NI startup ESTHER takes flight to New York

by Startacus Admin

Northern Irish tech startup ESTHER, a peer-2-peer giving platform allowing charitable donors to give money directly to people living in poverty in their own city, heads to New York for a 4-day fact finding mission.
The Belfast-based startup won an all-expenses paid trip to New York (taking place 21st - 25th Feb 2020) thanks to their startup pitch competition win at leading 2-day tech event Digital DNA back in June 2019, where they beat 25 other NI startups to the prize.
The ESTHER MVP is live in Belfast, Northern Ireland right now with 250 donors, with recipients receiving donations on their ESTHER card, which is a normal pre-paid card, with limited spend on high risk products such as alcohol, gambling, online purchases and cash withdrawals, ensuring that the donation goes directly into the hands of people in poverty, with the assurance that the help is helping.
Speaking after their win at Digital DNA 2019 about their plans to visit the tech start-up scene in New York, Carol Rossborough – the firm’s Chief Executive – said they will be on a “fact-finding mission” with their visit over to New York.
"There is a real wealth divide in major cities such as New York and San Francisco, so it’s important for us to learn what is happening in the American third sector."
With a focus on Inner City Poverty alleviation and the UN SDGs, the founding team of Carol and Ailis McCaul, will be supported on the visit by Alastair Cameron, Startacus Co-Founder and Digital DNA Startup Programme Manager, and the team of three will be spending time understanding the New York startup and investor ecosystem and attending a number of meetups and socials.
We look forward to following ESTHER’s journey in New York (21st - 25th Feb 2020) and keep an eye on Startacus' Twitter feed during the week, where we will be asking team ESTHER to update us all on their progress.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Huckletree's new Web3 HQ aims to put London’s West End at the forefront of Britain’s tech superpower ambitions.

Leading sports marketing platform, OpenSponsorship announces move into music sector, the first new vertical industry for the trans-Atlantic martech business.

Kingussie High School scoops first place for Junior and Senior categories at this year’s Growing Future Assets Competition.

The lowdown on Manchester-based Arctic Shores and its innovative recruitment solution to help candidate potential count as much as skills and experience.

With the demand for tattoo removal now greater than ever, specialist NAAMA Studios makes a bid for a further £11m in funding.

By combining machine-learning with zero-party data, new tool launched by MarTech startup Qudo ends the ‘era of assumption’ for marketers.

Want to be your own boss and earn some money whilst travelling? Here are a few ways to do just that...

Innovative app marketing and analytics startup, App Radar becomes first platform to provide app marketers with Generative AI-powered insights into their own apps and competition.

Shropshire-based agri-robotics startup upp is automating broccoli harvesting and 'upcycling' the 80% waste into sustainable protein.

Alba secures licence to help transform banking for small and medium sized businesses in Scotland via its high-tech and customer-focused solution.
Published on: 16th January 2020
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- Huckletree opens new London hub for tech companies pioneering Web3 solutions 16th Mar 2023 Huckletree's new Web3 HQ aims to put London’s West End at the forefront of Britain’s tech superpower ambitions.
- OpenSponsorship making its move into the music sector 16th Mar 2023 Leading sports marketing platform, OpenSponsorship announces move into music sector, the first new vertical industry for the trans-Atlantic martech business.
- Scottish Highlands Home to the Next Generation of Future Female Investors 15th Mar 2023 Kingussie High School scoops first place for Junior and Senior categories at this year’s Growing Future Assets Competition.
- London-based NAAMA Studios on a mission to raise £11m funding 14th Mar 2023 With the demand for tattoo removal now greater than ever, specialist NAAMA Studios makes a bid for a further £11m in funding.