AwakenHub, which describes itself as Ireland’s only all-island community for women founders, and AwakenAngels, the country’s first women-led investment community, have been in the U.S. this week for a Saint Brigid’s Day-inspired trade mission.
The mission took the group to Boston and concludes in New York today, Friday the 7th.
Aiming to bolster investment in Irish-owned women-led businesses, the mission sees 25 women founders showcasing 20 innovative companies with financial asks ranging from $1 million to $3 million, said a release.
Added the release: "Now in its third year, previous participants in the AwakenAngels and AwakenHub St Brigid’s trade missions have received six-figure investments in as little as seven weeks following meetings organised as part of the trip."
This year, some of the most innovative Irish women-led companies from the Health and Life Sciences, B2B SaaS, Digital Technologies, and Sustainability sectors across the island of Ireland will be taking part. Seven of the women-led companies are from Northern Ireland while eleven are based in the Republic of Ireland The AwakenAngels and AwakenHub’s co-founders will also attend investment meetings as part of the mission.
Continued the release: "Delegates will take part in a range of meetings and events organised by AwakenHub and AwakenAngels, including high-level briefings with the British and Irish consulates in Boston and New York, and Underscore VC in Boston.
"They will also participate in founder showcases in front of a select group of investors, VC’s, and interested parties keen to support and be involved with the mission. Guests from New York and Boston are also being invited to learn more about the fundamentals of angel investing and opportunities to back women-led ventures from Ireland in a series of angel investing Masterclasses hosted by AwakenAngels."
Speaking ahead of the mission, Clare McGee, co-founder and CEO of AwakenAngels and Awaken Hub, said: “The women founders taking part in our mission have the potential to drive huge economic growth on our island. With investment in women-founded companies still critically low, however, they need specific support and we’re immensely proud that AwakenAngels and AwakenHub are there to provide that.
“Our St Brigid’s trade mission is coming at a crucial time for many of our delegates as they are at a significant juncture in their growth journey. We are confident that through our support and connections on this mission, many will receive the financial backing they seek and make the kinds of contacts that are such an important part of the entrepreneurial journey.
“Our St Brigid’s Day trade mission has quickly become a key event in the calendar for many venture capitalists and investors in the US and we’re immensely proud of that. We started both of our Awaken ventures to drive lasting, impactful change in the startup ecosystem for women across this island. That’s what we’re doing and what we’re going to continue to do.”
The founders taking part in the St Brigid’s trade mission are, from County Dublin: Back To Work Connect, Gina Oglesby, from Dublin; EVE Mobility, Sarah-Marie Rust, from Dublin and Gigi Supplements, Jennie Haire, from Portmarnock (co-founder Lisa Hughes).
From County Cork: Lia Eyecare Breda O'Regan and Sinéad Buckley, Macroom. From County Donegal:
ITUS Secure Technologies, Clare Ryan, from Newtowncunningham. From County Galway: OnaWave Medical, Siobhan Kelleher. From County Kildare: Beauty Buddy, Wendy Slattery from Leixlip,
Kowroo Sheelagh Brady from Donadea. From County Louth: With Everly, Orla McDonnell from Dundalk (co-founder Laura Downes from Drogheda). From County Waterford: Tailr, Shana Chu, from Waterford.
From County Antrim: 6D-Dementia Ltd, Frances Duffy, from Portrush, Educational Voice, Michelle Connolly, from Belfast, Silver Apples Media, Angela Wilson, from Belfast, Taylor Yates, Karen, and Ellen Yates, from Bushmills.
From County Derry/Londonderry: Clúmh, Lisa McLaughlin, from Derry, SeeMe Ltd, Mary Blake, from Derry.
Concluded the release: All of the women founders attending the mission are self-funding their places. The Department of Foreign Affairs Emigrant Support Programme and The Irish American Partnership are supporting the mission. More on AwakenAngels and AwakenHub can be found online at awakenangelshq.com and awakenhub.com.
