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Staunton met Eoin McDonnell, owner of diamond company Precious, at a Dublin City Enterprise Board (DCEB) LINK! event last year and they saw synergies between their two businesses.

“We met informally for coffee and came up with the idea for Diamond Nights and Propose.ie, which we run as offshoots of our own busineses. We’ve had five Diamond Night events, where 20 or 30 people come to go through the ins and outs of buying a ring. Last year one of the nights was covered by the RTÉ TV programme 'Capital D',” she says.

“Since 1 February we’ve been running a campaign to promote Propose.ie in the run up to Valentine’s Day by posting new information in the blog and news section. The website gives people information on how to go about proposing, helping them to avoid the pitfalls.”

Miriam Ahern, who runs LINK! on a contract basis for DCEB, says three spin-off ventures in total were formed last year through people collaborating with complementary ideas.

Designed for start-ups, LINK! focuses on the unique strategic, operational and developmental challenges which start-ups may encounter. Each event provides access to expert advice, customised training and structured networking.

It’s a membership-based programme, costing €100 a year. The next event takes place on 23 February in the Clarion Hotel, the IFSC, in Dublin 1. Entitled ‘Creativity for Business’, the guest speaker and facilitator is Aaron Downes, Creative Development. For more information go to Bizstartup.ie's Events section or visit DCEB's website.

Pictured are networkers waiting for the speaker at LINK!’s Christmas event last year