Tags: Entrepreneur Tips, National Enterprise Week, Networking, Norah Casey, Women in Business

The sun was shining on Thursday when over 150 women gathered at the stunning Carton House to hear three inspirational women - Norah Casey, Joan Burton and Terry McDermot - speak at the Women in Business Enterprise Week event.   Joan Burton, Minister for Social Protection, was the first to speak and opened by saying that the women in the room were inspirational Mna na hEireann 2011.   The numbers of women working and leading in business and politics have shown incremental growth in the last decade. Minister Burton was quick to point out that there are far more women in business than in politics in Ireland but that she was ‘working on it!’   Minister Burton commented that women have a tremendous capacity for working and supporting each other in business and that is why women’s only events are so important. She also spoke of the recently announced Jobs Initiative and the importance of encouraging internships in all areas of business. read more

Tags: Entrepreneur, Events, National Enterprise Week, Norah Casey

We are delighted to announce that Enterprise Week is back and is set to be better than ever in 2011! National Enterprise Week will run from 20-27th May. It is about bringing together like-minded local business people and entrepreneurs to share their experiences and knowledge. The last Enterprise Week, in November 2010, saw almost 4,000 business people attend over 110 events across the country with speakers like social media guru Krishna De and Metro North Project Director Rory O’Connor discussing a wide range of topics. New to the Enterprise Week events  [...]
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Tags: Dragons Den 2011, Entrepreneur, Norah Casey, Savvy Bear

From start to finish my experience on the Dragons Den 2011 was fantastic and something that I would recommend to any entrepreneur looking for investment and guidance. From the moment that I met the production team right up until securing the investment I had the time of my life! Even though the experience was hugely fulfilling walking into the Den was the single most nerve wracking thing I have ever done. There is no way to describe how it feels waiting outside the Den for the producer to call you in to face the Dragons. Pitching your business to an investor is never easy but it is a whole different ball game when you add in the lights, cameras and action of the Dragons Den set. As soon as you are given your cue all of that madness disappears and it is down to business. You really just focus on the read more

Tags: Bobby Kerr, Flood Barrier, Gavin Duffy, Irish Get and Go Diary, Ivess Lock, Jenifer Matushka, Life Survival Kits, Maud's Eco Clean, Mike Kelleher, Mooz Shakes, Niall O'Farrell, Norah Casey, Riviera Gym, Sean Gallagher, Tom Ivess

The penultimate episode of Dragons' Den' like the rest of series so far, didn't fail to provide entertainment! Series three will soon be drawing to a close but there is still plenty of time for the Dragons to invest their hard earned cash. In week seven Mike Kelleher was the first entrepreneur up to brave the Den. While the Dragons didn’t really take to Mike’s product - Flood Barrier they most definitely took to Mike! The entrepreneur gave a confident and passionate pitch with a clear demonstration of how his product would work. Unfortunately Norah Casey couldn’t recreate a real life flood in the Den so the Dragons had to use their imagination for that! He regaled the Dragons with stories from his past and it was obvious  [...]
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Tags: Archer Golf, Bobby Kerr, dragons, Dragons Den 2011, episode 5, Episode Summary, Gavin Duffy, JR Pads, Kooky Dough, mytown.ie, Niall O'Farrell, Norah Casey, Sean Gallagher, The Clever CloseLine

Five weeks in and you would think the Dragons have parted with enough of their cash. Each week the Dragons are presented with products ranging from the straightforward to the decidedly bizarre and this week was certainly no different!  Our first entrepreneurs up Darren Rudden and Colin O'Brien delivered a pitch none of the Dragons seemed particularly excited by. Their idea – The Clever CloseLine is a rotary clothesline with an automatic rain sensitive cover which automatically deploys over your clothes when it starts to rain and automatically retracts when the rain stops. Norah Casey was the first Dragon to declare herself out saying that she while she thought the pr  [...]
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Tags: Bobby Kerr, Cut n’ Curl, Dragons Den, Dragons Den 2011, Gavin Duffy, Niall O'Farrell, Norah Casey, Salt Clinic, Sean Gallagher, SlapShot, Stylefish, Wrapsu

This week saw Norah Casey pull even further ahead of the other Dragons with ANOTHER investment! So far she has invested a whopping €107,500 in just four episodes. With the nearest Dragon, Gavin Duffy, a full €70,000 behind her it seems unlikely that anyone will catch up with her at this stage! First into the Den this week was Thomas Kinsella with the ‘Cut n’ Curl’ scissors. Thomas was asking a big investment of €70,000 to help get his product to market. He obviously wasn’t banking on their being a nurse in the Den though and Norah quickly refuted his claims that the scissors would reduce the risk of infection in hospitals.   [...]
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Tags: All About Business, Bin Guardian, Bobby Kerr, Dragons Den 2011, Gavin Duffy, myfirsthurl.ie, Niall O'Farrell, Norah Casey, Sean Gallagher, Secret Recipe Company, WATzDAT party box, whohasit.ie

So here is it, our summary version of Dragon's Den Episode 3 for all of you who missed the tension-cutting pitches on Sunday's show! First into the Den to meet the Dragons were Karen and Maureen from 'WATzDAT party box'! The confident business ladies were looking for a €25,000 investment for just 5% equity in their business. Initially the only Dragon excited about the prospect of a party was Niall as he inspected the contents of the party boxes. However they soon garnered Gavin Duffy’s interest and he offered half the investment asked but wanted a 22% equity share.  Norah followed suit offering them the full €25,000 but for a majori  [...]
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Tags: Bobby Kerr, Dragons’ Den, Gavin Duffy, Niall O'Farrell, Norah Casey, Poll, Sean Gallagher

Episode 2 got off to a flying start with an investment in Isobel O'Donovan, owner of Issie's Chocolates.  A former boutique owner, she impressed them with a confident pitch and well prepared figures. Although the Dragons had concerns around the branding and packaging of the product Niall obviously wasn't put off, he made Isobel an offer for the full amount - €20,000 for 50% equity. Find out how she felt when facing the Dragons in our behind the scenes interview here.   Dave Carthy came to read more

Tags: Bobby Kerr, Dragons Den 2011, Dragons’ Den, Gavin Duffy, Niall O'Farrell, Norah Casey, Sean Gallagher

Finally the wait is over! The Dragons have resumed position in the Dragon Den and as always there are a multitude of entrepreneurs pitching their business plans and hoping to coax the Dragons into investing some much needed cash. For the unlucky few that missed Sunday night's show - here is our summary version! We'll have one every week so you can keep up to date with the goings on in the Den This year things are slightly different in the Den with the entrance of publishing entrepreneur, Norah Casey, as the newest Dragon. Taking over from Sarah Newman Norah was under pressure to put her hand in her pocket and prove herself from the outset. (more...)  [...]
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Tags: Dragons’ Den, Norah Casey, Savvy Bear

Well the first episode is over, and what a start to Series 3!   Am delighted with my first investment, and really looking forward to getting stuck in to growing Savvy Bear into an even bigger success story than the one they presented to us in the Den.  There was an eclectic mix of products last night; a true indication of how the rest of the series will continue.  Ireland is famed for its creative flair, and we'll be seeing many more instances of this over the coming weeks. (more...)  [...]
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