Flying High At DCU Ryan Academy
21st June 2016
Female High Fliers is the first accelerator programme in Ireland designed exclusively for startups founded and run by female entrepreneurs. In 2014, over 150 high calibre applicants competed for 10 coveted places to participate on our first programme, over 136 applied in 2015 and similar numbers again for Cycle 1 in 2016.
This year’s participants were taken on a 13 week journey of discovery – equipping them with the information, guidance and tools needed to turn great ideas into profitable and scalable businesses. Throughout the programme the companies received support by expert business mentors as well as gaining access to the Academy’s unrivalled network of alumni and investors. The programme also creates powerful and long lasting relationships.
Words: Niamh Collins, Chief Operations Officer at DCU Ryan Academy
The focus of the programme is to fast track female-led businesses to achieve scale and create employment. Now that Cycle 1 is complete, we hear from some of the 2016 participants on their experiences as entrepreneurs.
Theresa Keady – EC Charging
Sum up your business pitch in 10 words or less:
Electric-Vehicle Charging Solutions, Green energy to the transport sector.
What made you take the leap to establish your business?
After a successful career as general manager to a company in the transport sector I wanted to go out and do it for myself, the Electric Vehicle industry provided a challenge in a new green innovative smart industry.
Why did you apply for the Female High Fliers Programme?
I was interested in extending my business network and gaining some valuable sales experience.
What are the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Ireland in your opinion?
Reluctance of state agencies and semi states to deal with startups Various challenges in breaking out of the Irish market and going abroad, researching and validating markets, selecting recruiting and managing of site personal, finding suitable and well-fitting partners.
What other company/industry leader are you inspired by?
Elon Musk CEO of Tesla Motors.
Louise Murphy – Cyc Lok
Sum up your business pitch in 10 words or less:
Cyc-Lok Ltd is an Irish company established in 2014 to develop a Europe-wide and, later, global network of secure bicycle parking facilities in response to the dramatic surge in cycling for recreation and especially for transport in urban commuter zones.
What made you take the leap to establish your business?
We saw the massive gap in the market and we had a disruptive product that we could market and sell globally. We also possessed all the skills within our small team to make it a success.
Why did you apply for the Female High Fliers Programme?
All accelerators propel you further in your business and allow you the time to reflect and perfect your business model while allowing you to network and meet like minded people at the same stage as yourself. Women always support each other in business and don’t allow egos to get in the way.
What are the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Ireland in your opinion?
A small market generally if you are looking to scale and poor support from government bodies and councils. There is a severe lack of foresight of public bodies to promote and support their own. It’s organisations like DCU Ryan Academy that see your potential and do their best to help and promote you.
What other company/industry leader are you inspired by?
Apple, Google, Linked In, they are true global leaders with a presence in the global market that cannot be rivalled, they are the true brand leaders.
Jill Stout – Cook It Kids
Sum up your business pitch in 10 words or less:
We teach kids to cook through a monthly subscription recipe and activity box.
What made you take the leap to establish your business?
My son became a fussy eater at about 4 years of age and I was frustrated trying to feed him. Other Mums I talked to felt the same and as I loved to cook and had half the neighbourhood in baking anyway I decided it was time for a change of career.
Why did you apply for the Female High Fliers Programme?
I applied because I wanted to get a deeper understanding of the mechanics of building a successful brand. I felt their reputation in the industry would be an asset to me going forward in the business world.
What are the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Ireland in your opinion?
Funding. I am mostly self-funded, with a little help from the LEO, but access to money is very difficult and I am at a critical point where funding now could make or break the business before we have even gotten off the ground.
What other company/industry leader are you inspired by?
Richard Branson inspires me because of his attitude, his business acumen, how he has surrounded himself with the right people and how he advocates for the entrepreneur. I have also met some people through the RA who I have been inspired and encouraged by, in particular Maurice Healy and his team at the Healy Group. I found their approach and attitude refreshing and definitely something to aspire too.
Mary O’Brien – Video Doc
Sum up your business pitch in 10 words or less:
VideoDoc creates affordable access to healthcare
What made you take the leap to establish your business?
Working on a similar project in the US market, which is much more advance and seeing the potential applications in Europe. I have been involved in working on healthcare remotely deliver for 5 years so creating the VideoDoc platform was a natural progression.
Why did you apply for the Female High Fliers Programme?
Around the time of the applications opening I had heard some interviews in the media with previous participants, their stories were inspiring, I also wanted to become connected with other female business founders, however the experience over the last three months has surpassed my expectation, I would highly recommend the High Fliers programme, the programme content and support network you can access as part of the Ryan Academy is an amazing asset.
What are the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Ireland in your opinion?
Ireland is a great place for start-ups, funding is always issue but there are great supports available.
What other company/industry leader are you inspired by?
Anne Heraty, Louise Phelan, Natalie Massenet, Richard Brandson to name a few.
Pamela Newenham – GirlCrew
Sum up your business pitch in 10 words or less:
GirlCrew is a global network for women to make new friends.
What made you take the leap to establish your business?
I had been looking to jump into the world of entrepreneurship and start-ups for a while. I had spent two years meeting entrepreneurs at various start-up events and conferences such as the Web Summit. I saw was excited by the lives they led, and the opportunities. Working in a start-up, every day is different. You never know what’s going to come your way. I am lucky to have amazing co-founders – Elva Carri and Aine Mulloy.
Why did you apply for the Female High Fliers Programme?
It can be very easy to get caught up into the day-to-day running of things in a start-up. At times, it’s important to take a step back, and take a helicopter view of things. I applied to the Female High Fliers programme to do this. I wanted a better overall view of the start-up, especially as we are experiencing very rapid growth, with everything moving at a fast pace.
What are the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Ireland in your opinion?
I think access to funding is a major challenge facing entrepreneurs here. Many have to go to Silicon Valley to get funding. At GirlCrew two of our major investors are Silicon-Valley based. There needs to be better incentives or tax benefits for investors in Ireland. That would encourage more angel investments in start-ups. The capital gains tax regime could be more competitive here too, like it is in the UK. This would go a long way towards helping start-ups.
What other company/industry leader are you inspired by?
Jayne Ronayne, the CEO and co-founder of KonnectAgain. She is ahead of us on her entrepreneurial journey, and has been absolutely amazing when it comes to advice. She has been extremely helpful to us in relation to lots of things regarding start-up life. My co-founders and I hired a house with Jayne and her co-founder Helen in San Francisco last year. We had gone there on a fundraising trip to raise investment for the development of our app. It was great spending time with them there, and seeing how they do things.
Cycle 2 will start on Tuesday September 6th, with applications opening in July 2016. For more information on the Female High Fliers contact the Programme Manager: Niamh Collins, Chief Operations Officer @ DCU Ryan Academy – E: Niamh.collins@ryanacademy.dcu.ie
