Aimed at women who have already been working on their business idea but are pre-revenue and need more support or are keen to seek external investment.

Programme benefits 

• Develop business idea.
• Ensure business idea is viable.
• Gain business skills and knowledge.
• Maximise potential growth.
• Build connections Northern Ireland and Ireland.
• Increase potential turnover or profitability.
• Build personal confidence, pitching and presentation skills.
  
   
  
  

Programme Overview

This start-up and accelerator programme aims to support individuals at the idea or pre-revenue stage or those who are already early stage trading to advance their business. The programme may give preference to those who have higher growth potential or are ambitious to develop or sell outside their local area.

This programme is suitable for:

• Women with a business idea at the pre-start stage.
• Women who have already been working on their business idea but are pre-revenue and need more support or to seek external investment.
• Businesswomen who have started trading but are early stage. This may be founders trading < 1 year full time or < 3 years if on a part time basis/side hustle.
• Women business start-ups who have interest in developing more connections in Ireland or Northern Ireland or where their business has potential to collaborate or export.
• Women who have already attended a start-up programme and feel confident in their business skills and knowledge, but are interested in developing more connections in Ireland or Northern Ireland.
• Women who are passionate about their business ideas and who are ready to commit to being part of a 30 strong group of female founders on the island.
  

What You Will Learn

• This programme will provide the business founder with time and space to work on their idea through a mixture of in person all-island events and convenient online learning.
• An incredible opportunity to build a new network of business founders who are at a similar stage to you and to diversify your network – reaching all sectors and all-island.
• Insights, knowledge and advice from start-up and specialist facilitators who deliver the online training programme.
• Ideas, best practice and inspiration from speakers and facilitators at the Festival events.
• Meetings and connections with a group of peers but also 10+ role models from our Champion Growth entrepreneurs and through Women in Business, Network Ireland, Ormeau Labs and InterTradeIreland networks.
• Learnings from champions and consultants with actionable advice.
• Personal development throughout the programme and all elements contribute to renewed motivation and vision for you and your business.
• A new road map for your business.
• A network of support with likeminded founders and owners that can continue beyond the programme.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must be a woman founder or partner or director in the business.
• The programme is ideal for anyone at idea/pre-revenue stage.
• The programme is ideal for anyone who is early-stage trading.
• Early-stage trading suggests that you are not likely to be making an adequate full time salary from the business.
• Early-stage trading may include individuals trading full time < 1 year or part time < 3 years.
• You must complete an application form for the online Learning programme and this will be scored.
• Individuals who have already participated in a start-up programme in their local region do not have to participate in the full programme and may just apply to attend the Festival networking and learning events.
• Additional eligibility criteria may be applied in order to help with selection if high numbers apply.
  

Timeline of activities & dates

• 10th September: Expressions of Interest open
• 7th October: Expressions of Interest close
• November: 1-2-1 Idea Review and Baseline needs assessment
• December 2024 – April 2025: 12 online learning workshops
• February 2025 - May 2025: 3 Peer group meetings with a Champion and 2-3 peers
• March – May 2025: 8hrs of 1-2-1 Buddy support with a Mentor or Entrepreneur
• Festival Events (open to those on main programme and to others 50 places for each event)
  

Programme Delivery Format

  » Online Training programme (30 participants)

• 1:2:1 Business idea review
• 12 online workshops on business topics delivered by start-up trainers, digital experts and community support partner Ormeau Labs (separate regional sessions on tax and legal compliance)
• Monthly online champion sessions in small groups of 4-6 people, with a Lead Champion in each group (Growth Entrepreneur) for brainstorming, accountability and motivation
• 8hrs 1-2-1 business mentoring with a start-up business buddy
• Online forum and weekly chat
  

  » Programme Cost

There is no cost to participate in this programme.

Expressions of Interest closing date

Expressions of Interest will close on Monday 7th October at 1pm.

Meet the programme managers

Roisin McDermott Women in Business | Head of Entrepreneurship Roisin is a Business Mentor and Trainer with over 20 years experience in supporting entrepreneurship, with a particular interest in female enterprise and social economy. Before joining the Women in Business team, she has been self-employed for 14 years as Seed Mentoring, working as a consultant supporting startups, micro business and small business through training, mentoring and project management. Prior to this she worked in the enterprise agency network for North Down Development/ East Belfast Enterprise and was one of the primary founders and voluntary Directors of Women in Business, where she served for 7 years. She is also the Treasurer of Specialisterne NI since its foundation in 2015, a social enterprise supporting neuro-diversity and employability and a voluntary Coach of a local girls' football team since 2019. She has a degree in Business Studies, an MBA, and an Advanced Diploma in Digital Marketing.

Emma Early Murphy Network Ireland | Collaborations Officer Emma is an award-winning entrepreneur, Business Coach & Mentor with over 20 years of experience in Corporate & SME Sales, Strategy, Customer Service, Marketing, Change Management, Leadership and Business Development, working with a range of cross-functional teams and businesses across a number of industries. She currently owns & runs 2 businesses. In 2017, along with her husband Noel, Emma set up Balloon HQ, a leading event design agency which provides bespoke branded décor, gifting and event solutions for clients nationwide. Emma also set up The Power of U, Business Coaching & Mentoring in 2022 where she supports clients on their personal & professional journeys to ensure they reach their full potential. Emma was appointed National President for 2023 of Ireland’s leading female business network and is currently Ex Officio and Collaborations Officer.