Niamh Tallon | Her Sport

BComm (2015), Msc Digital Marketing (2017)

Featured in Business Post 30 under 30

What is the business about?

Her Sport was founded to level the playing field for women in sport through daily content on our social media platforms and website as well as education via our workshops in schools, clubs and businesses. Our vision is equal opportunity in sport regardless of gender. Our goal is for girls and women in sport to be on PAR with their male counterparts by increasing:

Participation in sport - with a focus on retaining teenage girls in sport, Attendance at women's sports events, and Recognition of female athletes.

Her Sport is a movement and a symbol of change. We are committed to gender equality and making a positive impact for girls and women in sport. Our mission is to use sport to empower, educate and inspire, so girls and women can achieve their full potential.

Where did the idea come from?

I took part in sports and was a sports fan growing up. As a sports fan I found it difficult to find information on women's sport, I noticed my peers dropping out of sport and I also had some negative experiences as a woman in sport. I began to investigate women's sport, uncovering more about unfair treatment of women and girls in sport at local and community level, as well as the disproportionate media coverage and societal conditioning - how we market sport to girls and women, role models and the visibility at grassroot and elite level, as well as barriers specific to girls and women, including the menstrual cycle and periods, body image, nutrition and more. It was clear to me that as a society, we were failing girls and women in sport.

After I finished my masters in UCD Smurfit, I built the Her Sport website, created the social media channels and instantly started creating women’s sports content. This was the founding of Her Sport and I now lead a team who are passionate and dedicated to making change for women every day.

One in four startups that raised funding in 2022 had a female founder/co-founder. Women-led start-ups are experiencing record levels of funding - Tech Ireland (2023)

Women have outperformed the overall start-up founders population. Funding for start-ups in Ireland dropped in recent months. However, women-led start-ups have not suffered too much as a result of this - (siliconrepublic.com)

What/who inspired you?

I am motivated to change things for girls of the future. I want to see girls and boys, women and men, have equal opportunities in sport. Sport is about so much more than winning and offers a huge amount in life. I have personally experienced this and am motivated to ensure as many girls and women are offered the same opportunities, benefits and growth from being involved in sport. Sport has contributed hugely to my personal development; communication, teamwork, resilience, problem solving, time management to name a few skills. These skills impact every aspect of my life, personally and professionally. Sport positively impacts health, mentally and physically and offers friendships, community, belonging and so much more. I believe that every girl and woman deserves the opportunity of being involved in sport and I am motivated to ensure girls and women see a future in sport and exercise, regardless of the standard or the role they play.

What external support did you receive?

We have been part of the Starting Strong Programme for the six months where female entrepreneurs are provided with guidance and mentoring from established female entrepreneurs and supported by KPMG and Enterprise Ireland.

We recently have been accepted on to the Changing Accelerator Ireland Programme with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland. This programme will help us to develop and establish our workshops and education, which will be key to making social impact in Ireland.

We have sought advice from people in many relevant industries including the sports, media and business industries who have offered valuable guidance and we have also established a network of people who believe in our mission and want to support the development of the business. We have been supported by the Local Enterprise Office with mentorship and grant support, as well as grant support from Three Ireland and FedEx.

What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs who have an idea that they want to bring to life?

Entrepreneurship is exciting but also very tough. If you have an idea, do your research - find out if other people think it's a good idea too! Is there a market for your product or service? Who are your competitors or do you have any? What makes you different? Figure out what it takes to bring your idea to life - whether it's finance, expertise, etc, and then establish if it's something you are passionate about and want to pursue as a business.

What's next for your business?

Her Sport has been developing a number of aspects of the business in the background - including our educational workshops and programmes for schools, clubs and businesses, developing our corporate programme and our expansion to the UK. In 2023, we will be hiring 2 - 3 more people to join our team, to increase our output and help us to develop our business, while making further impact on society. We're looking forward to the upcoming sporting events including the World Cup, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games and more!

Website: www.hersport.ie

Colin Keogh Sapien Innovation | Rapid Foundation

PhD in Mechanical and Energy Engineering

At University College Dublin, I completed a BE in Mechanical Engineering, an ME in Energy Systems Engineering and a PhD in Mechanical and Energy Engineering. This rigorous academic grounding not only equipped me with a strong technical foundation but also honed my problem-solving and critical thinking skills, all of which have been invaluable in my career as an entrepreneur.

Throughout my professional journey, I have been involved with many startup organisations from Energy companies, to advanced manufacturing through to metaverse companies, but the two longest running organizations I founded are Sapien Innovation and The Rapid Foundation. Sapien Innovation is an enterprise where we explore and harness the potential of innovation, disruptive technologies and processes to create new business impact, technology developments and positive societal impact. The seed for this venture was sown from a deep-seated fascination with the power of technology and its potential to drive meaningful change.

The Rapid Foundation, on the other hand, was born out of a desire to democratize access to technology. We focus on equipping those in developing countries with technology like 3D printers and low-cost electronics, tools that could otherwise be out of reach but have the power to transform lives and communities. We changed how the world delivers developmental aid, and won numerous awards including becoming a Forbes 30 Under 30, JCIs Top Outstanding Young Person and a number of Red Cross humanitarian awards.

My inspiration comes from the belief in the transformative power of technology. I envisage a world where technological literacy is not a barrier, but an enabler for progress, and it's this vision that fuels my work and my initiatives.

At UCD, I was fortunate to have a wealth of resources at my disposal. As a research engineer, I had access to advanced research facilities and a dynamic intellectual community. These resources were instrumental when I co-founded Team Open Source Ventilator (TeamOSV) just after completing my Phd. This project aimed to develop low-cost emergency ventilator systems and other critical equipment to aid in critical healthcare situations during Covid, a mission that combined my engineering background with my passion for humanitarian work. Externally, I received tremendous support through various channels. For instance, our work with TeamOSV involved extensive collaboration with a global team of over 600 members. Their diverse skills and expertise greatly contributed to our ability to create our emergency medical solutions. In addition, my involvement in organizing Startup Week Ireland and engaging with the Irish startup ecosystem provided invaluable networking opportunities, insights, and resources that have greatly enriched my entrepreneurial journey.

For budding entrepreneurs and researchers aspiring to bring their ideas to life, my advice is to always remember the potential real-world impact of your work. Embrace disruptive technologies and innovative thinking. Don't be daunted by the prospect of starting small—often, the simplest solutions have the most profound impact. Pursue collaborative opportunities actively, as teamwork often breeds innovation and effective solutions.

Websites: www.sapieninnovation.com www.therapidfoundation.com