Charitable NI start-up ESTHER to tackle poverty in NYC

  • Belfast-based start-up ESTHER is heading to New York today to meet civic leaders, philanthropists and representatives of the United Nations (UN).

    The local fintech operates a peer-to-peer platform that allows charitable donors to give money directly to people living in poverty in their own city.

    The start-up won in a pitching competition last year called upStart 2019 against 24 other early stage NI companies. ESTHER’s pitch focused on alleviating inner city poverty and the UN sustainable development goals.

    As part of the competition prize, the winners received a four-day trip to New York to gain further market validation, enhance their understanding of the sector they are targeting and to experience the US start-up ecosystem.

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    Carol Rossborough, the company’s founder and CEO said that “there is a real wealth divide in major cities such as New York and San Francisco, so it’s important for us to learn what is happening in the American third sector."

    ESTHER’s app is now live in Belfast with almost 250 donors signed up. Recipients receive donations on their ESTHER card, a normal prepaid card that has limited spend on high risk products such as alcohol, gambling, online purchases and cash withdrawals.

    The team at ESTHER said that “this ensures the donation goes directly into the hands of people in poverty, providing assurance to the donor that their donation is helping.”

    Founders Carol Rossborough and Ailis McCaul will also meet both the Irish and British UN Ambassadors to provide an overview of ESTHER’s goals.

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    The upStart 2019 programme took place at Digital DNA’s annual 2-day event in Belfast. The head of start-ups at Digital DNA, Alastair Cameron said: “Taking a start-up from Northern Ireland to New York is the biggest prize element we have delivered since the competition’s inception back in 2016.

    “We believe that by giving startups exposure to some of the biggest markets in the world will provide a catalyst for further growth and investment. I have no doubt that the team from ESTHER will use this opportunity as a major springboard to grow their company here in Northern Ireland.”

    The team depart to New York on Tuesday 21st January 2020 and you can follow all their updates across social media, by searching Digital DNA and ESTHER across all platforms.

    About the author

    Niamh is a Sync NI writer with a previous background of working in FinTech and financial crime. She has a special interest in sports and emerging technologies. To connect with Niamh, feel free to send her an email or connect on Twitter.

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