ALPHA Innovation EU

US investors battle it out in Ramelton to invest €100,000 in Oliver Begley’s startup - Biota - at ALPHA Innovation EU's annual flagship event: Disrupt By The Sea Shark Tank 🦈 After hearing 5 phenomenal pitches, the judges: J. Mark Baiada, John Fries and Mike Finucane, had their work cut out. After 45 minutes, they returned to the stage with a split decision which saw them entering negotiations with 3 of the 5 founders in front of the live audience. The dramatic finish to the event caught everyone by surprise and had the audience sitting on the edge of their seats. The founder of DigiAcademy Technology, Esther Murphy, PhD, won the Disrupt by the Sea Audience Choice Award with an inspiring proposition 🎉 The judges commented that all 5 businesses were investable, providing a huge validation for all the businesses that pitched to them 💸 They promised personal introductions to senior decision-makers, in Forbes and Microsoft, to the runners-up 🤝 Congratulations to all of the founders who pitched. Each of them made connections that will accelerate the business development side of their ventures 📈 Joe Fernandez| ALPACA Assessment, Eóin Tuohy | Sports Impact Technologies, Stephen Conmy | Contenseo You can join ALPHAs startup community, by signing up for an annual membership plan 🌟 https://lnkd.in/e_HC9iVY #ALPHAInnovation #DisruptByTheSea #startup #scaleups #startupfest #startupgrowth #GlobalAmbition #LoveDonegal #IrelandsDNA Donegal County Council | Donegal 2040 DAC | Enterprise Ireland

🌟 Huge shoutout to Geraldine Beirne and the incredible work she's doing with Enterprise Ireland's New Frontiers programme at ATU Donegal-Sligo! Massive thanks to Chris Ashmore of Highland Radio Donegal for featuring New Frontiers on his Business Matters Show – it’s a fantastic episode highlighting just how impactful the programme is for early-stage founders. As a current participant, I can genuinely say Geraldine’s energy and passion for business development are unmatched. She’s there from day one to meet each budding entrepreneur, guiding us through Phase One with a unique blend of no-nonsense advice and good craic! By Phase Two, she's the unstoppable lead, helping us get things done with unparalleled knowledge and enthusiasm. Never have I felt so strongly supported, rooted for, and empowered to succeed. Running a programme that spans Sligo and Donegal is no small feat, but Geraldine’s leadership has created a connected, motivated cohort from the very start. 🙌 A huge shoutout to the other amazing collaborators: ALPHA Innovation EU for their Disrupt by the Sea event – a window into the world of paradigm shifters and investors! Advancing Innovation in Manufacturing (AIM) Centre for their focus on digitalisation and smart manufacturing for SMEs, and the insightful Data2Sustain event was incredibly informative and highlighted how accessable digitalisation and data innovation can be for businesses. ATU’s Maker Space with state-of-the-art equipment: laser cutters, 3D printers, vacuum formers, 3D scanners, IoT kits – this access has been an incredible asset for early prototyping and exploration! - definitely worth checking out as soon as you have an idea - the team here are superb at ideation and prototyping! and that is a fraction for what we have been introduced to in the 8 weeks - our curriculum included essentials like; creating a strong value proposition, market research - customer identification & market validation (keeping Rob Fitzpatrick's Mom Test in mind) - funding supports & financial models (through conversations with Paul Robinson at AIB, John Brennan from WestBIC) and workshops with Richard O'Connor from who even made intellectual property law incredibly engaging and accessible (yes, really!)💡 If you're curious about the programme or considering taking the entrepreneurial leap, Geraldine’s interview on Business Matters is a worth a listen, her insights start at 28 mins in, and I highly recommend tuning in! (but I must say its an undersell of what is available - so reach out to her directly if you have a business idea, and want to make it a reality she is the person that will steer you in the right direction! Local Enterprise Office Donegal CoLab North West ATU Sligo Innovation Centre WestBIC Údarás na Gaeltachta ALPHA Innovation EU Enterprise Ireland's New Frontiers programme

Participating businesses on the Pathfinder II: Ireland NW Boston GoToMarket Lab were in the beautiful surroundings of the Guildhall Derry Londonderry last week, in preparation for their Nov trip to the US East Coast. Pathfinder II is a collaborative partnership between Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council, which is supported by Local Enterprise Office Donegal and ALPHA Innovation EU with Graham Merriman facilitating for ALPHA with a series of workshops, 121 mentoring and execution sessions upon founders’ return to Ireland. While in the US ,the enterprises will be based in the CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) Boston, providing them with opportunities to connect with seasoned experts, to gain valuable insights, and validate new market opportunities. Traveling to the East Coast on the program at the beginning of Nov are: Paul Nelis of ChallengeCurve Katherine Rowlandson of KIPPIE C.I.C. Sean Gilbride of Digi Food NPD Paula Kennedy Garcia of Forward Emphasis International Paul Boyle of Teambase Ireland Over recent weeks, founders and CEOs have been iterating their business propositions, adapting their customer decks, and reaching out to key US decision makers within their respective target sectors to hit the ground running while in Massachusetts. The program is tailored for high-growth enterprises that are poised to expand and actively seeking to do business in the US. It is designed to coincide with Golden Bridges 2024, providing  innovative driven enterprises from the North West of Ireland an opportunity to connect with seasoned experts and experienced US business leaders. Enterprises that could demonstrate growth potential, and a clear need to refine their go-to-market strategy for the US, were invited to apply to an open call. Brenda Hegarty Kevin Sexton Rosalind Young Adam Goodall Christa Bleyleben Kevin O'Connor Anne Marie Conlon Hughie Mac Suibhne Garry Martin North West City Region / Ireland Northwest I Derry City & Strabane District Council   Donegal County Council  Donegal Tech Advocates Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce  Donegal ETB   Derry Chamber  InvestDonegal Donegal 2040 DAC Invest Derry Strabane CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) MassGlobal Partners LLC Údarás na Gaeltachta Northern Ireland Bureau (North America) Invest Northern Ireland IDA Ireland #NorthWestCityRegion #InvestDonegal #GlobalAmbition #InnovationDrivenEnterprises #EmpoweringInnovation #GoToMarketBoston #ExportUSA #InvestDerryStrabane

#ThrowbackThursday 🔙 Almost 1 month since Disrupt By The Sea 2024 took place at the festival tent by the quays in Ramelton 🚀 Our showcase shark tank saw some of Ireland’s top scaleups, pitching to our US Sharks to secure tough love, feedback and €100,000 in investment 💸 The event welcomed a live audience that included entrepreneurs, startups, local ecosystem enablers and US delegates and showcased the best food and hospitality Donegal has to offer 🎉 Read more and check out our highlight photos👇 https://lnkd.in/eXzs9tgd #ALPHAInnovation #DisruptByTheSea #AlphaAlumni Donegal County Council | Donegal 2040 DAC | Enterprise Ireland

Phase 1 of Enterprise Ireland's New Frontiers programme returns for aspiring entrepreneurs in the North West starting Tuesday 5 November 🚀 Running across 8 evenings, you will cover areas such as Market Research, Defining your USP, target customers & acquisition, LEAN Canvas & Business Planning, Financials, putting you in a better position to apply for Phase 2 ✅ Learn more and apply now 👉 https://lnkd.in/erCN8sw9 #NewFrontiers #Entrepreneurship #Startups #BusinessGrowth #Innovation

Happy National Women’s Enterprise Day 🎉 At ALPHA, we are privileged to have an incredible cohort of female founders and entrepreneurs coming through our programmes as well as working with some of the female leaders that make up the business support ecosystem in the North West 📍 Here are some of the highlights: 📸 DigiAcademy Technology’s Esther Murphy, PhD Pitching at Disrupt By The Sea 2024 📸 Eilish Kennedy speaking with Graham Merriman during Startup Bootcamp 2024 📸 Bootcamp Participant Laura McGoran enjoying Disrupt By The Sea with co-founder John Duffy 📸 2023’s Female Startup Bootcamp participants Christina M., Suzanne Griffin, Cressida Canavan, MBA and Linda McClean 📸 Head of Economic Development for Donegal County Council, Anne Marie Conlon and General Manager of Donegal 2040 DAC , Olivia Gallen with Kevin Sexton, Conor Doherty & Garry Martin at the 2024 LAMA Awards 📸 Celebrating Local Enterprise Week at Ready ..Steady ..Innovate with Head of Enterprise Local Enterprise Office Donegal, Brenda Hegarty and Regional Director - West & North West Region with Enterprise Ireland, Meabh Conaghan #ALPHAInnovation #DisruptByTheSea #StartupBootcamp #ReadySteadyInnovate

🔊 Calling all budding and inspiring innovators, ALPHA Coaching Clinics have reopened for October & November ✅ Available on Wednesday afternoons, secure your slot 👇 https://lnkd.in/eN7vCZg6 *Booking essential! Our clinics are for ambitious founders, pre-founders and managers who: 📈 Have an appetite to grow or scale 🚀 Are keen to embed an innovation culture within their organisation 💡 Need advice on diversifying into new markets 👍 Planning to build a solution to a common problem and monetise it #ALPHAInnovation #ALPHACoaching

Platform94 has announced the launch of Skillnet Innovation Exchange North West! Details: 📍Advancing Innovation in Manufacturing (AIM) Centre in Sligo 🗓️ This Friday, 18 October at 11 AM 🖌️ Register https://lnkd.in/dgJFHnfP ❗Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment❗ The Skillnet Innovation Exchange connects large businesses facing innovation challenges with ambitious technology SMEs. This initiative fast-tracks solutions, driving collaboration and creating opportunities for business development and commercial success for all involved 🤝 Hear from Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade, Promotion, and Digital Transformation and Paul Healy, CEO of Skillnet Ireland to learn more on how scaling technology companies can work with large corporates through the exchange 🔀 #Collaboration #Community #Networking #Innovation #Scaling #Globalambition #Localsupport #Scalingglobaltogether

Are you a company based in the North West City Region / Ireland Northwest looking to break into the US Market? 🌎 Pathfinder II Ireland NW to Boston Trade Mission is an incredible opportunity for companies from Donegal, Derry & Strabane to explore new international growth avenues and establish a footprint in the US 🇺🇸 Successful applicants will participate in a fully funded program, delivered at the CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) and will connect with key US businesses, identify new partnerships, and open doors to unprecedented commercial opportunities 📈 👉 Interested? Apply today and take your business to the next level! https://lnkd.in/eXKqwbwT 🛑 Applications close at 12:00 noon on Wednesday 16th October 🛑 Pathfinders II is an initiative led by Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council with industry support from ALPHA Innovation EU and Local Enterprise Office Donegal 🤝 #TradeMission #USAExpansion #IrelandNorthWest #BusinessGrowth #GlobalOpportunities #InternationalBusiness #USAMarket #PathfinderII

Congratulations to #DisruptByTheSea 2023 winners Precision Sports Technology who recently won KPMG Ireland's Global Tech Innovator Ireland Final 🏆 👏 Emma Meehan, Sean Mc Veigh and the team will now represent Ireland in the Global Final in Lisbon this November 🇮🇪 Watch back on the announcement 👇 https://lnkd.in/enue8XQq We will be cheering you on from afar! 🎉 #KPMGTechInnovator