Why Should Investors Have All the Fun? Comedy Meets Startups with Bank of Ireland and Delta Part

Bank of Ireland and venture capital firm Delta Partners are teaming up with comedian Sharon Mannion to help Irish startup founders  learn how techniques from the world of comedy can elevate their pitch.

Sharon is a highly acclaimed comedian, writer and actor best known for her role as Concepta in the hit comedy series Bridget and Eamon. She trained with the prestigious Second City and iO Theatre in Chicago – the front runners in utilising improvisation as a tool for performance and business.

In a free, half-day workshop with Sharon and the team from Delta Partners, startup founders will learn how to better sell the story of their business and stand out from the crowd. The “Startup Standup” workshop is open to founders at all stages – from the idea phase through to those raising investment for growth.

Workshop spaces are limited and the closing date for applications is 14 October. Founders can apply by telling us a little about their business and why they would like to take part on: https://www.deltapartners.com/events-1/startupstandup

Paul Swift, Head of Technology, Media and Telecoms (TMT) at Bank of Ireland said: “Bank of Ireland is a long-time financial supporter of Irish startups through our partnership with Delta Partners funds but we realise that founders also need advice and guidance, particularly when it comes to pitching to new investors.

“Whether it’s breaking the ice, managing nerves, or the art of storytelling, standup comedy offers a lot of practical lessons for founders and we hope this workshop will help them leverage some of those techniques.”

Amy Neale of Delta Partners said: “For founders, fundraising is a serious business. You need to be a storyteller, an influencer and a performer on top of all the other skills you need to run and grow your business. This workshop will help founders to find their authentic voice and convince investors of their vision.”

Bank of Ireland is a long-term investor in Delta Partners funds which have supported more than 140 startups, including successful Irish companies such as Digit Game Studios, texthelp, SensL, StitcherAds and Boxever. The current fund has backed companies including Zero Mission, which enables commercial fleet operators transition from diesel to electric vehicles, and VisionR, whose technology gives retailers insights into how customers behave in-store and interact with their products.

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