Mary Blake, founder of SeeMe™ Limited. Based in Derry City, Northern Ireland, SeeMe™ Limited has been selected as a finalist in the WE Innovate programme organised by the Imperial Enterprise Lab at Imperial College London and Queen’s University Belfast.

Clare McGee from Derry, CEO and cofounder of AwakenHub and AwakenAngels, has been named Business Leader of the Year (SME category) at the 2025 Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards held recently at Titanic Belfast.

In presenting the award, judges commented on “Clare’s visionary leadership in developing investment for women-led businesses and making a tangible difference to the entrepreneurial and investment landscape for women across the island of Ireland.”

Since co-founding AwakenHub during the pandemic, Clare and her cofounders have built Ireland’s leading all-island community for women founders. A growing number of its members are also actively raising investment through AwakenAngels, Ireland’s only women-led angel syndicate. It was co-founded by Clare and her colleagues in 2023 following their frustration at the lack of investment in women founders. In less than 18 months, the enterprise, which makes angel investing more accessible and affordable for women, has onboarded 75 new investors to its syndicate and made investments in five companies. Members can join the AwakenAngels syndicate with as little as £2,000, ensuring critical funding is reaching women-led businesses. Through the AwakenAngels Academy, women are also accessing training and education about the opportunities provided by angel investing.

Discover what's ahead for AwakenHub this May—packed with powerful events for women founders across Ireland and online. From expert-led SheScales sessions and Angel Investing Masterclasses to our flagship community meetup, there are plenty of opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. Celebrate award-winning members, explore funding strategies, and expand your network locally and globally