Sahar Hashemi, Founder of Coffee Republic to speak at the DCU Ryan Academy, 6th June

As the second year of the Business Innovation Programme draws to a close, the DCU Ryan Academy are delighted to announce that Sahar Hashemi, founder of Coffee Republic and Skinny Candy will deliver the keynote speech at the end of year showcase on 6th June at the Ryan Academy.

Coffee Republic was the UK’s first US style coffee bar, founded in 1995 by Sahar and her brother Bobby. Both gave up professional jobs to start the business and together they  built one of the UK’s most recognisable high street brands with an annual turnover of £30million.

In 2003 Sahar published ‘Anyone Can Do It – Building Coffee Republic from our Kitchen Table’ which documents her journey in turning Coffee Republic from an idea into on of the main players in the ‘coffee revolution’. The book  tackles some of the fears and answers some of the elusive questions about what it really takes to become an entrepreneur.  ‘Anyone Can Do It’ has reached #1 on the Amazon business chart and is second highest selling book on entrepreneurship ever published in the UK.

In 2005 Sahar founded Skinny Candy, a brand of guilt free sweets and has established herself as a successful business motivation speaker, talking to international blue chip companies and conferences about innovation, creativity, branding and the entrepreneurial mindset  Her latest book ‘Switched On’ applies her experiences as an entrepreneur to the corporate sphere.

Full interview with Gerry Rellis and Ronan Slater

Full interview with Gerry Rellis and Ronan Slater #RABIP #springboard http://ow.ly/b46pj

Congratulations to #RABIP students Ronan Slater and Gerry Rellis

Congratulations to #RABIP students Ronan Slater and Gerry Rellis who spoke at the #springboard launch to @rtenews http://ow.ly/b45BQ 29:29

HEA Springboard announce further funding of DCU Ryan Academy Business Innovation Programme

The Minister for Education and HEA launched Springboard 2012 today at the offices of the INOU.  Representing the graduates of Springboard 2011 were two participants from DCU Ryan Academy Business Innovation Programme.

  Gerry Rellis, who has a career spanning 30 years in the print industry credited the additional innovation skills he developed while on the Business Innovation Programme as the key influencer in the development of his new business.   Gerry also cites the multitude of workshops, seminars and keynote addresses from global innovation specialists during the programme as providing the grounding and reality required to enable participants to put their new found skills into action, not only in the host company placement but afterwards in new career opportunities.”

 Gerry however, is keen to emphasise that, in addition to the top class academic input from the best lecturers and industry leaders, the focus on self development and career activation workshops and skills was fundamental in ensuring that 126 highly qualified professionals with cumulatively 2184 years fully realise their potential!

 

Ronan Slater, who has had a successful career over 25 years in financial services was equally forthright in his praise of the Business Innovation Programme.   The design of the programme, encompassing emerging business skills such as innovation and creativity in addition to the career development emphasis, allowed me to offer value added and a greater sense of self confidence to my new employer.  The ability to continue the programme, having found employment not only improved my value proposition but also benefitted my new employer.  Ronan, returned to employment in February 2012 following 10 months on the live register.

 

The Business Innovation Programme has been expanded for September 2012 and will now offer two streams. The Innovation Management Stream is designed for experienced graduate managers/professionals who wish to lead innovation capacity within organisations.

The Practical Marketing stream is designed for supervisors/technicians who may have little or no business skills but who have the capacity to deliver innovation on the ground in organisations, and improve their prospects of obtaining work at management level.

 

Applications:  www.springboardcourses.ie 

Menter Iontach Nua to Showcase at the Irish Charities Expo

New social enterprise programme, Menter Iontach Nua is to present upcoming opportunities for the social sector at the first Irish Charities Expo, in the RDS Dublin on May 2nd.

The new initiative is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Programme and has been developed by four Irish and Welsh organisations. Two prominent Universities, DCU Ryan Academy and Bangor University have combined their academic expertise with two Irish and Welsh business and community organisations, NorDubCo and Business in the Community Wales to develop the programme.

The programme is designed to meet the needs of social enterprises for training, mentoring and networking support in Ireland and Wales.  The programme is part-time and will include an MSc in Social Enterprise Management.

The participants will be leaders of social enterprise, social enterprise managers and employees, corporates with CSR programmes and others with an interest in the social sector.

For further information on Menter Iontach Nua – contact the DCU Ryan Academy

Business Innovation Programme student Tina Reid wins Mason Hayes and Curran 2012 Green Business Plan Competition

 

 

The winner of the Mason Hayes & Curran 2012 Green Business Plan Competition has been announced at Dublin City University.  Tina Reid, founder of Reid Recycling (trading as ORGAANEQ), has developed a waste management service for the Irish equine industry, which will include collection and recycling of used bedding from stable yards.  The start-up will benefit from an award of €2 000 from leading law firm, Mason Hayes & Curran to assist on the next stage of its business development.

Tina’s business plan has been developed through her participation in the DCU Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship Business Innovation Programme which enables unemployed graduates or professionals to create or secure employment in roles where they can encourage or implement innovative change.  Tina said, ‘I was so thrilled to have had the opportunity to present, let alone win…. and to have such positive feedback about the idea. Winning was an unexpected surprise. The past year has been spent on the Business Innovation Programme at the DCU Ryan Academy with a view to getting this business from idea stage through feasibility towards business plan and launch.  Winning will aid me in taking my first steps onto the ladder to success.’

The Mason Hayes & Curran Green Business Plan competition provides a platform for enterprising students at Dublin City University to pitch their innovative, start-up business ideas to business and investment professionals.  Business plans shortlisted for the final pitching session were required to demonstrate an environmentally friendly or sustainable dimension.  Wendy Hederman, partner in Mason Hayes & Curran’s Commercial Department said, ‘This innovative programme is a hallmark of DCU’s innovative and enterprising ethos, bridging the gap between academia and enterprise.  It enables students to find a pathway to creating a viable, sustainable business.’

Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU said, ‘DCU strives to create an entrepreneurial, innovative environment which empowers students in shaping their own future and transforming their lives.  I warmly congratulate Tina on her achievement today and wish her every success with the commercialisation of her business plan.’

Propeller Demo Day approaches

Days left until our company founders  pitch to an expected audience of over 100 including investors from Ireland and Europe, the tension is rising, the heat is on, and the coffee machine is working overtime here at the Ryan Academy.

On Friday the 27^th of April Demo Day will arrive, the 6 chosen companies Pickturk, Seoige Technologies, Zeto Technology Solutions (previously Slattery Validation Systems), Death Buy Fashion (previously StyleCloud), SwiftQueue and VideoElephant have been through 3 months of acceleration thanks to over 65 mentors, workshops and €30,000 cash investment. In total, a deal worth €45,000 per company.

The companies have been through several workshops including Team Development with Liz Leavy, Search Engine Optimisation with Theo Lynn, Law with Peppe Santoro, Finance with Drew O’Sullivan and International Sales with Bernie Cullinan to mention but a few, a thank you to all the mentors who gave these workshops for free.

One of the most powerful tools the mentors have is there network which they have introduced the companies too; opening doors and introducing them to the right connections helping the founders grow their companies.

“I have been astonished with how quickly I have been able to meet key people that I needed to meet; the willingness of the mentors to open their network and to introduce to me to their close contacts is amazing.” John Joyce, CEO, Seoige Technology.

Already from last year’s companies a total of over $1.73 million in investment has been raised and 28 jobs have been created, this is still growing, a truly great accomplishment.

And lastly a special thank you to our Demo Day sponsor Grant Thornton.

Terence Bowden