When we first met Jac Keady, Michelle Wallace and Aine Breen six months ago, they had just gained their places on the ACORNS programme and were about to begin their journey.

Over the course of the programme, they have met their lead entrepreneur once a month and completed their concluding two-day boot camp this month.

This is the second cycle of female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland to have completed the programme. Mary B Walsh, a volunteer lead entrepreneur on the programme and owner of Ire Wel Palettes, says: “I feel very honoured to be a part of it. It is truly satisfying as a lead to see each participant identify areas in their business that required attention during the roundtable discussions – all with the help of their fellow participants.”

Mary explains that often participants were greeted with negativity, roadblocks and “boulders” along their journey but through the support of each other and the lead, they got through.

“Each one of them was advised, supported, encouraged by their fellow participants to keep going, to get to the next stage, to grow more resilient and to eventually flourish,” she says.

Mary rates the work of the ACORNS programme highly.

“Ireland Inc is fortunate that Paula Fitzsimons developed this fantastic programme, which began paying dividends from the day it was introduced in August 2015.

“It has provided an excellent solution to the gap that existed in the market for this type of support.”

This week, Irish County Living checks back in with the entrepreneurs who took part to learn more about their experiences and the progression of their businesses under the programme.

Caveman Grub

Jac Keady

Jac Keady moved from England to Connemara 10 years ago and has recently created her business, Caveman Grub. It aims to produce healthy, tasty, convenient paleo food (food that would have been consumed in the Paleolithic period, 2.5m years ago) at an affordable price. Products range from bread and brownie mix to her award-winning no-grain-ola bars.

She thought of the idea after embarking on a paleo diet but missing bread a lot.

“I set upon a challenge to make the first paleo bread – basically grain-free bread. It took me 126 attempts over six months, but I wouldn’t let it go.”

When starting her business, Jac found it difficult to source guidance.

“My biggest issue before the ACORNS programme was finding advice from experienced businesswomen who had faced the same obstacles,” she says.

Jac has gained a lot from her time on the programme and it’s been an encouraging experience.

“For the last six months, I have built up a huge amount of personal knowledge as well as a network of contacts I can rely on to help me build a successful company.”

Whole Food Revolution

Michelle Wallace

Michelle Wallace is co-founder and the business and marketing brain behind The Whole Food Revolution in east Meath and Dublin. It is a subscription service that creates healthy, delicious recipe boxes that are delivered to customers’ doors after they order them online. They prepare all of the ingredients right down to tablespoon measurements.

For Michelle, ACORNS has been an empowering journey: “We’ve listened, we’ve shared, we’ve advised, we’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve told the honest truth. We’ve picked each other off the floor and raised our peers on our shoulders to applaud their successes.”

The Whole Food Revolution has developed under the guidance of ACORNS.

“When I started the programme, our focus was on recipe boxes but over the six months our focus has pivoted to corporate wellness. We have now diversified into nutrition talks, food demos, and individual executive nutritional programmes for key employees,” Michelle says.

“This new direction came inadvertently from our marketing efforts to corporates, and we discovered a new and more profitable revenue stream.”

On the experience as a whole, Michelle says: “I’m hoping that the programme continues into a second year, as many of my fellow ACORNS have said: I’m not ready to let this go.”

Liwu Jewellery

Áine Breen

Áine Breen from Gorey is the creator of Liwu Jewellery. She is responsible for designing and retailing jewellery, that combines her love of retail, jewellery and design with her business expertise. Liwu Jewellery draws inspiration from Chinese calligraphy and Celtic symbols.

She faced challenges as an entrepreneur: “One of my biggest issues before I started with ACORNS was a sense of isolation, of being a female entrepreneur in rural Ireland.”

The programme has provided a source of fortitude and inspiration for Áine.

“Participation in the ACORNS programme was invaluable for my business. I have gained great support and encouragement from my roundtable group. We learned a lot from each other and shared information and contacts,” she says.

Áine has made great progress upon completion of the programme.

“I launched my Native by Liwu Jewellery collection, gained five new stockists, increased direct and online sales and hired my first employee, starting this week.”

Prospects are positive for Áine and Liwu Jewellery, with Áine saying: “Now, with the support and wider network, I believe the business can succeed.”

Moher Cottage

Caitriona Considine

Caitriona Considine opened Moher Cottage in March. It is a family run destination store beside the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare, with panoramic views over Liscannor Bay. Moher Cottage supports local Irish businesses, with Caitriona now stocking some of her fellow ACORNS’ products, including Joanne Browne with Jo Browne solid perfume and Bernadette McCullagh with Dúinn Designs. The future with Moher Cottage is bright with even more prospective collaborations on the horizon.

Caitriona has had a really positive experience. “My business is growing each day, and the feedback is wonderful. Invaluable opportunities have been provided by networking in ACORNS.”

Caitriona is also using her connections made within the programme to extend her knowledge of her business. She is completing HACCP training with Orlagh Deegan’s company, Choice Training. Commenting on her experience, Caitriona says: “I’ll be in my store, telling the stories of these fabulous craftspeople who I now know.”

www.acorns.ie

ACORNS

* The ACORNS programme nurtures female entrepreneurs from rural Ireland and is supported by Department of Agriculture.

* It helps women who have started a business by linking them to a lead entrepreneur and a support network of women who are in the same position.

* Paula Fitzsimmons of Fitzsimons Consulting developed the ACORNS programme. She encourages early stage startups led by women in rural Ireland to apply for the programme.