AIB Start-up Academy Start-Up Night roadshow hit Limerick

The AIB Start-Up Academy visits budding entrepreneurs in Limerick

The AIB Start-Up Academy, in association with the Irish Times visited Limerick last week. The event is the third in our Start-Up Academy series and took place in Flannery’s Bar, Denmark Street. Kieran Considine, AIB branch manager of 106 O’Connell Street, opened the night and welcomed the crowd. In attendance were local start-ups, expert speakers, pitchers, local AIB branch managers, relationships managers and business customer advisors (BCAs).

What is the AIB Start-up Academy?

The AIB Start-Up Academy provides start-ups the chance to network with their peers and showcase their businesses. The next one takes place in Letterkenny on Wednesday July 29th, register your place now!

Start-ups can enter to win a place on the AIB Start-Up Academy training program which will take place early next year. Two runners-up and an overall winner will share in a prize fund worth over €250k. Applications are now open, apply here.

Who was speaking at it?

Speakers at the Limerick event included Shane McAllister from Mobanode and Niall McGarry CEO of Maximum Media (Joe/Her.ie). They shared stories and tips from their own start-up journeys, which went down really well with the start-up audience.

Some of their tips and advice included Shane McAllister from Mobanode advising that “the quality of your output is the cornerstone of your success" and Mr Niall McGarry encouraged the crowd by telling them that “taking the step and leaving a paying job is scary but fear is good for a start-up".

A Q&A session followed their talks, giving local start-ups the opportunity to get professional and expert advice. On the night, our interactive poll allowed the audience to have their say and answer questions about start-up life. When we asked the audience “Where do you go for business advice?” 24% said “Other Start-ups”, 33% said “Mentors” and 43% said “Online.

Three pitchers took to the stage on the night to discuss their start-ups. One of last year’s Start-Up Academy finalist’s Bernie Kinsella of Worldbox discussed her shipping company, Hannah Wrixon of Last Minute Minders talked through her childcare solutions company and emerging Irish fashion designer Natalie King of Natalie King Design explained her high end fashion design company.

John Skerritt, Business Customer Advisor in AIB Kilrush said "From talking to customers on the night the feedback was that the night was very energising and they liked the very practical advice from the key speakers. The informal approach the night took made business start-ups very comfortable amongst established business people. On a personal note, I found Niall McGarry to be an incredible speaker and I could listen to him all night!"

What’s next?

The start-up night in Limerick is part of a series of networking events to connect entrepreneurs with the wider start-up community. These are taking place across the country until November. Our next stop is Letterkenny, July 29th at the House Wine and Tap Bar starting at 6.30pm.

Don’t miss out! It’s free and places are limited. Sign up now by clicking here.

Find out more about the AIB Start-Up Academy here.

To see more examples of how We’re Backing Brave, follow us on Twitter @AIBBiz or check out the conversation at #backedbyAIB.