Techstars StartUp Weekend Women Dublin powers ahead!

Successful Return for Dublin’s StartUp Weekend for Women

“Why do we organize a Startup Weekend event focused on Women?” asks Leyla Karaha. “It’s important to create a safe space for aspiring women tech entrepreneurs to kickstart their businesses.”

First event in 2021

In 2021, Leyla organised the first event, which was open to all, but the turnout was telling. Out of 15 pitches, only one was from a woman. Similarly, among the nine teams formed, only one had a mixed-gender composition. Recognizing the need for change, in 2022, she pivoted to focus on organising women-centric events, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable.

Techstars Startup Weekends

Techstars Startup Weekends, lasting 54 hours, offer unparalleled experiential education for both technical and non-technical entrepreneurs. From Friday night pitches to Sunday night demos, participants engage in brainstorming, business plan development, and prototype creation, all aimed at fostering action, innovation, and education. The overarching theme of the recent event has been the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Social Innovation.

The Winners

In first place was Moop, a venture dedicated to fixing poor reporting with smart data analytics for regulated industries, while contributing to societal good. Second place went to Flit.ie, focusing on financial literacy for women, and third place to Glot AI, an AI-powered language tutor facilitating language learning anytime, anywhere.

Panel of Judges

The panel of judges for this recent event included Áine Mulloy, Business Development Manager at Startup Loft Accelerator, Amazon Web Services (AWS); Adebola Olomo, CEO of Deefrent Media Agency; Mark Peters, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at WakeUp Capital; Dr Toluwani Akaehomen, Director and Principal Leadership, Learning, and People Development Consultant at Vantage Dymensions; and, Billy Linehan, StartUp Ballymun and Consultant at Celtar Advisers.

Power of Women Entrepreneurs

We believe in the power of women entrepreneurs to effect positive change in the world, hence our dedication to encouraging their participation and fostering ideas that drive real-world social change. By hosting events like these, we aim to incentivize more women to venture into the tech startup space, diversifying and enriching it.

Venue at Accenture Song

Held in the open-plan offices of Accenture Song in Smithfield, Dublin, the event garnered substantial support, facilitating the growth of over 80 aspiring entrepreneurs, many of whom are poised to build successful companies. With 30 mentors, 5 judges, 7 workshop facilitators, and 7 speakers, participants received invaluable guidance and inspiration. A total of 33 participants pitched their ideas, with 18 teams working passionately on their business concepts.

Impact

The impact of the event, held from the 22nd to the 24th of March, extended far beyond its physical boundaries, reaching over 200K organic social media views. Attendees from across the World joined in, with 28 women and 5 men pitching their ideas. Ultimately, 18 teams were formed, with 16 teams presenting their projects on Sunday evening.

Last words

Quoting Adebola Olomo, “This wasn’t just a competition; it was a powerhouse of progress and a showcase of the unstoppable entrepreneurial spirit.”

About TechStars StartUp Weekend Women Dublin

Billy Linehan, Adviser and Consultant at Celtar Advisers, nurtures success, guides growth, and creates community impact. He’s supported over a thousand small business owners, demonstrating adaptability and creativity in problem-solving. Billy approaches business counselling as a collaborative journey, adding value through shared expertise and innovative strategies, leveraging a diverse network to foster new opportunities, partnerships, and insights.

As a co-founder of StartUp Ballymun, he champions entrepreneurship, community engagement, and economic development, embodying a commitment to empowering startups and driving positive change in the Irish business landscape.

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