AwakenAngels

"Nothing like scrolling LinkedIn and being ambushed by your own face on a podcast 🫣 —apologies in advance!" Today is a strange day for me- my mum passed away on this day 2 years ago. I can't help thinking about how proud she would have been hearing me chatting with the famous Jim Fitzpatrick about our journey with ITUS Protect (and telling everyone she met I was on his podcast 😉). I'm still not sure if she forgave me for walking away from a full-time job in Queen's University Belfast to become a start-up founder but you can hear more about that on the podcast (link in comments). Shout out to all the angels 😇 that have guided us on our start-up journey and have backed us to this point Jenny Ervine AwakenAngels Mary McKenna, MBE GILLIAN M. Symvan Capital Michael Hayden Yuchuan Xu Denise McQuaid Clare McGee Geraldine Beirne Plexal Raise Ventures ITUS Protect Paul Daly #cyber #riskmanagement #cyberinsurance #EYNI

I'm excited to share my interview with Denise McQuaid for Wallet Max's Planet Positive Podcast this month, and we're going LIVE on March 31st 🙌 Denise is a Co-Founder and Director of Investor Relations at AwakenAngels, the first and only women-led angel investment syndicate in the island of #Ireland. As a global impact investor with expertise in #venturecapital, micro funds, #angel investments, and syndication processes - Denise is dedicated to supporting and investing in women-led #startups (not women-only), and expanding early-stage #tech innovations, along with AwakenHub community. It's no surprise that we share a common #mission that fosters collaboration and empowerment towards democratizing and transforming private investment ecosystems for #women #founders - for us, it's about providing access FIRST! Denise is also a mentor at Imperial Venture Mentoring Service (IVMS), a growth advisor at Cranfield School of Management, and an advisory board member at UK Business Angels Association. 🎯 Register at this luma page: https://lnkd.in/eEBECEmR, and you will be notified when this episode goes LIVE! Wallet Max #walletmax #climate #fintech #planetpositive #podcast #entrepreneurs #investors #technology #finance #business #leadership #innovation #inclusion #bhuvabiz #ai #data #womenintech #fundraising Mary McKenna, MBE Clare McGee Sinead Crowley Mary Ann Pierce Jane McCooey Maria McKeever Brìghde Barnes Rhiannon Gilvarry #sustainability

USA Day 3 Washington early afternoon saw Clare McGee join an engaging round table discussion with US Chamber of Commerce. And engage in a lunchtime session hosted by NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) NI Alternatives, Cooperation Ireland Forum: Sustaining Peace amid Changing Times. Great to connect with Jayne Brady and continue strong representation in the US from Northern Ireland. ‘Marathon not a sprint' indeed. Clare McGee | Denise McQuaid | Mary McKenna, MBE | Sinead Crowley | Maria McKeever

Day 3 in Washington, and the momentum is building! This morning, Clare McGee, CEO of AwakenHub & AwakenAngels, joined the Northern Ireland Bureau (North America) Breakfast—a fantastic showcase of Northern Ireland’s political, economic, educational, and cultural leadership. Clare had the opportunity to connect with Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly BL MLA who summed up the trade mission perfectly: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. 🏃♀️ The Northern Ireland Bureau, leads the diplomatic mission of the NI Executive in the U.S. working to cultivate and strengthen transatlantic partnerships. Today’s event highlighted the power of collaboration across sectors, shining a well-deserved spotlight on NI’s incredible offerings. Clare and Andrew Fleming caught up with Kieran Donoghue Chief Executive Officer of Invest Northern Ireland. With special thanks to Tina McKenzie MBE and Roger Pollan from FSB Northern Ireland (Federation of Small Businesses). Exciting times ahead as we continue to build meaningful connections and drive impactful change! Andrew Fleming | Andrea Haughian | Gavan Corr | Clare McGee | Derry Chamber of Commerce #NorthernIreland #TradeMission #Collaboration #WashingtonDC #AwakenHub #AwakenAngels #TourismNI #Innovation #Leadership

🎙️ Lights, mic, action! 🎙️ Our CEO and co-founder, Clare Ryan, swapped the keyboard for a studio mic to chat all things cybersecurity, startups, and the journey behind ITUS Protect! Podcast drops next week - stayed tuned... The Irish News #CyberSecurity #Podcast #Startups #ITUSProtect #StayTuned

It has been a busy 24 hours in Washington, D.C., for Clare McGee. The day started with a brilliant breakfast cohosted by the Washington Ireland Program and Ulster University who awarded an Honorary Doctorate on Carol Wheeler in recognition of her outstanding contribution to peace and reconciliation. Setting the tone for a series of high-level meetings the day continued against the iconic backdrop of the White House, where Clare engaged in strategic networking. She reconnected again with James Applegate U.S. Consulate General in Belfast, as well as Ranissa Adityavarman, former Special Assistant to the Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Last night at the Irish Ambassador's reception Clare also had a productive conversations including with John Gallick, Head of Relationships at AlG, and Kim Sawyer who led the Connect to Success in Northern Ireland in collaboration with Ulster University. Tonight, the momentum continues at a special reception hosted by Lord Mandelson, celebrating Ulster University’s Times Higher Education University of the Year 2024 award—an incredible recognition of the university’s impact and excellence. Andrew Fleming | Derry Chamber of Commerce | Paul Bartholomew | Ulster University

Meet the Speaker 🎤 Join us for an exclusive fireside chat with Dr. Chris Donegan, a seasoned angel investor, venture partner, and expert in intellectual property strategy. Chris has been investing in and advising start-ups for over two decades, with a diverse portfolio spanning quantum computing, cybersecurity, financial education, and regenerative medicine. Chris is a Senior Advisor/Venture Partner to the Calyx Venture Fund, investing in IP-rich early-stage companies. He also leads a consulting firm specialising in IP monetisation and has been ranked among the world’s top IP strategists every year since 2011. His first angel investment in 2001 led to a successful exit, and since then, he has backed numerous start-ups—some thriving, some learning experiences. Chris also serves as Non-Executive Chairman for multiple high-growth businesses. This is a must-attend event for investors looking to refine their approach and entrepreneurs eager to understand what attracts top-tier angel investors. We look forward to seeing you there! RSVP: https://lu.ma/sf52oxrb 📅 April 10th ⏰ 7pm GMT 📍 Online AwakenAngels is proudly supported by: InterTradeIreland and British Business Bank Denise McQuaid Clare McGee Mary McKenna, MBE Sinead Crowley Maria McKeever Mary Ann Pierce Jane McCooey #AngelInvesting #StartupInvestment #AwakenHub #AwakenAngels #InvestingForImpact #WomenInvest #BusinessAngels #Startups #InvestingInWomen #WomenInTech #DiversityInTech #InclusiveInvesting

You need money! Amp up ambition | Anthony Rose SeedLegals CEO and Cofounder on Fundraising as a Founder: Pitch Bigger, Dream Bigger! As a founder, unless you’re already financially independent or your start up is generating revenue early on, you need investment to grow. But too often, I see founders rushing to VCs too soon—only to hear the familiar “Love what you're doing, come back later.” 💡 What’s the real game plan? Start with angel investors. London has a strong angel network, and the US has an even bigger one—but no matter where you are, you’re competing with countless other founders. Your pitch needs to stand out. 🌎 Here’s a key insight: In the UK and Ireland, modesty is the norm. In the US? Everything is awesome. If you say your start up is doing "okay," it’s assumed you’re failing. The pitch game is different—you have to level up your ambition, your vision, and your storytelling. 💡 Investors want to see founders tackling trillion-dollar markets, growing at an exponential rate, and making big, bold moves. So whether you’re in London, Dublin, or Silicon Valley, turn up the volume on your vision. 🔥 What’s your biggest challenge when pitching investors? Drop your thoughts below! Denise McQuaid Clare McGee Mary McKenna, MBE Sinead Crowley Mary Ann Pierce Jane McCooey Maria McKeever NYC Hub | Bank of Ireland #Startups #Fundraising #AngelInvestors #SeedFunding #FounderTips #Entrepreneurship #AwakenHub #AwakenAngels

AwakenAngels were honored to have been invited to "Investing in Women" superb networking event by Acting CG UK, Melanie Hopkins OBE, Shree Shah and Stephanie Horsburgh at The British Residence a month after they hosted our Trade Mission with a room full of investors and corporate clients. Jane McCooey, Morgan Stanley & Women with Ambition and I were delighted to speak with HRH, the Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO and Jenny Tooth OBE, Member of the British Business Bank's Invest in Women Taskforce and Executive Chair of the UK Business Angels Association about AwakenAngels' "women funding women" mandate outreaching to the Irish and British Diaspora to invest in women-led companies on the island of Ireland. It was a pleasure to meet Jillian McIntyre, founder, 221B Capital Partners, Sandra Frenz, MIT Female Founders Pitch Competition, Jill Wang, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and 37 Angels, Elaine Brennan, Northwell Health, and to see my friend, Cristina Dolan who captured this photo and will be a judge at MIT Female Founders Pitch Competition. There were many collaboration conversations!

Clare McGee Day 1 in Washington with the NI Trade Delegation alongside Paul Bartholomew Vice Chancellor Ulster University and Andrew Fleming President of Derry Chamber of Commerce A busy and impactful start for Clare McGee, CEO & Co-founder of AwakenHub and AwakenAngels engaging in high-level discussions on international trade, investment, and collaboration. First stop: the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Luncheon, where Clare joined Tina McKenzie MBE, CEO of Staffline Ireland and FSB UK Chair of Policy & Advocacy. Tina’s key message: “It’s vital that the voice of Northern Ireland’s business community is heard on the international stage. Our economy is delicate, and cultivating strong relationships—particularly with the US—is crucial for driving investment, supporting job creation, and boosting trade.” Later, Clare attended InterTradeIreland’s Fostering Economic Prosperity through Collaboration, with a vibrant panel including: ✅ Prof William Gallagher (UCD/AICRI) ✅ Prof Mark Lawler (QUB/AICRI/Iri-NI-US NCI Cancer Consortium) ✅ Gillian Gregg (Royal Academy of Engineers) ✅ Alan McEneaney (PayPal/The Fintech Corridor) ✅ Neil Morris (Amazon Web Services) ✅ Dr. Ciarán Seoighe (Research Ireland) A great start to a week of meaningful engagement, strengthening NI’s and the NorthWests international ties! #NITradeDelegation #EconomicGrowth #InternationalTrade #Collaboration #Investment #AwakenHub #AwakenAngels #ulsteruniversity #derrychamber