Ulster Bank supports SheGen2.0 by AwakenHub

by Startacus Admin

Ulster Bank has once again partnered with AwakenHub to deliver the second iteration of its popular SheGenerate programme.

SheGen2.0 will provide targeted support for early-stage female founders and is particularly interested in supporting women who are interested in building their own business.

Interested entrepreneurs have just days left to apply for a spot on the all-island programme which aims to build a community of female founders and redress the current gender imbalance which exists in this field.

Having joined forces with AwakenHub in 2021 as a funding partner, Ulster Bank will once again provide financial assistance to the SheGenerate programme through its annual enterprise funding scheme, which offers support to organisations who are working with traditionally underrepresented entrepreneurs.

In 2021, the initial phase of the SheGenerate initiative saw 56 women take part in the programme, giving them access to support, information, and access to a community of like-minded founders.

Of this group, 60% of participants are now actively trading, 23% are seeking early-stage investment and 67% have been successful in securing additional funding or gaining acceptance onto further accelerator programmes.

Leadership Consultant Sinead Crowley, one of the four co-founders behind SheGenerate, says she is confident SheGen2.0 will replicate these same levels of success.

“The inaugural SheGenerate programme was a really successful initiative and we are proud to have been able to create a strong community of women entrepreneurs and allies. Part of our mission was to remove the barriers female founders are often faced with, especially when it comes to securing investment or upscaling a business.

“Our goal for SheGen2.0 is to build on this journey by encouraging more women to think about entrepreneurship and giving them the confidence they need to fulfil their growth ambitions."

John Ferris, Regional Eco-system Manager at Ulster Bank Northern Ireland said:

“At Ulster Bank, we want to encourage more women to start or scale a business so it’s welcome to have found like-minded partners in the team at AwakenHub who are also on a mission to level the playing field.

“Having already secured success with the initial programme, we are confident that this next phase of the project will produce similarly impressive outcomes and see more female founders embrace their entrepreneurship journey.”

She Generate is part of Awaken Hub, a 2000 strong community of Irish or Irish-connected women founders and allies. It is a registered social enterprise and any profits made go back into meeting the organisation’s social impact vision to level up opportunity, access and connectivity for women.

The four women founders come from across the island of Ireland and include Mary McKenna, Angel Investor; Sinead Crowley, Leadership Consultant; Clare McGee, Business Growth Enabler and Entrepreneur and STEAM Advocate, Mary Carty.

Expressions of interest close at 5pm on 9 September 2022. The form takes approximately 10-20 minutes to complete and the founders welcome applications from women of all ages and backgrounds.

 

Those interested in applying for a place on SheGen2.0 are invited to fill in a short application form which can be found at www.awakenhub.com/shegenerate2 

 

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Published on: 7th September 2022