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What ‘grants’ and other supports apply to my startup business?

If you have ever wondered what supports that you and your startup business could and should apply for, read on:
This blogpost and the accompanying presentation will categorise the supports depending on the stage of development of your startup company: pre-enterprise; early stage; and established startup
- Posted by
Donncha Hughes
- Posted in 404, Entrepreneurship, Grants and finance
Jul, 21, 2017
7 Comments.
CSF Masterclass + Articles about CSF for InspiredStartups.com

Click EventBrite Button above to book to attend the FREE CSF Masterclass on Thursday 1st March 2018 hosted by Bizmentors.ie in SCCUL Enterprise Centre, Ballybane Galway. Here is the 80 second promo video on the event. Donncha Hughes is also delivering the Masterclass in the Regional Development Centre, DKIT on Friday 2nd March. Book via […]
- Posted by
Donncha Hughes
- Posted in 404, Entrepreneurship, Grants and finance
Jan, 22, 2016
2 Comments.
[Book Review] My favourite Startup Marketing Books for Fast Growth Businesses

In December 2013, I wrote a blogpost selecting my four favourite Lean Startup books from the many books on the area of Lean Startup. Since then I have been on the lookout for books more directly focused on Marketing for fast growth oriented startups. This article highly recommends two such books: 1. Traction: A […]
Read More- Posted by
Donncha Hughes
- Posted in 404, Book review, Marketing for Startups
Jul, 22, 2015
4 Comments.
[Book Review] Disciplined Entrepreneurship : 24 Steps to a Successful Startup by Bill Aulet (2013)

I have just finished reading Disciplined Entrepreneurship by Bill Aulet, Managing Director, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Published in 2013, it is a superb book (Book available in Ireland via Easons). This review does not seek to summarise the book – for that I suggest you read this excellent post ‘A book in […]
- Posted by
Donncha Hughes
- Posted in 404, Book review, Entrepreneurship
Jul, 13, 2015
No Comments.
About The Startup Business Planning Jigsaw

Managing a startup business is NOT easy. Startup entrepreneurs have lots of balls in the air. Lean Startup books, theory and practice are brilliant but the question is which model or framework do you follow and when – and are they all relevant to an Irish startup situation? To address this dilemma Donncha devised the […]
- Posted by
Donncha Hughes
- Posted in 404, Business Plans, Entrepreneurship, Grants and finance, Lean Canvas
Feb, 23, 2015
No Comments.
Working with a Startup to Prepare a Business Plan

I am delighted to publish a Case Study of and testimonial for my work. It outlines in detail how I worked with a specific client to prepare a business plan for their business. It details the time involved and the process and methodology. What is the Case Study about? The document addresses […]
Read More- Posted by
Donncha Hughes
- Posted in 404, Personal Opinion
Jan, 23, 2015
8 Comments.
Format for one page marketing plan

I recently delivered a Training Workshop on behalf of Gert O’Rourke for Galway Rural Development. As the session concluded, I shared my format for a – the 2 page pdf is free to download! How to complete your One Page Marketing Plan The One Page Marketing Plan is precisely that – there should be […]
- Posted by
Donncha Hughes
- Posted in 404, Marketing for Startups
Mar, 28, 2014
4 Comments.
How to make your business plan or tender document look professional?

I write several business plans for clients every year and I also regularly create tender documents for my own business, with partners and for customers. I review many more plans and tender submissions. Having a professional looking document is a great start. Here are some of my top tips to achieve that professional look for […]
Read More- Posted by
Donncha Hughes
- Posted in 404, Business Plans, Tenders
Feb, 06, 2014
5 Comments.
Donncha on Sunday Business Show (Today FM)
Donncha interviewed by Conall O'Morain along with Olive in MediStori all about Crowdfunding.
[15 minutes] Play button may not display - just click to the left of 00.00 counter.
Services Menu
- Services Offered by Donncha Hughes Overview
- Assistance to Start and Grow Your Business
- Group Business & Management Training
- Graduate Entrepreneurship
- Start Your Own Business
- Business Plan Workshops
- New Frontiers Training
- Marketing Skills Workshops
- Training – Sales Planning
- Create Financial Projections full day Workshop
- One to One Advice
- Startup Q&A Business Clinic
- Business Plan Preparation
- Feasibility Studies
- Preparing Financial Projections for Startups & SMEs
- Mentoring & Business Consultancy
- Independent Evaluation
Free Downloads
- One Page Marketing Plan (Editable)
- SCCUL Address September 2014
- Google-Site-Sign-Up-Instructions.pdf
- Startup Q&A Business Clinic
- Start a Social Enterprise Programme Specification
- Goals Setting Slides for Mayo Open Coffee
- Business Plan Preparation Worksheet
- Goal Setting Worksheet
- One Page Marketing Plan
- Editable Business Model Canvas (MS Word)
- Business Plan Write-Up Case Study
- Guide-to-Self-Employment-in-Ireland.pdf
Donncha's Slideshare
Recommended Books
Business books can be a brilliant resource for startup founders and senior management of SMEs. The trick is to read the Good ones - here are some of my suggestions as per my shelf on GoodReads
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