Press Release 10th March 2016
Being “FEARLESS” Inspires Fingal Businesses
Hundreds of business owner/managers and aspiring entrepreneurs learn about business success and how to achieve it.
The “Fearless” Event, one of the highlights of Enterprise Week, hosted by RTE’s Keelin Shanley, took place on Thursday 10th March, at Riasc Centre, Swords.
The audience heard from a host of successful entrepreneurs about their journeys, the successes, challenges and rewards of running a business.
Six entrepreneurs, whose companies were selected as finalists to represent Fingal at the National Enterprise Awards competition, have recently set up businesses with the support of Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO), and took part in a Q&A, chaired by Bobby Kerr.
Towards the end of the evening, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David O’Connor presented InvizBox Ltd, the winning business, with a cheque for €5,000, sponsored by AIB Bank.
Paul Canavan (second from right) of InvizBox Ltd. being presented with the Fingal Enterprise Award 2016, with (left-right) Fingal Head of Enterprise Oisin Geoghegan, Fingal County Council CEO Paul Reid and Mayor of Fingal David O'Connor.
Fingal has an excellent track record at the National Enterprise Awards, winning the overall award twice since 2005 and featuring in the “final 8” nationally on numerous occasions, most recently with Keogh’s Crisps who scooped the “Best Start-Up in Ireland” award in 2013.
Speaking at the FEARLESS event, Chief Executive Fingal County Council, Paul Reid stressed the importance of supporting local Enterprise:
“Each of the entrepreneurs we heard from this evening demonstrated that they have an overwhelming desire and a determination to create their own careers and create their own destiny. And while they do that they will be creating what we really need in this country, employment and wealth. We need to recognise and celebrate this entrepreneurial spirit in order to ensure that we cultivate a successful business community.”
Head of Enterprise in Fingal, Oisin Geoghegan, stated that he was delighted to see so many in attendance: “We have had well over 1,000 participants so far engaging with Local Enterprise, and it’s not over yet! I’m delighted that so many of our business owner/managers and aspiring entrepreneurs have come along this evening to FEARLESS”.
Asked why the title “Fearless” was selected, Geoghegan responded: “We are not suggesting that no one who sets up a new business feels fear. Of course they do! Setting up a new business always involves an element of risk. But the thing about Entrepreneurs is that while they feel the fear, they go right ahead and do it anyway. Entrepreneurs take risks and set aside their fears. That is something that we need to encourage, recognise and celebrate.”
ENDS
Attachments: Bios of each of the 6 x Fingal-based enterprises that featured at FEARLESS.
Photos available from Joe Keogh photography (free reproduction); Mobile: 087 934 7807 — Landline: 00 353 (0)1 503 1602 www.keoghphotography.com
For all media queries around the Local Enterprise Week and National Enterprise Awards, please contact Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise, Fingal Local Enterprise Office. Phone 087-9884081.
Darren Farrell – Aldar Tissues Ltd. (Finglas, Dublin 11) Darren Farrell has been involved in the selling of paper rolls (toilet roll-kitchen towel) for many years. He started buying bales of paper rolls from a local wholesaler and selling them at Sunday and weekly markets. Conscious that there was only one Irish manufacturer of paper tissues, Darren identified an opportunity to go into manufacturing rather than just distribution. After successfully raising finance, in 2014 Darren established a state of the art 36,000sq foot production facility in Finglas where he is now producing on average 100 Tons of toilet and kitchen roll per month and employing 9 people full time. Darren is now in growth mode and has ambitious plans to increase exports to the UK and Europe.
Kevin Egan – Water2Buy Ltd. (Blanchardstown, Dublin 15) In 2014 Kevin Egan and David Forde established Water2buy.com, a 100% Irish owned Ecommerce company specialising in water filtration. Water2Buy’s goal is to become the Number 1 marketplace in Europe for water filtration equipment. The Water2Buy brand has become a favourite in households across the EU with over 90% of customers living in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. Water2Buy products are designed to be easy to install without specific expertise. Water2Buy customers buy online, educate themselves with Water2Buy’s video based learning materials and install the appliance themselves. All the videos and manuals are created in-house and are translated into 6 languages. According to Kevin their success to date has been largely down to the outstanding dedication of the team to constantly better their product, support materials and particularly customer service.
Nicole Dunne – Howth Cuisine (Howth/Baldoyle)Howth Cuisine began in 2008 as a proof of concept and launched in 2012, when Chef Nicole Dunne saw a gap in the market for ready-made fresh fish artisan meals. Nicole grew up in the picturesque fishing village of Howth, situated in North County Dublin. Nicole has worked in the food and hospitality sector for over 22 years and has managed her own successful Gastro Pub franchise whilst setting up Howth Cuisine. Having completed the Food Academy programme with Supervalu, the business has grown from strength to strength and currently employs 6 full time staff, supplying 60 outlets throughout Dublin and intends to be fully nationwide by end of 2016. There is also a wholesale aspect to this business and they supply to select Deli's. Export market opportunities are also being cultivated, with sales of Howth Cuisine products growing in England and Milan.
Dr. Irene McGrath – Kerona Consulting Ltd (Skerries) Established in 2014 as a Limited Company by Dr Irene McGrath and Greg O Brien, Kerona Consulting Ltd is an independent European regulatory consulting company providing scientific and registration services to international clients from the plant protection (agrochemical), biocide, chemical, fertiliser and plant biostimulant industries. The company now lists amongst its clients two of the top 7 global agrochemical companies worldwide as well as companies from the UK, USA, Belgium and Germany and has just negotiated a project with one of the top 4 Indian companies worldwide to provide their expertise. Irene prides herself on providing a world-class service to leading multi-national companies from her base in Skerries.
Farhad Khandanian – AranBia Ltd. t/a Crusts (Ballycoolin, Dublin 15) Farhad realised that there was no Irish Manufacturer of Gluten Free Halal Pizza. After conducting over 2 years Market research and purchasing state of the art equipment, Farhad established a factory in September 2015 to manufacture specialist frozen Halal pizza for the Irish and export markets. Initial products include organic, halal and gluten free pizza and Turkish wraps. With an annual capacity of 864,000 units, Crusts plan to supply the UK and German markets where demand is steadily rising and supply is currently weak. Their Pizzas and Turkish wrap range are currently available in over 55 Supervalu stores in the Dublin region alone. Crusts currently employ 6 fulltime staff and due to rapid growth, expect this to increase to 9 this year.
Paul Canavan – InvizBox Ltd. (Skerries) In February 2015, Paul Canavan set up his new venture “InvizBox”. Paul describes his innovative product as a “plug and play” device which allows you to secure your privacy on the internet by simply connecting any of your personal devices to the InvizBox over WiFi. They remove the complexity of trying to secure yourself and your data. Their first product successfully crowd funded over $20,000 and the second product has successfully crowd funded over €100,000 in pre-orders. The business was established in 2014 because Paul felt that there is a growing feeling of intrusion into people’s personal lives online, coupled with a feeling of helplessness to fix that. To date InvizBox has sold products to customers in over 60 countries worldwide so far and that number continues to grow. Their primary market is the US which accounts for approximately 50% of current sales, with the EU, Canada and Australia following.
Fingal County Council, Communications Section, (01) 890 5113, press@fingal.ie
