Baltimore Technologies chief executive Mr Fran Rooney has invested in a Dublin-based technology start-up, West Global, which signed its first deal in the US yesterday.
Mr Rooney was lead investor in a $1 million (€1.13 million) seed funding round and has taken a stake worth about 15 per cent of the firm.
He retains an option to join the board of West Global.
The Baltimore chief is the second high-profile business figure to invest in West Global.
Last month Mr Paul Kavanagh, a former director of Eircom, invested in the company and became chairman of West Global. West Global was founded last May by former Hewlett-Packard manager Mr Paul Acton.
It designs software integration products for mobile operators and recently signed a co-development agreement with IBM . The firm has clinched a valuable licensing and reseller deal with US software firm Aether Systems.
Aether, which makes products and services to transmit wireless information, will use West Global's core technology to integrate its own wireless products.
Mr Acton was formerly head of Hewlett-Packard's e-commerce business and development manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
West Global has already established alliances with partners including Baltimore Technologies, IBM, Aether Systems Inc, Digital Channel Partners and Impronta.
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