ThinkBusiness.ie
Irish and Welsh AI start-up Nightingale HQ has built a platform of tools that automate crucial business tasks for SMEs.
Nightingale HQ is a start-up based in Wales and Ireland that recently won a grant from Innovate UK to help SMEs bounce back from the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.
“We took on an extra five people and launched the GoSmarter Toolbox – automation for SMEs,” explained co-founder and commercial director, Ruth Kearney.
“It’s free for SMEs to sign up and learn and get supported on implementing six AI-powered tools across their business. The tools automate everything from invoice processing, meeting management, online bookings, sales, social media listening and even bigger admin processes that are simply wasting too much time.”
The business has already got a number of innovation spaces and hubs on board, including ICE Wales, Innovate UK and RDI in Kerry, StartupClub and TownSquare UK.
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FAQs
What does ThinkBusiness.ie cover?
ThinkBusiness.ie is Ireland’s leading business information platform for SMEs, covering topics including finance, technology, marketing, and operations. It is produced in partnership with Bank of Ireland and reaches a large audience of Irish business owners and decision-makers. Being featured in ThinkBusiness.ie positions a company credibly within the Irish SME ecosystem — an audience that is central to GoSmarter’s Irish market.
The piece focused on Nightingale HQ’s work with the GoSmarter toolbox — the six automation tools funded by the Innovate UK grant and designed specifically for SMEs. Ruth Kearney’s quote captures the positioning clearly: “We took on an extra five people and launched the GoSmarter Toolbox — automation for SMEs.” This is a story about growth and impact, not just technology.
What is the Irish SME market?
Ireland’s SME sector represents the vast majority of Irish businesses and a significant share of employment. While Ireland is known internationally for its large multinational presence, the Irish economy is deeply rooted in SME activity — particularly in manufacturing, agri-food, construction, and professional services. These businesses have historically had limited access to technology investments that larger companies take for granted.
GoSmarter’s approach — offering practical AI tools that work without a technical team, at a price accessible to an SME — is directly relevant to this market. The ThinkBusiness.ie coverage helped reach Irish business owners who were looking for practical technology solutions during a period of significant disruption.
What happened after the Toolbox launch?
The GoSmarter Toolbox gave Nightingale HQ a strong platform in the Irish market. Subsequent investments in the Irish business — including Ruth Kearney’s appointment as CEO and the company’s expanding partnerships with Irish manufacturers — built on the visibility and credibility established by coverage like this ThinkBusiness.ie piece.
GoSmarter’s current focus on metals manufacturing has a particular relevance to Ireland, where the reinforcing steel and structural steel sectors are active participants in major construction and infrastructure projects.