She’s Next, Empowered by Visa

Apply for a €10,000 Business Grant

Visa’s She’s Next Programme, in partnership with IFundWomen, launched in Ireland in 2021 to support women business owners with tools, resources and funding to help them make their next move in business.

Visa is continuing to take action and help remove the disproportionate barriers faced by women business owners. Due to the success last year, Visa is bringing the She’s Next Grant Programme back to Ireland to provide further opportunities for women to advance their businesses.

Women-led businesses are invited to apply for one of five grants of €10,000 plus a year of coaching provided by IFundWomen. T&Cs apply. Applications are open until 16 August 2022.

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Visa’s She’s Next Grant Programme 2021 Winners Share Their Stories

Early-Stage Business: Rosie Joyce, The Habit Store, Mayo

The Habit Store is a sustainable refill shop where customers can buy and refill food, household products and toiletries by weight to reduce single-use plastics. All products in the store are dispensed into containers that customers bring from home. The Habit Store is more than an eco-retail outlet; it’s a place where like-minded customers can enjoy a personal experience and connect with other shoppers. The store was opened in September 2021 by business duo Rosie Joyce and Alex MacNaughton, who, having lived in London, had found it difficult to shop plastic-free after moving back to Co Mayo. The pair started with a refill stall at the local market in Castlebar each weekend before moving into a permanent store in the town.

“Visa’s She's Next grant is a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded female entrepreneurs in Ireland. Having one year of business coaching is going to be invaluable as we focus on our goals. The grant itself will allow us to expand our product range and give us a little more financial security for the day-to-day running of the store in its early stages.”

Link to website

Social Impact: Tammy Darcy, The Shona Project, Waterford

The Shona Project is a multi-award-winning social enterprise that aims to educate, empower and inspire the girls of today to become tomorrow’s strong confident and curious young women. Founded in 2016, by Tammy Darcy, The Shona Project provides Ireland's teen girls with information, advice and a safe place to share their stories, through school workshops, events, and a thriving online community. During the past 20 months of the pandemic, The Shona Project reached over 40,000 girls across Ireland. The organisation is a tribute to Tammy’s sister Shona, who was diagnosed with Arteriovenous Malformations which caused a serious brain injury at 15.

“The Shona Project is scaling very quickly in terms of impact, and to sustain that impact, we need to think, act and operate like any other company with national and international reach. The support gained through this programme is hugely important to the Shona Project, but also to me personally, as I need the support of other likeminded women in order to keep pushing for growth. Our work is important, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Link to website

Innovation: Suzanne Moloney, HidraMed Solutions, Galway

HidraWear has revolutionised wound care for those suffering from the incurable and debilitating skin disease, Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS). As someone living with HS, Suzanne Moloney, Founder and CEO of HidraMed Solutions, wanted to find a better way to manage her medical condition and care for her wounds daily. As a result, Suzanne created HidraWear - a patented range of adhesive-free dressings that fit into specially created underwear to help to alleviate the burden of Hidradenitis Suppurativa. HidraWear are listed on the national health reimbursement schemes in four countries, including Ireland, with a view to expanding into the US in 2022.

“The last few years have seen HidraMed transitioning from a fun start-up to a fully operational organisation. The business coaching is so timely to help me with this transition as we grow into new markets. As we grow, we are developing new products, and the funding will contribute to tooling costs related to a new dressing design we are working on at the moment, launching in 2022.”

Link to website

Micro Business: Áine McGurk, Dainty Bear, Dublin

Dainty Bear is an Irish-owned online luxury baby and childrenswear store specialising in timeless, quality clothing, shoes and accessories for babies and children under five. Founded by Áine McGurk in 2018, Dainty Bear is known for its unique range of traditional occasion-worthy collections and bespoke baby gift boxes. Inspired by her two daughters, Áine's designs are created to be cherished and passed on for years to come.

“I'm so honoured to be recognised as a Visa’s She's Next winner for my brand Dainty Bear. Running a small business has been challenging especially with two small children, so to get this level of recognition is honestly such a boost after all the hard work in the last three years. Receiving the grant means I can invest in expanding my clothing ranges in 2022 and hopefully attend my first trade fair as I want to grow my wholesale B2B channel in Ireland and abroad.”

Link to website

General Small Business: Carolanne Rushe, Sweet Beat, Sligo

Sweet Beat is a family-run planet-first café, featuring inventive and creative plant-based dishes available to eat in or take-away, including a Click + Collect service. The café also houses an eco-retail home and lifestyle collection which is available to buy online or in-store. Opened by Carolanne Rushe in April 2015 the award-winning café has a thriving lunchtime trade offering fresh salads, fermented drinks, and daily specials. Carolanne has also created a range of Sweet Beat plant-based dips which are stocked in local retail stores. She also supports other local producers by selling their produce at Sweet Beat.

"The last two years have been incredibly challenging to navigate. We are so excited to be given the opportunity to have support through the grant programme to help guide us through the next year and beyond and allow us to elevate our business to a nationwide platform and potentially look at exporting opportunities.”

Link to website

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She’s Next, Empowered by Visa

Apply for a €10,000 Business Grant

Small Business Toolkit

Visa’s She’s Next Grant Programme 2021 Winners Share Their Stories

Early-Stage Business: Rosie Joyce, The Habit Store, Mayo

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