# Donal Daly

> Donal Daly is a Cork-based Irish software founder and author who co-founded Altify in 2005 and served as its CEO before handing leadership to Anthony Reynolds in 2017. His career in applied AI began in 1986. He later co-founded sustainability software business Future Planet with Ingrid De Doncker and is its executive chairman, as confirmed in the September 2026 announcement of its combination with the Institute of Sustainability Studies.

- **Role:** Co-founder and Executive Chairman at Future Planet
- **Organizations:** Future Planet, Altify, The TAS Group, 6 Rockets Software, Expert Edge Computer Systems, Software Development Tools, NewWorld Commerce, The Customer Respect Group, Select Strategies, Altify Foundation, WITNESS
- **From:** Cork, Ireland
- **Nationality:** Irish
- **Education:** Electrical Engineering, University College Cork
- **Known for:** Co-founded and led Altify, acquired by Upland in 2019 for $84 million., Built an AI engine for financial-services advice in his first business, founded in 1986., Co-founded Future Planet, combining sustainability methodology and software.

## Career timeline

- **1986** — Started his first company in AI software for financial services.
- **1988** — Published Expert Systems Introduced.
- **1997** — Sold his first company.
- **2005** — Co-founded Altify with Áine Denn.
- **2013** — Published Account Planning in Salesforce.
- **2016** — Published Tomorrow | Today, examining AI and knowledge work.
- **2017-02** — Appointed Anthony Reynolds CEO of Altify and became executive chairman.
- **2017-11** — Published Digital Sales Transformation in a Customer First World.
- **2019-02** — Became Altify chairman, leaving operations to Reynolds; announced 6 Rockets Software.
- **2019-10** — Upland acquired Altify for $84 million cash at closing.
- **2020-10** — Publicly supported the Sustainable Academy and sought input on sustainability education.
- **2021-10** — Launched Future Planet with Ingrid De Doncker.
- **2026-09** — Named executive chairman of Future Planet in announcement of combination with the Institute of Sustainability Studies.

## Achievements

- Co-founded and led Altify, acquired by Upland in 2019 for $84 million.
- Built an AI engine for financial-services advice in his first business, founded in 1986.
- Co-founded Future Planet, combining sustainability methodology and software.
- Authored Expert Systems Introduced, Account Planning in Salesforce, Tomorrow | Today, and Digital Sales Transformation in a Customer First World.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Future Planet announced its combination with the Institute of Sustainability Studies; Niall Collins is CEO, Daly executive chairman, Ingrid De Doncker chief innovation and research officer, and Colum Kenny COO.

## Links

- Website: https://www.donaldaly.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalydonal/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/donaldaly

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/donal-daly
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-14