A local business accelerator has provided a substantial boost to Northern Ireland’s entrepreneurial environment in the first six months of its operation.
Entrepreneurial Spark, the world’s largest free business accelerator for early stage and growing ventures, in partnership with Ulster Bank, has provided significant opportunities to almost 80 early stage and scale-up businesses since its arrival in February of this year.
Ranging from new business development with major retailers such as Ocado and Avoca, through to jobs created at over ten of the businesses - operating in sectors as diverse as technology, beauty and food & drink - the programme has provided tangible benefits to new business creators, and those looking to scale up their existing enterprises.
Speaking at the initiative’s ‘Entrepreneuring Awards’, hosted in the Hatchery on Lombard Street, Ulster Bank Entrepreneurial Development Manager Lynsey Cunningham praised the dynamism of those taking part. She said: “The talent and tenacity of entrepreneurs across Northern Ireland is really inspiring and we have had a hugely successful period in building the people who build businesses.
“As with all walks of business, some ideas fail to take off – but those that do make it through are credible, backable and investable businesses that can play a significant part in growing and developing the indigenous private sector.”
At the Entrepreneuring Awards, £30,000 in prizes were distributed to chiclets in categories rewarding their business acumen, professional development and collaboration with others taking part in the programme.
The main award of the evening, Entrepreneur of the Moment, was awarded to Paul Goodchild, founder of Fearnleaf Systems, alongside a cash prize of £10,000 to help take his business to the next level. Fernleaf Systems provides a plugin to manage large numbers of Wordpress websites from one central location. Fernleaf also has the number one rated security plugin for Wordpress, which powers more than 30 per cent of the world’s websites.
Paul Goodchild, Fernleaf Systems said:
“Winning the Entrepreneur of the Moment award is such a great feeling, and gives me the motivation to push on and build my business. I'll be able to use the money I've received today to market my business more widely and take it to the next level.”
“The Entrepreneurial Spark Hatchery is such a wonderful experience - it has really accelerated my business, and it has been great to work so closely with like-minded people in a collaborative environment.”
Commenting on the awards, Entrepreneurial Spark co-founder and Chief Entrepreneuring Officer Lucy-Rose Walker said: “Congratulations to all of our winners in Belfast! At Entrepreneurial Spark we focus on building people who build businesses, and taking home an Entrepreneuring Award shows how hard you’ve worked and progressed in your first months in the Hatchery.
“Since opening our Hatchery in Belfast we have seen our Chiclets embrace the mindsets and behaviours of an entrepreneurial leader, working hard to become credible, backable and investable. The Entrepreneuring Awards give them the chance to celebrate their #GoDo journey and everything they have achieved to date, while allowing them to make plans on how to accelerate their business growth in their remaining time within the programme and beyond.
“We’ve seen some incredible things from the Chiclets in Belfast so well done to everyone who was nominated and to all of the winners!”
Eamonn Largey, Associate Director, KPMG commented: “Seeing how far each of the Belfast Chiclets has come since embarking on their Entrepreneurial Spark journey is actually rather humbling. Make no mistake – the program really puts these entrepreneurs through their paces, so these awards are an important milestone in recognising and celebrating both their individual and collective drive and determination to succeed. I am sure that all of the winners will continue to make their mark as they grow and scale in the future.”
The next intake for the Belfast Entrepreneurial Spark Hatchery will be announced in August, featuring new and scale-up businesses from the fields including medical technology, entertainment and sport. For more information, visit www.entrepreneurial-spark.com
