An exciting six months lie ahead for the eight successful Donegal entrepreneurs who have earned a coveted place on the ACORNS initiative for women-led start-up businesses.
The businesswomen all battled strong competition to gain a place on the peer-led support network for rural Ireland.
Donegal has the highest number of female entrepreneurs on ACORNS this cycle, who will be benefiting from the expert support of Deirdre McGlone.
Inishowen is well represented with two participants running their business from the peninsula. The places went to Avril McMonagle founder of Meantóir, a specialist training and professional support service for early childhood education; and Carlene Lyttle of Sailespin a specialist business support service for companies looking to foster growth.
The mantle for the south of the county is being carried by Joanne Butler of OURganic Gardens – a garden project combining education, tourism and community based in beautiful Gort a’Choirce and Meg O’Gara of Megnificent Creative based in Kilcar offering graphic design and creative illustration.
Bundoran also features well with Nicola Gavigan from the unique experience Seclusion Spa at Ardfarna and Sinead Fox from the already award-winning Salty Fox Coffee Shop.
Marie Hutchinson from the well-being focused Mojo Yoga and Wellness Studio in Donegal Town and Sue Glackin of Donegal Food Tours based in Letterkenny complete the Donegal posse of entrepreneurs embarking on this exciting opportunity.
Built on a belief that entrepreneurs learn best from each other, the ACORNS initiative is facilitated by ‘Lead Entrepreneurs’; women who have started and grown successful businesses in rural Ireland.
The Donegal Acorns group is led by successful businesswoman Deirdre McGlone, former ‘Donegal Person of the Year’ and President of the Donegal Women in Business Network. Over the next six months Deirdre will work with the eight women-led businesses to maximise their business through peer-support, mentoring, and networking.
The businesses supported by the previous Acorns initiative recorded a 43% increase in turnover. Access to finance and marketing were the barriers to developing businesses in rural Ireland, as identified by the participants, which ACORNS aims to address over the next 6 months.
ACORNS is funded under the Rural Innovation and Development Fund through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. For more information, see www.acorns.ie.
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