A new five-month programme for women entrepreneurs has been launched by Endeavor Ireland and Philip Lee.

Ten one-on-one mentorships will be provided from January to May 2023 to successful applicants, with a focus on providing mentorship and network support, tailored to guide ambitious women entrepreneurs through the specific challenges they are facing.

Endeavor is a global not for profit organisation that supports and accelerates high-impact entrepreneurs by connecting them with talent, capital and a worldwide peer and mentor network.

Its Irish office opened in 2019. Endeavor runs scale up programmes around the world and this is the first programme to be offered in Ireland.

The qualifying criteria for women entrepreneurs working full-time on their business are that they are based in Ireland, with a company operating in Ireland; have a product-ready company that is generating profits (or with a clear plan to get there); aiming to raise funds in the next 12 months.

In Association with

Rory Guinan, managing director of Endeavor Ireland, said: “When founders are asked what had the biggest impact on them throughout their entrepreneurial journey, two of the most common responses are having access to quality mentors and a network of trust.

“That is what we will provide in this new programme for women entrepreneurs, and we are looking forward to working with women who are ambitious for their businesses.”

Anna Hickey, partner at law firm Philip Lee, explained that there is no cost to participants.

Interested women entrepreneurs are asked to contact Endeavor Ireland at ireland@endeavor.org.

Endeavor was founded in 1997 by Linda Rottenberg and Peter Kellner and says its has assisted over 2,300 entrepreneurs.

Endeavor entrepreneurs go through a rigorous selection process, which begins at the local level and culminates with an International Selection Panel (ISP), which are held eight times per year in different geographies where Endeavor operates.

At each ISP, only those final candidates gaining unanimous approval from expert panellists become Endeavor Entrepreneurs. Approximately 5% of candidates that enter the initial selection process reach the ISP.

In Ireland, nine founders have been selected across seven companies in its first three years:

•     Cubic Telecom / Barry Napier

•     Strong Roots / Sam Dennigan 

•     LearnUpon / Brendan Noud & Des Anderson 

•     Wayflyer / Aidan Corbett 

•     Gym+Coffee / Niall Horgan & Diarmuid McSweeney 

•     XOCEAN / James Ives

•     Keelvar / Alan Holland

Photo: Entrepreneurs, Endeavor Ireland board members, mentors, and friends of the network pictured at the first Endeavor Ireland Retreat in Kildare earlier this month.