NW women founders on high-stakes St. Brigid’s Day Trade Mission to US

Seven women-led companies from the NW and across Northern Ireland are among 20 businesses participating in a major trade mission to the United States next week.

AwakenHub, Ireland’s only all-island community for women founders, and AwakenAngels, the first all-island women-led investment community, are set to lead a high-impact St. Brigid’s Day trade mission to Boston and New York next week from February 3-7.

Aiming to bolster investment in Irish-owned women-led businesses, the mission will see 25 women founders showcase 20 innovative companies with financial asks ranging from $1M to $3M.

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 ROI.  The AwakenAngels and AwakenHub’s co-founders will also attend investment meetings as part of the mission.

Clare McGee from Derry, CEO and co-founder of AwakenAngels and Awaken Hub, who this week are leading a delegation of 20 Irish-owned women businesses on a St Brigid's Day trade mission to Boston and New York.

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.”

Clare Ryan, founder of ITUS, said: “This will be a return trip to the US east coast for ITUS. We are excited to continue our partnership conversations and are looking forward to meeting with new potential investors.”

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The women founders taking part in the St Brigid’s trade mission are: 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; Clúmh, Lisa McLaughlin, from Derry; SeeMe Ltd, Mary Blake, from Derry; Back To Work Connect, Gina Oglesby, from Dublin; EVE Mobility, Sarah-Marie Rust, from Dublin; Gigi Supplements, Jennie Haire, from Portmarnock (co-founder Lisa Hughes); Lia Eyecare Breda O'Regan and Sinéad Buckley, Macroom; ITUS Secure Technologies, Clare Ryan, from Newtowncunningham; OnaWave Medical, Siobhan Kelleher, Galway; Beauty Buddy, Wendy Slattery from Leixlip; Kowroo Sheelagh Brady from Donadea; With Everly, Orla McDonnell from Dundalk (co-founder Laura Downes from Drogheda); and Tailr, Shana Chu, from Waterford.

Pictured with Irish Ambassador Martin Fraser at the Irish Embassy in London is Mary McKenna, Chair and co-founder of AwakenAngels and Awaken Hub.

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.

Further information on AwakenAngels and AwakenHub can be found online at awakenangelshq.com and awakenhub.com.