Entrepreneurs Come Live the Experience! - Launching the 2017 Entrepreneur Experience®

16 December, 2016

Launching the 7th Entrepreneur Experience® at the Bank of Ireland Workbench in Cork, Startups, Early stage Businesses and Entrepreneurs were encouraged to apply for the 2017 Entrepreneur Experience®. This 24 hour event is a unique opportunity for 24 Emerging Entrepreneurs to gain unparalleled access and advice from 24 of Ireland’s most successful Business leaders. The 7th Entrepreneur Experience® is taking place in Ballymaloe, Co. Cork on the 7th and 8th April 2017.

In 2016 AxisBIC received over 100 applications (up 50% on 2015) for the 24 places, with the high standard of projects coming through, it is likely that competition for places in 2017 will be very intense. This 24 hour experience is all about honest authentic engagement with deep dive analysis in the group and one-to-one sessions and shared learning in the workshops and presentations. Each Emerging Entrepreneur leaves with a clear set of actions and goals for their business. 

Read the article as it appeared in the Sunday Business Post

Tom Lyons, Sunday Business Post, Michael O’Connor, AxisBIC, Fionnuala Wall, AxisBIC, Oisin Kim WebDoctor.ie, Pete Smyth, Broadlake, Peaches Kemp, itsa and Jim Barry, Barry Group

Commenting about last year’s event, Kevin McCaffrey, founder, Tr3Dent said that it was an “Incredibly rewarding experience, highly recommend it to any startups. Best event for startups I have ever attended”. While Conor O’Shea, founder Skellig Surgical said there was “Unparalleled openness allowing honest constructive feedback”.

Over the past six years the Entrepreneur Experience® has gone from strength to strength.

• 150 Emerging Entrepreneurs have participated from 10 countries
• Over 80 Seasoned Entrepreneurs have participated; including Jim Barry, Barry Group; Larry Bass, Screentime ShinAwil; Linda Kiely, Voxpro; Liam Casey, PCH; Candace Johnson, president EBAN; Sean O’Sullivan, SOSV; Terry Fox, Cupprint; Grainne Kelly, Bubblebum; Bill Liao, Entrepreneur & Investor; David McKernan, Java Republic; Pádraig Ó Céidigh, AerArann; Peaches Kemp, itsa and Julian Costley, Investor & Entrepreneur
• The top 20 Seasoned Entrepreneurs have an average turnover of €54m and their average number of employees is 400
• Over €40.5m has been raised by 45 companies who have participated

Speaking at the launch David Merriman, Head of Enterprise Development at Bank of Ireland said “Bank of Ireland is delighted to be partnering with AxisBIC for the 7th Entrepreneur Experience®. This is about 24 of Ireland’s leading Entrepreneurs giving their time to help the next generation of Entrepreneurs. I would like to encourage startups and early stage businesses to apply for what has proven to be a very successful event. Bank of Ireland is committed to supporting startups and early stage businesses as they build their businesses.”

Speaking at the launch, Michael O’Connor, CEO, AxisBIC said “Over the past six years the Experience has grown to be a life and game changing event and has become one of the key pillars supporting Irish Entrepreneurship in recent years. 45 of the participating companies have raised €40.5m to date.”

Partners with AxisBIC for this event are Bank of Ireland, Cork City Council, Cork County Council and The Sunday Business Post.

Applications can be made up to January 20th 2017 via http://www.entrepreneurexperience.ie/