Women entrepreneurs in Ireland continue to face significant barriers in accessing investment and mentorship, according to research from Visa. The study shows that men are twice as likely to secure funding (36 per cent compared to 18 per cent of women), while half of women business owners admit they are unsure how to find a mentor. Visa aims to change that with its She’s Next Grant Programme, empowering some of the country’s most promising women-owned businesses with the tools they need to thrive.
Now in its fourth year, Visa has awarded its five winners, with the businesses ranging from an organic cacao drink company to an educational fitness programme provider and a curly haircare product line.
The prize package
This year’s overall winner, Claire Fullam, founder of Remi Scalp Care, was awarded a €50,000 grant, the largest business grant ever awarded by Visa’s She’s Next programme, having successfully pitched her business to Visa’s expert judging panel.
Meanwhile a €10,000 business grant was awarded to the four remaining winners: Marian Kennedy, founder of Anewmum; Sinéad Ryan, founder of Little Fitness; Denise Walsh, founder of CurlyCo haircare range; and Lisa Kleiner, co-founder of Nibbed Cacao.
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Unlocking the potential of your small business
As part of the prize, all five winners will also receive mentoring from Aimee Connolly, founder of Sculpted By Aimee, as well as business coaching from MentorsWork, an initiative of Skillnet Ireland.
While the winning businesses operate in different sectors, Mandy Lamb, managing director UK & Ireland at Visa, highlighted the shared passion and potential identified in each of the businesswomen: “Ireland is home to an incredible wealth of female talent and at Visa we’re proud to support them. Recognising there is still more work to do to create an equitable future for female entrepreneurs, our She’s Next Grant Programme is designed to help uplift female-led small businesses and deliver the tools they need to thrive.
“Each of our five winners demonstrated immense potential and we look forward to supporting them on their journey to success through access to funding, mentoring and coaching. We’re delighted to congratulate our inspiring winners and remain focused on continuing to create an inclusive environment for small businesses in Ireland to grow.”
Remi Scalp Care
This year’s overall winner, Claire Fullam, was inspired to start Remi Scalp Care after being diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disease which saw her lose 90 per cent of her hair.
“It’s hugely gratifying to get the backing of a brand like Visa,” says the clinical trichologist, who plans to put Visa’s grant towards research and development within Remi’s clinical trials. Speaking about the future of her business, Fullam said: “The next step is the UK but we certainly have other markets further afield within our sights too.”
CurlyCo
Curly Co-founder Denise Walsh, who launched in several major Irish retailers this year, is also excited to take her brand global. Walsh plans to use the grant to expand her range with starter kits and mini products to reach a wider audience.
“The grant will allow us to move forward with production and take our launch events and masterclasses to the next level,” Walsh said.
Speaking about running her own business, the Kilkenny entrepreneur said: “Starting a business is not for the faint-hearted but for the risk-takers and dreamers. With the right people by your side, you can achieve heights you never thought possible.”
Anewmum
Likewise, Marian Kennedy, founder of Anewmum, which provides healthcare products for post-partum women, described entrepreneurship as a “rollercoaster ride”.
“I always had belief that I would get there and get the business to where it needed to be to help new mothers,” Marian said, reflecting on her difficult road to success despite global costs and Brexit. “Sometimes, you doubt yourself running a business on your own, and then you get an opportunity like this, and it gives you the boost you need to keep going.”
Visa’s She’s Next Grant Programme will fund further scientific studies at the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research and contribute to marketing campaigns. Marian also plans to roll out new products, hold more in-store events and make Anewmum products available in more pharmacies throughout Ireland, in-store and online.
“Don’t give up at the first hurdle, or the second or the third because there will be more,” Marian advises. “Success for me is getting a review from a new mother telling us that our products helped them.”
Little Fitness
Sinéad Ryan also started a business to make a difference. The result? Little Fitness, a social enterprise that offers inclusive educational fitness programmes to children in homeless services and marginalised communities.
“Support for social enterprises is not often included in grant programmes, but they are so important because they allow us to create a positive change and impact people’s lives at a community or national level,” Sinéad explained.
By partnering with organisations like Cricket Ireland and Weightlifting Ireland, Little Fitness introduces children to new sports and skills, creating opportunities for them to thrive.
And with the grant, Sinéad plans to update her ecommerce plan and raise money to support children living in homeless services: “Every part of the She’s Next prize, from funding to mentorship, is an amazing opportunity to develop, and so valuable for our business.”
Nibbed Cacao
Nibbed Cacao, is an organic range of hot cacao drinks that are a functional alternative to coffee, founded by Lisa Kleiner and her niece, Anna O’Sullivan.
Lisa, a former food safety and nutrition expert, was particularly grateful for the business coaching each winner received as part of the Visa She’s Next Grant Programme. As part of this, all five business participated in business pitch preparation sessions, which Lisa said was “an eye-opener on how to tell Nibbed Cacao’s story more effectively”. “We came away with a sharper pitch and a clear idea of how to communicate our vision,” recalled Lisa, who hopes Nibbed Cacao will go on to become the go-to brand for pure cacao globally.
Encouraging other women to take the first step in their entrepreneurial journey, Lisa said, “Start small, but start somewhere”, and advised: “Lean into what makes your business unique and surround yourself with people who believe in you – take the naysayers with a pinch of salt!”
To learn more about Visa’s She’s Next Grant Programme and its winners visit visa.ie
