Elaine Coughlan is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Atlantic Bridge, a technology growth equity firm. She has over 22 years’ experience of investing in, running and scaling technology companies, including successful IPOs and M&As. Coughlan served as CFO or vice president of finance for three successful technology IPOs − Parthus, IONA and Smartforce – that realised more than USD5bn for investors. She is also a co-founder of the China Ireland Growth Technology Fund aimed at helping European companies invest in China. Coughlan is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a qualified chartered director. She was named as one of Europe’s Inspiring 50, one of Europe’s Top 100 Women in Technology and appointed by the Irish Government to the Board of Enterprise Ireland.