Call Me +353 86 172488740 Brexit Frequently Asked Questions
I have been reading a lot about Brexit recently. As of November 2020, I am in the middle of a project on behalf of LEO Mayo to talk to their clients about Brexit preparation. So since mid-October 2020, I have spoken to nearly 40 owner-managers about the potential impact of Brexit on their business and […]
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Donncha Hughes - Posted in Brexit, Grants and finance
Nov, 10, 2020
1 Comment.
What ‘grants’ and other supports apply to my startup business? (Covid-19 update)
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
- Nov, 05, 2020
- 7 Comments.
Business Cube updated by InterTrade Ireland – SeedCorn Competition 2019
I have said for years that the best investor ready business plan preparation guide is the Business Cube Methodology published by InterTrade Ireland the organisors of the SeedCorn Investor Readiness Competition. So I was delighted to see that a modernised edition, now referred to as Business Cube, has been published in 2019. It is a […]
- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Business Plans, Grants and finance
- Sep, 18, 2019
- 3 Comments.
Online Training to Create Financial Projections for your Local Business
I am delighted to announce that I have published an online training programme called ‘Creating Financial Projections for a Local Business‘. One year access is €50 including VAT. This ONE HOUR online programme is for you if: You a startup promoter or small business owner who needs to create financial projections for your business to […]
- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Business Plans, Grants and finance, Management skills
- Sep, 07, 2018
- 1 Comment.
CSF Online Masterclass Go Live Announcement
I am delighted to announce that my first online training programme has gone live. It is a 90 minute video based programme for people applying for CSF – €50,000 Competitive Start Fund investment with Enterprise Ireland. It is ideal for startup entrepreneurs who have applied before and were not shortlisted for the Pitch Stage on […]
Read More- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Business Plans, Grants and finance, Management skills, Personal Opinion
- Apr, 12, 2018
- 1 Comment.
A quick explanation and example of Cashflow (video)
I am not an accountant but I do my own accounts. I also work with clients on financial projections for their business plans. Finance is at the core of business and marketing. Cashflow is the core of finances. I have published an online course ‘Creating Financial Projections for a Local Business‘. A bonus module was […]
Read More- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Grants and finance, Management skills, Personal Opinion
- Jun, 09, 2016
- 1 Comment.
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.
About Startup Galway Pitches Meetup
In March 2015, I volunteered to become a joint Co-ordinator along with Conor O’Donovan of the Galway Startup Businesses Meetup which is now a subgroup of Startup Galway and rebranded as Startup Galway Pitches Meetup. The idea of the group is to provide a forum for early stage startups to network with their peers, with […]
Read More- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Entrepreneurship, Grants and finance
- Apr, 19, 2015
- No Comments.
Date for Diary : ‘Business Application Writing for Success’
As you may know, I am a member of the SCCUL Mentors programme. This provides pro bono mentoring for small business in the greater Galway area. Managed by Ballybane Enterprise Centre, the SCCUL Awards is the undoubted highlight event of the year, while the Centre also hosts regular seminars on topics of interest to local […]
Read More- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Grants and finance
- Mar, 31, 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.
Do HPSU’s deliver? Yes!
I am often asked by startup entrepreneurs what makes a High Potential Startup Company or HPSU? as defined by Enterprise Ireland. While answering this question, I am struck by the fact that I am never asked the follow up question which I have often pondered myself: So how do the companies who are selected as […]
- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Business Plans, Grants and finance
- Aug, 20, 2014
- No Comments.
How to address ‘Exit Strategy’ in your Business Plan?
I am often asked what text should be included in an investor-ready business plan under the section ‘Exit Strategy’. This is to answer the question for the investor, ‘How will we get our money back’. My general view on Exit Strategy is that it is a very difficult issue to answer properly because it is […]
- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Business Plans, Grants and finance
- Jul, 31, 2014
- 1 Comment.
A view of crowdfunding in Ireland (2014)
I don’t claim to be an expert on Crowdfunding but I am lucky enough to know Olive O’Connor, a mumpreneur who is currently making great progress in raising €50,000 for her startup so that she can bring the MediStori to market in the coming months. I blogged recently about her campaign and we were both […]
- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Grants and finance
- Apr, 19, 2014
- 2 Comments.
Please support MediStori’s Crowdfunding Campaign
Today, I made a modest financial contribution as part of a Crowdfunding campaign to MediStori and I would ask everyone who reads this to seriously consider supporting this campaign – by making a contribution directly or telling someone else who would benefit from the product. The promoter is looking to raise €50,000 in the next […]
Read More- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Entrepreneurship, Grants and finance, Personal Opinion
- Apr, 07, 2014
- 1 Comment.
Finance for Startups Part II : Accessing Finance
In my most recent post I stated that I firmly believe that knowledge of finance is a fundamental requirement for every small business promoter. This is part two of two blogposts on Finance for Startups. The first post detailed my ten top finance related tips for startups while this post will now look at financing […]
Read More- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Business Plans, Grants and finance
- Mar, 11, 2014
- 5 Comments.
Finance for Startups : Part I
I believe that knowledge of finance to include: an ability to understand and communicate your financial model; cost structure; revenue streams and route to markets; is a fundamental requirement for every small business promoter. This is a two part blogpost on Finance for Startups. The first post will detail ten things I have learned about […]
Read More- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Business Plans, Grants and finance
- Mar, 04, 2014
- 2 Comments.
Six key tips for tendering
Six factors critical in formulating your approach to tendering in Ireland are discussed in this blogpost. It is critical to select your tenders carefully, read the tender invitation carefully and structure your submission to demonstrate that you meet all the requirements of the tender.
- Posted by Donncha Hughes
- Posted in Grants and finance, Marketing for Startups, Tenders
- Apr, 30, 2011
- 2 Comments.
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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
