Mobile Monday, the mobile tech network which encourages entrepreneurship and innovation in the digital space, is launching in Cork today.

This grass-roots movement was started in Helsinki by Nokia employees in 2000, to share innovative ideas and tech trends. It has since expanded to more than 150 cities across the world.

This evening's event in Crane Lane will hear from TreeMetrics chief executive Enda Keane; Furious Tribe founder Patrick Leddy; Kodacall Miguel chief technology officer Miguel Ponce de Leon; Herdwatch co-founder Fabien Peyaud; and Irish Coast Guard director Chris Reynolds.

Mr Reynolds will discuss the new Coast Guard app to address a gap in their lifesaving ability. The app allows any user going on the water in any craft to easily log a sailing plan with all relevant details on their smartphone and track their passage and safe arrival home.

Mr Leddy will speak about his new Irish start-up Pulsate, which aims to help companies drive foot traffic to stores and when customers arrive, to deliver game-changing in-store experiences.

Since the majority of Irish household’s now own multiple smartphones and mobile devices, small businesses need to get more “mobile aware” by adapting a digital-first strategy including building mobile websites and apps, event co-organiser Declan O’Leary said.

With almost seven billion mobile phones in use across the world, he said there was a lot of valuable “screen space” to build apps and monetize innovative content.

On the subject of start-ups, the next Irish Times/AIB start-up night is taking place in Athlone this week, with guest speaker MedColl founder Roz Martin. If you are thinking of making the leap into entrepreneurship, come along and tap into the start-up community. The nights have also been designed to help entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs find and meet potential collaborators and investors.