. It’s about not being afraid to have ideas and share your ideas.”

Throughout this three-month programme, we’re connecting ESB’s teams with industry experts to develop pilot plans, linking in with successful entrepreneurs to share their ‘been there, done that’ startup experience like that of Peptalk’s founder Michelle Fogarty. We’re putting teams in front of potential customers and subject matter experts to further refine their propositions, and also providing financial modelling mentoring with the likes of Johnny Harte, along with mentoring on greenhouse gas accounting from Occupli.

More to come on these projects. Watch this space.

Learn more about our partner’s innovation journey here: https://esb.ie/who-we-are/innovation