WestBIC's Enterprising Podcast

This episode is for any early-stage entrepreneur, people thinking about perusing entrepreneurship or applying for funding. The beginning of this story is about identifying a real problem worth tackling with a view to building a profitable business but as the conversation develops, Margaret Rae, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Konree Innovation delves into many tips and tricks to building an investible business and so much more. Margaret talks to Chantal Costello (WestBIC), about the supports she received from New Frontiers, to EMPOWER, to the Women EU Tech Award, to WestBIC, to Enterprise Ireland. Some key topics include:-       Konree Innovation, how it all started and the idea generation process-       Margaret’s move from a researcher to an entrepreneur -       Stepping forward into female entrepreneurship and overcoming barriers -       Building confidence -       Building a network that you can trust and lean on, supporting fellow entrepreneurs and paying opportunities forward. -       Understanding and acknowledging the gaps in your business and making a plan to fill them.-       What startups need to know about Enterprise Ireland’s Pre Seed Start Fund -       Optimising investment to propel the company, hitting milestones and impact management.-       How to hire the right team .-       Recruiting the right co-founder, and co-founder compatibility!-       Tips on writing applications -       So much more!!Register for the next online Application Support Workshops are organised by the Business Innovation Centres (BIC) in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland for the Pre Seed Start Fund here. These workshops are interactive and participation is welcomed from entrepreneurs and early stage companies considering applying to the fund, including those based internationally looking to start a business in Ireland. Workshops are free to attend but advance registration is required.Contact Margaret here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-rae-74304736/?originalSubdomain=ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Glacann Mícheál Ó Duibhir, Oifigeach Forbartha an Gheilleagair Dhigiteach le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta an micreafón fiontraíochta chun insint do Eunan Mac Cuinneagáin, Bainisteoir Réigiúnach WestBIC faoi na deiseanna atá ann gnó a thosnú i gceann de na 27 moil digiteach atá lonnaithe ins na ceantair Gaeltachta. Labhraíonn Mícheál faoin tallann, cothromaíocht oibre-saoil agus deiseanna chun fostaíocht a chrúthú i ngnólachtaí nuathionscanta agus i ngnólachtaí atá bunaithe cheana féin.Fáigh eolas ar an bhealach atá Údarás na Gaeltachta ag tabhairt deiseanna do dhaoine filleadh ar an Ghaeltacht, trí leas a bhaint as na tacaíochtaí atá ar fáil sna ceantair Ghaeltachta do ghnólachtaí, d’fhiontraithe, do chian-oibrithe agus do bhaill den diaspóra.Fágann Mícheál an príomhtheachtaireacht “Ná bíodh eagla ar bith ort cuidiú a lorg, mar tá go leor cuidiú amuigh ansin” don lucht éisteachta, agus ‘sé an chéad chéim ná éisteacht leis an bpodchraoladh seo!Is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh le Mícheál ag m.oduibhir@udaras.ie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrating 25 years in business, Noreen D'Arcy of D'Arcy Marketing & PR takes the Enterprising mic to discuss: marketing for startups, female entrepreneurship, building a personal brand and taking guidance from mentors who will push you and your business forward. Noreen opens up about how working in the hospitality industry was a major opportunity for her, unbeknown at the time. We talk about navigating decisions after a disappointing leaving certificate and starting a career at a time where there were 2.5 sales & marketing jobs in Galway City in hotels. We also touch on taking time out, accepting different forms of support, both in business and in life, self-awareness, and learning from failures.  This is an extremely authentic and relatable story of how a conversation over pints in an Irish pub encouraged a female to trust in her own ability and set up her own marketing & PR agency.  Noreen delves into the importance of understanding your USP, your market niche and why your customers buy from you, as well as creating and conveying your own unique story, your perception of your USP v the customers perception of the USP. Whether you’re a female founder, a business person, a marketeer or a student, this conversation will show you the importance of self-awareness and learning from failures. Get in touch with Noreen via her website: https://darcymarketingandpr.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, WestBIC’s Alison McGonagle meets Kevin Sexton, the Head of Innovation at the Alpha Innovation Centre to discuss all things enterprise in Donegal and the Northwest of Ireland. The innovation advocates talk about converting problems into opportunities, scaling startups and the importance of failing fast. Kevin shares his experience from across Europe and brings home the 4 phases of innovation to Inishowen, Co. Donegal. Kevin speaks about improving, adapting and developing as all being key elements of the innovation process. The Donegal natives highlight the range of supports, initiatives and opportunities for collaboration across the northwest and speak about the state of innovation in the region, the ecosystem and the start-up landscape. Kevin speaks about The Alpha Innovation Centre, which is going to be a central space in Letterkenny where magic happens, where people can come out of their own biases and beliefs and collaborate locally with global ambition. The centre will provide a state-of-the-art innovative workspace for new start-ups and existing businesses with the aim of building a dynamic innovative ecosystem where both new and existing businesses will have the opportunity to operate their day-to-day business activities, network, and collaborate. If you are interested in business opportunities, starting a business in a rural area or engaging in initiatives across the Northwest, this episode is for you! Read more here: https://donegal.ie/propertysolutions/alpha-innovation-centre-letterkenny You can contact Kevin at kevinsexton@alphainnovation.eu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Off the back of the latest funding round, Michael Furey takes the Enterprising microphone to discuss Ronspot’s challenges and triumphs over the past 4 years. Michael speaks about having a keen awareness of the current market and how this opened doors for further product development and expansion, how availing of the supports in Ireland has helped Ronspot, and how to lead a team to make good business decisions. Contact Michael michael.furey@Ronspotflexwork.com Find out more or book a demo: https://ronspotflexwork.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At WestBIC, we understand the importance of perception, so in this episode we shake things up. We interviewed Bernard Carlson, Programme Manager of AgInnovate, a one-year MSc in NUI Galway and compared and contrasted his viewpoint with up and coming entrepreneur, Kieran Supple, Co-Founder of Reap Interactive - an agricultural technology company focusing on the next generation of farming solutions, who are using technology to feed the growing population. Hear about the agents of change, the power of data and the advantages of adopting a data-focussed approach to increase efficiency and predictability in the agriculture industry. Important Links Contact Kieran Supple: kieran.supple@reapinteractive.com Contact Bernard Carlson: walterbernard.carlson@nuigalway.ie Read more about AgInnovate: https://www.westbic.ie/news/nui-galways-masters-agriinnovation-applications-closing-soon Apply for AgInnovate: https://springboardcourses.ie/details/10482 Find us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook – Let us know if you found this episode beneficial! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ins an eagrán seo, tá Micheál Ó hEanaigh, Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta ag labhairt le Eunan Cunningham, Bainisteoir Réigiúnach ag WestBIC, faoin Fhéile Eoraip na Nuálaithe Faoi 35 atá á reáchtáil ag MIT Technology Review, atá ag teacht go hÉirinn ar an 19ú - 21ú Bealtaine 2022, don chéad uair riamh. Tá seo ar cheann de na himeachtaí is suntasaí ar domhan a thugann ómós do nuálaithe óga a bhfuil sé mar aidhm acu cur go dearfach leis an domhan trí mheán na teicneolaíochta. Tiocfaidh na nuálaithe is cliste san Eoraip le chéile i nGaoth Dobhair, Dún na nGall, lena gcuid oibre a chur ar taispeáint agus le bualadh le físithe atá ar aon intinn leo féin atá ag baint leasa as forbairtí teicneolaíochta chun an todhchaí a mhúnlú agus chun saolta a athrú. Roinnfidh ceannairí Eorpacha agus domhanda ó MedTech, Teicneolaíocht Ghlas, earnálacha TF agus níos mó a bhfuil foghlamtha acu maidir le hinbhuanaitheacht, cruthaitheacht, nuálaíocht agus fiontraíocht. Éist anois le tuilleadh a fháil amach! Ceannaigh ticéid anseo: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/innovators-under-35-europe-festival-of-innovation-tickets-259388557157 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.