WestBIC's Enterprising Podcast

What does it actually take to scale a small business without burning out, losing focus, or watching another business plan gather dust in a drawer? We recently sat down with Rebecca Lyons, founder of BEXL and creator of The Momentum Map, to get into exactly that. Her advice for overwhelmed founders is refreshingly simple: tackle one thing at a time, and turn off your emails for an hour to actually...

In this episode of WestBIC’s Enterprising Podcast , Greg Heaslip breaks down the practical side of using AI in business. From understanding different AI models to crafting effective prompts using the CLEAR framework, Greg shares actionable insights for entrepreneurs looking to leverage AI tools intelligently. He discusses why human judgement remains essential when working with AI, and explores how...

"Be very confident about your own pillars and reasons for doing what you are doing. But be prepared and actively seek to be challenged." – Brandon Blacoe, CEO & Co-Founder, ByoWave This month on WestBIC’s Enterprising Podcast , we catch up with Brandon Blacoe, who first joined us in 2022, just as ByoWave was emerging from the Beta phase and forging exciting partnerships—including one with Micr...

In the latest episode of WestBIC’s  Enterprising Podcast , we welcome back Ruairi Dooley, co-founder of  BiaSol , to reflect on the company’s growth over the past three years. Ruairi shares key moments in BiaSol’s journey, insights into innovation and investment, and the realities of building a sustainable business in today’s market. Key themes discussed include: Keeping pace with trends...

In this episode of WestBIC’s Enterprising Podcast , host Colleen Baxter sits down with Gráinne Mullins, the award-winning pastry chef turned entrepreneur behind Grá Chocolates . Gráinne shares her journey from working in Michelin-starred kitchens to building a luxury chocolate brand renowned for its artistry and quality. She opens up about the challenges of scaling a premium handmade product, the...

In this episode of WestBIC’s Enterprising Podcast , Mary Ryan, Deputy CEO of WestBIC sits down with Mary McKenna. Mary is a Donegal-based entrepreneur, angel investor, and co-founder of AwakenHub—a social enterprise dedicated to supporting women founders across Ireland. She is also the Chair of AwakenAngels, Ireland’s first and only all-island, women-led investment community. Mary shares her entre...

In today’s tech-driven world, keeping up with digital trends can feel overwhelming, especially for smaller businesses and public organisations. But that’s where Data2Sustain steps in. In this episode, John Brennan, CEO of WestBIC, and Mike Conroy, Director of Data2Sustain, unpack the critical role of Data2Sustain, a European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), in helping businesses transition toward su...

In this episode, Mary Ryan, Deputy CEO at WestBIC, delves into the specifics of Enterprise Ireland's Pre-Seed Start Fund. She provides a comprehensive overview of the fund, explaining its purpose and the crucial role it plays in nurturing early-stage start-ups. Mary details the eligibility criteria, outlining who can apply and the types of projects and entrepreneurs the fund is designed to support...

In this episode, Padraig Considine from Professional Accounting Solutions sheds light on the journey of enterprising individuals venturing into the dynamic realm of entrepreneurship. He delves deep into tailored business insights crafted specifically for those initiating their entrepreneurial odyssey. Whether you're venturing into startup territory, transforming a passion project into a business,...

In this episode Seamus McCormack, Area Manager at WestBIC delves into the profound impact of social enterprises in today's society. Join us as we discuss their benefits and highlight inspiring stories of positive change. Discover how social enterprises are reshaping our world, balancing financial success with social impact. It’s clear that social enterprises play a vital role in shaping a more inc...

WestBIC's Alison McGonagle sits down with Anne Marie McLaughlin, Innovation Manager of the recently opened Inishowen Innovation (ii) in Buncrana, Co. Donegal, to discuss what the true benefits are of innovation hubs and facilities. This episode explores: Can you have it all? Work-life balance - can you have a successful career or start up while being based in a more rural area as opposed to the bi...

This episode is for any early-stage entrepreneur, people thinking about perusing entrepreneurship or applying for funding. The beginning of this story is about identifying a real problem worth tackling with a view to building a profitable business but as the conversation develops, Margaret Rae, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Konree Innovation delves into many tips and tricks to building an in...

This episode is whistle-stop tour for entrepreneurs, founders and new business owners to ensure they avoid making critical legal mistakes that could back to bite them! Laura Myles, the Head of Data Privacy and IP at Flynn O'Driscoll LLP and Cian Mannion, Corporate associate at Flynn O’Driscoll LLP speak to Ultan Faherty, Project Manager at WestBIC  around investment, intellectual pr...

Glacann Mícheál Ó Duibhir, Oifigeach Forbartha an Gheilleagair Dhigiteach le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta an micreafón fiontraíochta chun insint do Eunan Mac Cuinneagáin, Bainisteoir Réigiúnach WestBIC faoi na deiseanna atá ann gnó a thosnú i gceann de na 27 moil digiteach atá lonnaithe ins na ceantair Gaeltachta. Labhraíonn Mícheál faoin tallann, cothromaíocht oibre-saoil agus deiseanna chun f...

Mícheál Ó Duibhir, the Digital Economy Development Officer with Údarás na Gaeltachta takes to the enterprising microphone to tell Eunan Cunningham, Regional Manager at WestBIC about the opportunities for starting a business in one of the 27 digital hubs located in Gaeltacht areas. Mícheál speaks about talent, work-life balance and opportunities for employment generation in new start-ups and existi...

Celebrating 25 years in business, Noreen D'Arcy of D'Arcy Marketing & PR takes the Enterprising mic to discuss: marketing for startups, female entrepreneurship, building a personal brand and taking guidance from mentors who will push you and your business forward. Noreen opens up about how working in the hospitality industry was a major opportunity for her, unbeknown at the time. We talk...

Patrick McDermott, Co-Founder & CEO at DigiTally tells Niamh Considine, WestBIC about his entrepreneurial journey from concept to commercialisation! The Galway based entrepreneur speaks about how to overcome start-up challenges including the fund-raising process in Ireland, a route to scale that works, deciding to grow the business, solving a real problem and recruiting the right team to take...

In this episode, WestBIC’s Alison McGonagle meets Kevin Sexton, the Head of Innovation at the Alpha Innovation Centre to discuss all things enterprise in Donegal and the Northwest of Ireland. The innovation advocates talk about converting problems into opportunities, scaling startups and the importance of failing fast.   Kevin shares his experience from across Europe and brings home the 4 phases o...

In this episode, Mary Ryan speaks to Steven Griffen from the Health Innovation Hub Ireland, who shares insights on working closely with the healthcare community and academic partners from across a diverse range of disciplines to investigate opportunities for innovation, and progress projects based on unmet clinical needs. Steven also speaks about engaging in technology evaluation with Irish compan...

Off the back of the latest funding round, Michael Furey takes the Enterprising microphone to discuss Ronspot’s challenges and triumphs over the past 4 years. Michael speaks about having a keen awareness of the current market and how this opened doors for further product development and expansion, how availing of the supports in Ireland has helped Ronspot, and how to lead a team to make good busine...

This episode dives deep into investment and female entrepreneurship, the disparities between women and men on the island of Ireland when it comes to business investment, starting a business and attitudes to risk. Mary McKenna, the co-founder of AwakenHub, speaks on her unexpected route to entrepreneurship at 43 years of age. Mary and Ultan, the project manager at WestBIC also discuss how inflation...

At WestBIC, we understand the importance of perception, so in this episode we shake things up. We interviewed Bernard Carlson, Programme Manager of AgInnovate, a one-year MSc in NUI Galway and compared and contrasted his viewpoint with up and coming entrepreneur, Kieran Supple, Co-Founder of Reap Interactive - an agricultural technology company focusing on the next generation of farming solutions,...

In this Episode Mary Ryan, Deputy CEO at WestBIC reveals what it really takes to become a high potential startup company, the commonly faced challenges in today's business climate and how these can be overcome.  Mary highlights the vast array of tailored and specialised services that WestBIC offers to budding entrepreneurs in the West and the Northwest of Ireland to support them on their unique jo...

Ins an eagrán seo, tá Micheál Ó hEanaigh, Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta ag labhairt le Eunan Cunningham, Bainisteoir Réigiúnach ag WestBIC, faoin Fhéile Eoraip na Nuálaithe Faoi 35 atá á reáchtáil ag MIT Technology Review, atá ag teacht go hÉirinn ar an 19ú - 21ú Bealtaine 2022, don chéad uair riamh. Tá seo ar cheann de na himeachtaí is suntasaí ar domhan a thugann ómós do nuálaithe óg...

In this episode, Micheál Ó hEanaigh, CEO of  Údarás na Gaeltachta talks to Eunan Cunningham, regional manager at WestBIC, about the Innovators Under 35 Europe Festival run by MIT Technology Review, which is coming to Ireland on May 19th - 21st 2022, for the first time in its history. This is one of the world’s most distinguished events honouring young innovators who aim to positively contribute to...