This is where i will put blogposts where I am offering my personal opinion on issues.
As part of the New Frontiers Phase 1 programme in ATU iHubs Galway and Mayo (formerly GMIT), Donncha Hughes, an independent business advisor will meet participants in person for a One 2 One session to review their draft applications prior to the final Phase 2 application submission deadline. New Frontiers Phase 2 Application – One…
One year ago in June 2021, our family bought PV solar panels that generate electricity to power the house, including heating hot water via our immersion. I am sharing this post with anyone who is interested in our experience to date. I will include some numbers which might be of interest to anyone thinking about…
Enterprise Ireland launched the Pre-Seed Start Fund in October 2022 effectively replacing the highly successful Competitive Start Fund (CSF). The Pre Seed Fund provides funding of €100,000 – former recipients of CSF can apply for €50,000. Over the years, CSF has been tweaked and this latest change resulted in a new name along with increased…
I switched from Eir to Tesco recently and will now save €150 this year in mobile bills. I should have done it years ago. An Eir customer for nearly 10 years I started out as a sole trader offering business advice in 2010. I don’t mind admitting that money was tight at the time. I…
Book recommendation for Diana Kander’s book ‘All In Startup: Launching a New Idea when everything is on the line’ – highly recommended for anyone launching a product or a business to experience real life Lean Startup principles
Donncha Hughes is hoping to raise some money for Movember in 2021 for men’s health – prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
I recently signed up for a free library account with the County Library run by Galway County Council and was delighted to sign up for a free service from BorrowBox so that I could read Business eBooks for free on a 21 day loan system. I like reading business books but it is unfortunate that…
As a business trainer, I personally love business books that I can refer to and recommend to clients, mentees and workshops participants. I imagine that some will like to read and it is great to get recommended books to dig into greater detail on business topics that we are discussing. Business is complicated. It is…
I write business plans for some startup and SME clients. I review business plans for Enterprise Agencies. I also provide training on business plans. A question I am often asked is, ‘what content goes into a business plan’, with the follow up being, ‘how much information should be included in an Executive Summary‘. Most people…
A great book for aspiring coffee shop owners and anyone thinking of starting a service business. Blog article focuses on learning gleaned in areas of Customer Service, Customer Insight and building a motivated team.
Congratulations to all the national winners of IBYE 2019 …link to official IBYE release I was delighted to hear the results via Twitter on Sunday 15th September that Sharon Cunningham of Shorla Pharma was selected as Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur having earlier scooped the National Winner in Best Start Up Business – TIPPERARY Sean McGarry,…
I recently met with Clare Carroll of Inc60 to record a podcast about the pre-startup and early stage business journey. The Lean Canvas as outlined in the book Running Lean is an ideal tool at this stage. The 30-minute podcast also discusses Sales, Mentoring, building your Team and supports for business. Thanks to Maria Staunton…
![20 Business Building Ideas from ‘The 1-Page Marketing Plan’ by Allan Dib [Book Review & Infographic]](https://www.startuphughes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/1-PAGE-Marketing-Plan-by-Allan-Dib-Review-Banner.png)
The 1-Page Marketing Plan Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand Out from the Crowd- by Allan Dib I recently received this Marketing book in the post for free. I had been asked nicely in advance if I would review it. I like reading business books so I agreed (no fee involved). The book…
![4 Point Formula to Win funding – The Startup Pitch [Book review]](https://www.startuphughes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/The-Startup-Pitch-Book-Review-Featured-Image.jpg)
I assist startups via training and mentoring to pitch for early stage investment to include enterprise agency supports such as New Frontiers and Competitive Start Fund in Ireland. I was delighted to find a superb book by Chris Lipp called ‘The Startup Pitch : A proven formula to win funding’. At 160 pages, it is…
My christmas message 2017 was inspired by the kids summer camp when they learned scratch – this is an admittedly limited attempt but I hope you take a few seconds and that it makes you smile! The flash scratch animation does not play on Mobile so I have recorded the screen using Screen Cast O…
I recently attended the Galway Chamber Business Awards. Pat McDonagh, Founder of Supermacs delivered a fantastic speech in accepting the Special Presidents Award for his contribution to business in Galway. The performance of Supermacs, Ireland’s largest indigenous quick service restaurant chain, is amazing: Over 100 outlets across country and employs over 2,700 people. Annual commitment…
In late 2016, Startupblink contacted me to write a ‘Startup Ecosystem article‘ on Galway to feature on their global website. I agreed and enlisted the assistance of John Breslin, NUIG, PorterShed and Startup Galway; and Barry Egan, Enterprise Ireland West Region. [button link=”http://www.startupblink.com/blog/galway-startup-ecosystem/” target=”_blank” color=”green” shape=”rounded” size=”large” align=”center”]Read Galway’s Ecosystem report[/button] The brief was…
A quick blogpost to wish everyone in Galway and startup land a very Happy Christmas in 2016. A gift : 2.5 minutes of your time I love Lackagh Choir’s When a Child is Born available to listen free on Soundcloud. Pure Brilliant – well done to all involved. Their first CD was superb so presume…
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…
Goal setting is a key component of strategy development but Strategy can not be simplified or dressed up as a process of setting goals – that viewpoint may lead to the creation of ‘bad strategy’. One of the central tenets of the superb book Good Strategy, Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why it Matters, by…
Last Friday (9th October 2015) was spent meeting new business acquaintances and talking to almost every startup promoter and supporter that I know in Galway. I attended 6 events throughout the entire day from 8AM till 9PM. Here are ten things (as recorded on Twitter) that I probably knew already but was reminded of: …
![[Book Review Part 2] Recommended Startup Marketing Books for Fast Growth Businesses](https://www.startuphughes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Marketing-Book-Reviews-Blog-Featured-Image-2.png)
This is the second part of a two part blogpost about books directly focused on Marketing for fast growth oriented startups. My most recent post reviewed the superb ‘Traction: A Startup Guide to Getting Customers’ by Gabrial Weinberg and Justin Mares, 2014 and this post will review Startup Growth Engines: Case Studies on How Today’s…
![[Book Review] My favourite Startup Marketing Books for Fast Growth Businesses](https://www.startuphughes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Bookshelf-Banner-for-Online-Training.jpg)
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 Startup Guide…
![[Book Review] Disciplined Entrepreneurship : 24 Steps to a Successful Startup by Bill Aulet (2013)](https://www.startuphughes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/banner-for-disciplined-entrepreneurship-blog-by-DH.jpg)
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 5…
Being the Best in the World is seriously Underrated … Seth Godin The Dip You might be wondering how I came to read Seth Godin’s book, ‘The Dip – The Extraordinary Benefits of Knowing When to Quit (And When to Stick)’ published in 2007 early in 2015. He mentioned the idea of The Dip…
2014 was a great year for my business thanks to all my wonderful customers! I want to take this opportunity to thank you for retaining my services – particularly all those repeat customers! I would also like to thank everyone who thought of me and mentioned my name when asked for assistance in areas which…
I was delighted to be selected as one of the first contributors to new Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers blog – the post addressed ‘how to craft your value proposition‘. New Frontiers is Ireland’s national entrepreneur development programme, delivered at a local level by Institutes of Technology and funded by Enterprise Ireland. I am delighted…
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…
I recently noticed a change to the Tax Treatment of Charitable Donations in Ireland and I thought I would share it here as most charities seem to be still using an incorrect (or confusing) form on their websites and this blogpost includes text taken from an email that I just received from the Revenue Charity…
Thanks to Tara Dalrymple of Mission Possible for giving me a loan of Seth Godin’s ‘Tribes’ a few weeks ago. The book, published November 2008, is contemporary – it is becoming even more relevant as time passes. It is a fascinating book, I was half way through it before I realised that it does…