Local Heroes Profiled around the country

Local Heroes Profiled around the country.

Local Heroes – Kilkenny

Meet Jane ni Dhulchaointigh

There is more than just the “Cats” coming out of Kilkenny. In fact even Walt Disney had Kilkenny roots. One entrepreneur that really stands out is the super Jane ni Dhulchaointigh who was created an amazing product called Sugru. Jane’s “Eureka” moment came in 2003 when she was studying Product Design in the Royal College of Art in London. “I don’t want to buy new stuff all the time. I want to hack the stuff I already have so it works better for me.

”What if instead of just throwing away something that was broken or damaged; what if there was easy ways to fix it or heck even make it better?

Gaming creators will constantly tweak, fix and modify their creations to make them better. But consumers will throw away that pair of shoes as soon as the first hole arrives. Previous generations have always repaired recycled and reused items. E.g. Modifying clothes rather than buy a bright new shiny garment. Not only are these products more unique, but there is a great sense of satisfaction in fixing or modifying something. Her idea was what if she could use Silicone to fix things? Before she got carried away she searched the market to see if any such product existed. There was nothing out there. This was her chance. Jane shared Walt Disney’s philosophy “If you can Dream it. You can do it”.

What is Sugru?

Sugru, a play on the Irish word ‘súgradh’ meaning ‘play’, is a new silicone that’s like play-doh or modelling clay that you can form into whatever shape you like before it air cures into a tough, flexible, colourful silicone rubber. Sugru is designed to stick to as many other materials as possible. It forms a strong bond to aluminium, steel, ceramics, glass, wood and other materials including some plastics.

Jane realised a few things that led to her success:

Find Experts She was not an expert and in order to make her dream a reality she needed to bring the right people with the right skills set into the company. Amongst others, two scientists who had just retired from top jobs in the silicone industry and hired a patent lawyer.

Network She needed to network and charm the right people in the industry. Jane developed business relationships with key personnel at top Glue Companies around the world. With a patented product and great talent in her organisation her company was destined for success. Her ambition was BIG. Her version was to have her product in every household in the world. However, like many start-ups costs mounted and debts soared. She had managed to get some funding on the way from Nesta, the UK’s innovation think tank in 2005. However this money was soon gone and with expensive testing, no finalised product and a recession looming; by 2008 Jane’s dream looked doomed.

Get to Market However some choice words from a friend and a will to succeed kept her business alive. Her friend’s choice words: “Start small and make it good.” Rather than trying to take over the world with your business idea and never getting off the ground, get something into the “Wild” as quickly as possible. In 2009 she secured just enough investment to get her 1,000 packets produced. Within 6 hours those 1000 packets where sold. In November 2010 the TIME Magazine listed Sugru alongside the iPad as one of the top 50 inventions of 2010.

Image Credits: Sugru.ie

Build an Online Community She has really embraced the “Start Small” philosophy and started to market, collaborate and engage with customers online. She realised that some of the best marketing is “word of mouth” and it is cheap too. If a motorcycle enthusiast fixes his fuel can with Sugru he will share it his community. That community are more likely to buy Sugru because they heard about it and say the benefit of using from someone they trust.That online community has now expanded to well over 100,000 customers.

PS. Since researching this article I have been blown away by this product and have also become a customer. You may enjoy seeing how customers are using Sugru in innovative ways. Check out there gallery here – http://sugru.com/gallery

6 Key takeaways

Research your market before you dive in.
If you are lacking a skill set find someone who has it and bring them into your business.
Without funding it is much harder to succeed. So get funding.
Don’t Give Up. If setting up a business was really easy the world would be made up of employers and not employees. It is hard and will require real determination.
Get your product to market as soon as possible. The best way to test, tweak and build on your business idea is to get into the market as soon as possible. If you are waiting for your product to be perfect you will be waiting forever.
Finally use customers as “Brand Advocates” and build an online community.

Could you be Kilkenny’s next big success story? We would love to hear about your business or business idea. Time is running out to enter our competition and win the funding that could help launch your business and put it on the road to success. Visit www.ibye.ie if you are not on the site or click the Submit tab above. Good Luck.

The IBYE competition offers county winners an investment of up to €20,000 while winners at national level can receive an additional €50,000. Individuals, venture teams, partnerships, existing businesses with a new idea and people overseas that will HQ in Ireland are all invited to enter – under one of three categories: best new idea, best start-up business and best established business with a new add-on. Applicants need to submit their application (and optional video) to your Local Enterprise Office, or online on or before 31^st July 2014. The competition “is designed to foster a culture of entrepreneurship in Ireland and to encourage the establishment of new innovative businesses by Ireland’s best young entrepreneurs”.

Local Heroes – Clare

Meet Eric Gargiulo

Image Credit: Independent.ie

It’s not easy these days to spot a gap in the market and execute with resolution yet Eric Gargiulo did just that at the age of 28 when the ex-carpenter started a small delivery business, in Clare, to make extra money through the recession. Eric saw that there was a gap in the quality of delivery service and an inconsistency in the brand reputation of a restaurant and the ultimate presentation of the food on delivery.

Eric’s business became The Delivery Guys and, along with his father Mike, he now employs a team of six and was the winner of the start-up business of the year at the FBD Clare Business Excellence Awards 2013.

The Delivery Guys

Founded in 2012, Eric soon established his business as a high quality delivery service that matched the brand reputation of the restaurants they were representing. The main focus began with ensuring a prompt delivery, with the food arriving in the same quality and warmth as when it left the restaurant. The benefits were obvious; a greater variety of choice for the customer and increased sales for the restaurant.

The business model has been expanded to accommodate delivery services from stores and off-licences and they have also shown innovative traits with their branded offering and micro marketing options. Eric’s business focus has been using technology to expand further with software to enable a customer to order online from a restaurant which then links back with the driver and they soon will be able to choose payment options and track their order online. Once streamlined, the company has plans to expand into Limerick, Galway and further afield.

Eric and his father Mike differentiate their business from others using the concept of quality:

Proven sales increase through doorstep marketing and our on-line multi-menu web site
A proven track record delivering 30,000 meals per annum in Ennis
Mature highly trained and certified delivery drivers (HACCOP)
The only company in Ireland correctly insured to carry out home deliveries insulating you from any legal ramifications

The reputation of a business is vital in securing expansion both for clients and their customers. The Delivery Guys focus on achieving a high reputation for quality and integrity in their field has given them a track record for success.

Mentorship and Funding for your Business Idea or Start-Up

The logistics of setting up a high end delivery service requires a large amount of business acumen and funding. Eric has secured investment funding and the support of Enterprise Ireland.

IBYE has the funding, mentorship and business knowledge tools to transform a fledgling idea into a viable commodity and the opportunity is there to use it.

So if you have a business idea or a start-up and believe you can become Clare’s next local hero, now is the time to get investment. The IBYE Competition is an ideal opportunity for you to get some funding and kick start your brilliant business idea. Visit www.ibye.ieand apply today.

Local Heroes – Cavan

Meet Brenda Cassidy

A change in career direction has taken Brenda Cassidy down a path that has led to an exciting start-up that is on the cusp of rapid growth and expansion. From her Cavan home, she has devised a method of using tech to promote health amongst children with My Home PE.

A successful career in occupational therapy had taken Brenda to London and New York before she settled back in Ireland in 2008. She then decided to leave the HSE in 2010 and turned to her interest in preventative medicine whilst studying for a diploma in Fitness and Nutrition.

She credits her idea for My Home PE with her personal experience with weight as a child, teenager and grown up. With three children of her own, she decided that she would find ways to prevent her children from experiencing the same battle that she did: In doing so, she wanted to make exercise fun for the whole family.

The combination of passion, research, study and careful planning has resulted in the fun, yet valuable concept of My Home PE.

My Home PE

The result of Brenda’s hard work is an interactive online tool aimed at the 4-9 age group that promotes activity outside school time. The school software company, Wholeschool, are involved in developing the technology that has been piloted in Irish schools also been brought over to the UK.

Schools, sports clubs and individuals can set up an account where they gain access to fun ideas for physical activity that can involve the whole family. Points are earned on completion of these activities and are stored on a Wholeschool database so that progress can be monitored.

Growth expansion has been aided by Brenda’s ability to define her target audience and has resulted in an intended collaboration with the Ulster GAA coaches in primary schools in Northern Ireland and she also plans to target government bodies and health organisations.

Support & Funding

Brenda has recognised the need for support in her sector by becoming involved in Health2Dublin and the European Connected Health Alliance which has increased her contact network; she is also a part of the Enterprise Ireland female entrepreneur programme.

With a long term project, funding can always be difficult and Brenda has used the Enterprise Ireland HPSU scheme as a client. There are funding opportunities available in Ireland and sometimes it is sourcing the right one for your business idea that counts.

IBYE has the funding, mentorship and business knowledge tools to transform a fledgling idea into a viable commodity and the opportunity is there to use it.

So if you have a business idea or a start-up and believe you can become Cavan’s next local hero now is the time to get investment. The IBYE Competition is an ideal opportunity for you to get some funding and kick start your brilliant business idea. Visit www.ibye.ieand apply today.

Local Heroes – Offaly

Meet John Egan

Image Credit: about.me

This Tullamore man has done good! A respected global presence in the world of social entrepreneurship, John has proved that the implementation of a strategic vision can bring success; not just for John as an individual but for future entrepreneurs who recognise the benefit of the utilisation of funding and mentorship in order to grow.

A graduate of UCD and DCU, John applied his expertise in finance and econometrics to the many successful ventures he has been involved with; including The Archie Talks, Energy Solve, The Room 18 Project and the valuable entrepreneurial community of young entrepreneurs in Western Europe; Archipelago.

Creating Communities

As a founder and sponsor at Archipelago, John recognised the need to provide a focused community of value for young entrepreneurs that could also provide a real potential for tangible business by matching investors to start-ups. Establishing a think tank base that allows young entrepreneurs to share, pitch and strategize has led to real time entrepreneurial events and the exciting Archie Talks that are held to promote enterprise amongst the under 35 age group. John also held the position of CEO with Sandbox AG; the network of the global top leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, politicians and innovators who are under 30.

Sharing Expertise

John has found many other ways to share the skills of his success. He is an author and contributor to books and reports that include “The New Normal – The Future of banking”. “Next Generation Finance” (Harriman House) and “New Ideas, New Ireland” (Gill & McMillan).

The Offaly success story has also been the recipient of prestigious awards that include the David Manley Award for Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, Ben & Jerrys European Award for Social Entrepreneurship and he is also a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. Other expert highlights include faculty at the International Academy of Retail Banking and board member on University College Dublin’s Innovation Academy. As a social entrepreneur, John has recognised the value of imparting knowledge and this in turn has seen him established as a highly respected thought leader in his field.

Supporting Enterprise

The idea of like-minded young people sharing ideas and support as a community of growth innovators is valuable to the future of enterprise. John has shown through his venture work that this concept can reap rewards, through mentorship and on a commercial level.

IBYE has the funding, mentorship and business knowledge tools to transform a fledgling idea into a viable commodity and the opportunity is there to use it.

So if you have a business idea or a start-up and believe you can become Offaly’s next local hero now is the time to get investment. The IBYE Competition is an ideal opportunity for you to get some funding and kick start your brilliant business idea. Visit www.ibye.ieand apply today.

Local Heroes – Cork

Meet Gareth Cuddy, the man who, whilst living in Cork, spotted a gap in the market and decided to fill that gap with the successful Cork based business; ePubDirect. His success has come through steely determination, a great ability to network with other business professionals, super pitching skills and of course, his great communicative charm.

(Image Credit: SiliconRepublic.com)

Like many of us Gareth started his working career in the Pub and Nightclub trade; a perfect place for him to build up his confidence and polish his communication skills. His ability to sell and to pitch ideas to investors was definitely enhanced during these years. Gareth had a genuine interest in technology and even went on to create his own eCommerce site which he sold during his time at UCC. It was, in fact, during his final year in UCC that he had his “eureka” moment. His wife bought him an eBook reader and, even though it was early days, he seized upon the opportunity and growth potential of the electronic book industry. This was back in 2009 and Gareth decided to set up his very own eBookstore. However, as he talked to publishers, he realised that very few had the knowhow and the technical expertise to exploit this new market. Like a true entrepreneur, Gareth realised that real opportunity was not in fact an eBook store, but in providing publishers with the expertise and technology that could help them sell their books online. ePubDirect was born.

ePubDirect

Since 2009 ePubDirect has managed to raise over €1.24 million in funding.

The Cork Company helps leading companies, including Amazon, and Apple, distribute and take payment for eBooks more easily and efficiently.

With Amazon selling more digital than hard copy books now, the possibilities are enormous, and ePubDirect has become a main name associated with the digital publishing field.

ePubDirect also handles distribution and billing for major British and Irish publishing houses and runs the online retail side of book businesses including Waterstones.

One thing that is very evident with Gareth’s approach in building up ePubDirect is that he has not been afraid to hire staff. The company is constantly expanding and this is largely due to hiring the right staff. Gareth is currently in New York recruiting and building up the US business. So a great lesson here for a small start-up is remember to hire or bring in people into your organisation in the areas you are weak. This will be vital if you are successfully going to scale up your business.

Get Funding for your Business Idea or Start-Up

Without Funding ePubDirect would not be well on the way to becoming Europe’s leading e-book distributor and, the way these guys are going, the World’s leading e-book distributor. Sadly there are many other brilliant business ideas that never fly in the commercial world due to a lack of funds. There is no doubt that in the business world it is easier to be successful and make money if you have money to spend.

So if you have a business idea or a start-up and believe you can become Cork’s next local hero now is the time to get investment. The IBYE Competition is an ideal opportunity for you to get some funding and kick start your brilliant business idea. Visit www.ibye.ie and apply today.

Local Heroes – Longford

Meet David Sheridan

The Longford man epitomises the phrase, ‘do something you love’ as his evident passion for Sports shines brightly, both through his sporting prowess and academically. With a background in Sports Management where he graduated from UCD with a BSc Honours degree in the subject, David has also represented Ireland in international level swimming and been involved in numerous triathlons both in Ireland and abroad. In fact, it is fair to say, that David just loves his sport!

(Image Credit. RTE.ie)

It was ultimately through the participation in these sporting events that David realised there was a need for his current business venture Ship My Tri Bike. He found that it was increasingly difficult for many to transport individual bikes to events throughout Europe with the due care and attention required. He began to develop the idea for Ship my Tri Bike in 2011 using the time to establish contacts and build the business which culminated in a successful pitch to the legendary Dragon’s Den panel.

The Ship my Tri Bike Business Pitch

Preparation was key for David as he pitched Ship my Tri Bike to the panel. A stand out for the panel, as well as the business idea, was the confidence generated in David’s in depth knowledge and passion for the service and also the business acumen gained through his study and past work.

Ship my Tri Bike will pick up tri bikes in established locations in Ireland and the UK and transport them fully assembled and professionally racked with a protective covering in special transport vehicles. This eliminates the hassle for the triathlon participant in disassembling and protecting their bike as they travel to an event. The triathlete can remove this worry and focus on the event itself.

With the health and fitness industry seeing a rapid growth, the opportunity for potential in this niche business was recognised by Dragons Den stalwart Barry O’Sullivan’ as he observed Sheridan’s pitch on the funding program, ultimately agreeing to invest €50,000 for a 25% stake in the business. Although funding is a major boost, the success of Sheridan’s pitch brought more to the table in terms of the business growth in that he also acquired the valuable knowledge base in the form of the mentorship, Kerr could provide; including an IT background, web development and the all-important business contacts. This is a vital element in building up a small start-up as the funding enables you to acquire the expertise needed to expand.

Get Funding for your Business Idea or Start-Up

As an entrepreneur you will have many ideas that with the right funding and mentorship can lead to commercial success. David Sheridan is constantly expanding from the initial idea for tri- bike transportation and this has resulted in the launch of an additional Zip Wheel Rental Service in April of this year. The more the funding creates expansion, the more the ideas for new areas grow and suddenly you have a thriving business! The lesson is to have the confidence to pitch your idea to those who can play a part in helping it grow from concept to reality.

So if you have a business idea or a start-up and believe you can become Longford’s next local hero now is the time to get investment. The IBYE Competition is an ideal opportunity for you to get some funding and kick start your brilliant business idea. Visit www.ibye.ie and apply today.

Local Heroes – Monaghan

Meet Terry Cavanagh

Image Credit: Flickr NottinghamGameCity

A passionate gamer who has been featured in the prestigious Forbes List of 30 under 30. Not only is touted as one of Ireland’s top talents, but respected as one of the world’s best young talents in the gaming world. And the best bit? Drum roll…………yes he is from Monaghan.

One thing that makes Terry so successful is that he genuinely loves what he does. His work is also his passion and is not restricted to a 35 hour work week. There is no secret that a young entrepreneur is far more likely to succeed and be great at what they do if they love what they do. So if you are contemplating starting up your own business, make sure you are passionate about it.

Terry studied Mathematics in Trinity and Dublin and after he graduated he took up a job in AIB as a Risk Analyst. Unlike many other graduates that are probably still working in AIB today, Terry used this job to save enough money so he could focus on his real passion; designing and creating games. Terry had been obsessed with games since the age of 4 where he played and even learned basic code on the family Commodore 64.

He took the brave plunge and decided to work on his passion full time.

Distractionware

Terry’s company which is based in London is called Distractionware.

Terry has created multiple games on multiple platforms and gained worldwide recognition within the gaming community.

Two of his biggest successes are VVVVVV and Super Hexagon. Both games took approximately 6 months to develop. His games are available on PC, iPhone and Android. His VVVVVV is even available on Nintendo DS.

There is no doubt that Terry will make more money through his passion that he was ever likely to as a Risk Analyst. Gamers typically receive royalties from the various app stores on all sales. These royalties can be as high as 70% of the games download cost. So a popular game and surge of downloads can generate 100,000s.

Do what you love and do it for the right reasons

Terry however would also point out that he is not doing what he is doing for the money. He very much sees himself as an artist and not a businessman. Despite numerous approaches from top Gaming developers Terry remains an Independent Developer.

Very often young entrepreneurs veer from the path and become too money focused. Don’t cut corners. It is important to remember there are rarely any beneficial shortcuts on the road to success. Remember your prospective customers are your number one asset and to be successful you will need to collaborate with them, listen to them and service their needs.

Could you be Monaghan’s next big success story? We would love to hear about your business or business idea. Time is running out to enter our competition and win the funding that could help launch your business and put it on the road to success. Visit www.ibye.ie if you are not on the site or click the Submit tab above.

Good Luck.

Local Heroes – Laois

Meet Ronan O’Brien

Image Credit: RTE.ie

The Laois based serial entrepreneur certainly seems to have developed his skills for business success through hard work, determination and his ability to implement ideas to achieve terrific results. This tenacity and drive began as a young four year old who decided to ‘go on strike in school cause I was working so hard and not getting paid like my daddy did.’ He received an envelope from his teacher with two pence inside the next day and that motivated him to return for the rest of the term.

The ability to spot an idea and the determination to see it through to success played a huge role in the various enterprises Ronan has been involved in from a young age. From washing cars to turning a DJ’ing hobby into a business; Ronan has developed his business skills through real life experience and taken the rough with the smooth.

A focus on new and emerging markets saw him take part in the RTE show, The Fund, and through this widen his network of business contacts and mentors which developed into a move into the telecom industry into which he says “after a few setbacks and some costly lessons things started taking off.” This venture developed into the UK and Ronan subsequently move on as he recognised an opportunity in the e-commerce market.

Zatori Results Ltd.

In the last while, Ronan has embraced the e-commerce industry through his Company, Zatori Results Ltdbased in Portlaoise. He has recognised that the way forward is bringing the traditional retail shop online and through this providing a seamless, time friendly experience for the customer.

Image Credit: Leinster Express

Ronan has also been clever in the diversification of Industry types that he has brought to digital; they range from clothing stores to pet shops and Ronan has also expanded into the mobility sector and the marine electronics industry. His highly successful TheCostumeShop.ie is based at Clonminam Business Park, Portlaoise, Co. Laois

The effective entrepreneur’s method is to make highly specialised, niche industries readily available to the online market and this is proving highly successful. Ronan has now expanded his operations, from Laois, into the UK and India.

Mentorship and Funding for your Business Idea or Start-Up

Ronan credits the mentorship experience as a factor in his establishment of the telecoms business as his then mentor, Liam Keane, provided some of the contacts to make it happen.

The skills and lessons learnt from this have assisted Ronan in his current business ventures. This is a vital tool for any budding entrepreneur to have as they formulate an idea into a thriving business.

IBYE has the funding, mentorship and business knowledge tools to transform a fledgling idea into a viable commodity and the opportunity is there to use it.

So if you have a business idea or a start-up and believe you can become Laois’s next local hero now is the time to get investment. The IBYE Competition is an ideal opportunity for you to get some funding and kick start your brilliant business idea. Visit www.ibye.ieand apply today.