WeScale Meet The Foudners
Introduction
Across the island of Ireland, 34 ambitious women entrepreneurs are redefining what sustainable business growth looks like. Representing a wide range of industries, these founders are united by innovation, resilience, and a shared commitment to scaling their businesses strategically.
Through the WeScale programme, delivered by AwakenHub in partnership with InterTradeIreland and Cranfield University, women-led SMEs gain access to world-class learning, expert mentoring, and powerful business networks. Together, they form a vibrant community of founders driving economic growth, job creation, and cross-border collaboration.
From Belfast to Cork, Galway to Dublin, Wicklow to Donegal, the WeScale community reflects true all-island collaboration. Today, we are proud to introduce the founders and businesses shaping this powerful community of women entrepreneurs.
About the WeScale Programme
WeScale is a multi-year scaling initiative that supports established women-led SMEs across the island of Ireland. Delivered by AwakenHub, led by InteTradeIreland in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland, funded by the Government of Ireland as part of the Shared Island Enterprise fund. The programme offers university accredited scalling support powerd by Cranfield University, tailored mentoring, executive-level education, and access to investor and corporate networks.
By equipping founders with strategic tools and growth frameworks, WeScale empowers women entrepreneurs to expand internationally, strengthen operational resilience, and build sustainable businesses that deliver lasting economic and social impact.
Meet the WeScale Founders
Colette Van Jaarssveld, Arcology System, Dublin, Ireland.
Arcology Systems provides innovative systems-based solutions that help organisations optimise performance and operate more sustainably. A key milestone for Colette and Arcology Systems has been strengthening its scalable service model, positioning the business for broader growth across the national and international markets.
Lynetter McHendry, Spear and Arrow Bone Broth, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Spear & Arrow Bone Broth specialises in 100% natural, grass-fed bone broth products, including plain and botanically infused broths made from Irish grass-fed cattle bones simmered traditionally to release collagen and nutrients that support wellbeing and gut health. The range also includes turmeric & ginger, as well as other botanical broths, all free of additives, preservatives, salt, and sugar.
The company was founded by Lynetter, who launched the brand after her health journey inspired her to explore traditional, nutrient-dense foods and share their benefits with others. Spear & Arrow’s development was supported early on by an Invest NI Innovation Voucher and technical guidance from a local food technology college.
Sandra Healy, Inclusio, Dublin, Ireland.
Inclusio is an award-winning inclusion intelligence platform that measures, benchmarks, and improves workplace inclusion through data-driven insights and evidence-based frameworks. Sandra leads inclusion, supporting organisations in building more inclusive leadership, cultures, and systems at scale. A key milestone for the business has been establishing itself as a trusted partner for organisations seeking measurable impact on inclusion.
Mary Blake, SeeMe Ltd, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
SeeMe Ltd creates an AI-powered platform that preserves and organises digital memories, enabling users to add stories and context to their photos to create a richer, more meaningful archive. Founded by Mary Blake, a tech entrepreneur with a background in museum education and tourism, the platform combines technology with storytelling to safeguard personal and family histories.
Margaret Rae, Konree Innovation, Galway,Ireland.
Konree Innovation is a deep-tech aquaculture technology company developing ground-breaking solutions that help salmon producers reliably manage and control sea lice — one of the biggest challenges in sustainable fish farming — to improve fish health and welfare and to lower-carbon protein production.
A key milestone for the business was being honoured with a Women TechEU award for women-led deep-tech start-ups, recognising its innovation and leadership in tech and sustainability.
Pauline Timoney, Routine Roo, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Founded by Pauline Timoney, a productivity coach and entrepreneur, the brand is driven by her passion for empowering others to build positive routines and take control of their time.
Routine Roo specialises in stylish, practical daily planning and productivity solutions, helping individuals and teams organise their time, set goals, track habits, and boost effectiveness through beautifully designed planners, journals and productivity tools
Clare Ryan, ITUS Secure Technologies, Donegal, Ireland.
A cybersecurity company that helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) understand, manage, and monitor their cyber risk using tools like ITUS Protect, a machine-learning-driven platform tailored to simplify cyber risk assessment for non-technical business owners.
The company was recognised as Best New Start at the 2022 InterTradeIreland Seedcorn competition, highlighting its innovative risk quantification solution that supports SME access to cyber insurance.
Louise Brogan, LinkedIn with Louise, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
LinkedIn with Louise specialises in LinkedIn strategy, content marketing, and visibility coaching, helping entrepreneurs, consultancies, and professional services businesses raise their profile, attract clients, and grow their online presence through sustainable LinkedIn systems, training, content planning, and personalised support.
The company is led by Louise Brogan, a LinkedIn consultant, international speaker, author and podcast host who teaches businesses how to leverage LinkedIn without spammy tactics, turning profiles into a consistent source of leads and authority.
A notable milestone in her career is being recognised as a Small Business Britain Champion and ‘Small Business Saturday Hero’, and being invited to Buckingham Palace to meet King Charles III in recognition of her work supporting small and independent businesses
Lorette Dignam, Menopause Hub, Dublin, Ireland.
Menopause Hub provides organisations with CPD-accredited menopause education, training, and workplace accreditation to help employers create inclusive environments for employees experiencing menopause. The Academy has introduced the Menopause Workplace Excellence Accreditation programme, with organisations like Lidl Ireland becoming the first in the country to attain gold-level accreditation for menopause inclusivity.
Amanda Kearns, Inner Angel Health, Down, Northern Ireland.
Founded by the award-winning nutritionist researcher Amanda Kearns, specialises in holistic therapies that prioritise gut health and overall wellness.
Inner Health Clinic is renowned for integrating advanced nutritional science with practical wellness practices to offer personalised health solutions, providing a range of services including nutritional counselling and colonic hydrotherapy, designed to detoxify and restore the body, promoting a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Claire Keane , Second Street Bakeshop, Cork, Irealnd.
An artisan bakery and café renowned for its handcrafted sourdough breads, seasonal pastries, and high-quality, locally sourced ingredients that combine traditional baking with a modern touch. Under Claire’s leadership, Second Street Bakeshop has grown into a cherished destination in Cork, known for its dedication to craft, community, and excellence.
Laragh De Bhuldh, Wolf Medical, Dublin, Ireland.
Wolf Medical is a medical affairs consultancy specialising in supporting pharmaceutical and healthcare teams to set clear strategic goals, enhance cross-functional teamwork, and achieve measurable results for patients and stakeholders. Founded by Laragh in 2022, it brings over ten years of diverse medical affairs experience, including developing CPD-accredited strategy workshops and training programs for teams across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Within a few years, Wolf Medical was honoured as the Best Medical Affairs Consultancy Firm at the 2024 Global Excellence Awards by Global Health and Pharma Magazine, acknowledging its leadership and innovative contributions to the field.
Arlene O’Connor, Brown O’Connor Communications, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
A strategic communications and public affairs consultancy advising businesses, organisations, charities and public-sector clients across the UK and Ireland on media relations, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, litigation PR and planning/property PR. The firm helps clients shape narratives, influence public policy, manage complex issues and connect with key decision-makers through tailored campaigns and insight-led communications strategies.
Co-led by Arlene O’Connor, a chartered communications professional with 17+ years’ experience, the firm is known for delivering high-impact campaigns and trusted advice to senior decision‑makers, cementing its reputation in strategic communications.
Victoria Finlay, The MenoPal, Dublin, Ireland.
Built from her own experience of undiagnosed perimenopause and a recognised gap in women’s health data, applying deep tech, AI and longitudinal insights to empower women with clarity and predictive health intelligence.
Victoria Finlay founded The Menopal, a women’s health tech company developing a central intelligence platform that structures, interprets, and unifies menopause health data—including symptoms, wearables, and clinical information—to improve understanding, clinical care, and research on perimenopause and menopause. The platform includes a personalised tracking app and clinician tools that help women understand patterns in their health and support clearer conversations with healthcare providers, as well as feeding anonymised data into broader research to advance care standards.
Pragya Sharma, Gran Lab, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Gran Lab is a science-led dermatology biotech company developing next-generation, steroid-free treatments for chronic inflammatory skin conditions. Through advanced biochemical research and clinically informed formulation, the company is focused on delivering effective, long-term solutions for conditions such as psoriasis and eczema while reducing reliance on traditional steroid therapies.
Founded by Dr Pragya Sharma, a biochemist inspired by her grandmother’s experience with psoriasis, Gran Lab has secured early-stage funding and support from organisations including Invest Northern Ireland and Innovate UK to accelerate research, laboratory expansion and clinical development.
Kimberly Brophy, Naked Glow, Dublin, Ireland.
Award-winning Irish beauty brand Naked Glow is a Dublin-based, Irish-owned skincare and beauty brand founded by entrepreneur Kimberly Brophy. It specialises in clean, effective self-tan and skincare products designed to enhance natural radiance while nourishing the skin. Its range includes hydrating tanning mousses, moisturisers, serums and lip care essentials, all formulated with skin-loving ingredients that deliver a flawless, sun-kissed glow without harsh chemicals.
Our mission is simple,” says Brophy. “We want everyone to feel confident in their skin with minimal effort and maximum impact. At Naked Glow, we focus on clean formulations, high-performance actives and skin health above all.”
Ciara Sheahan, ORB Media, Dublin, Ireland.
ORB Media is a Dublin-based immersive media and tech company led by Ciara Sheahan
It creates next-generation brand experiences using 360° interactive content, virtual reality (VR), gamification, and emerging e-commerce technologies to help businesses increase engagement, brand awareness, and online conversion rates across all devices. Its platform blends immersive storytelling with data-driven insights on consumer behaviour, enabling clients to stand out in a crowded digital marketplace
Claire Nixon, Adepta Partners, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Adepta Partners specialises in boutique technology recruitment, partnering with forward-thinking companies and tech professionals to build long-term teams through personalised sourcing, inclusive hiring practices and deep industry networks. The agency focuses on quality placements rather than high-volume CV submissions, helping organisations grow with talent that truly fits their needs.
A notable milestone for Claire and Adepta Partners is Claire’s recognition as a finalist in the 2025 Women in Business Awards, in categories including Best New Startup and Advancing Diversity in the Workplace, highlighting her impact on the local tech and business community.
Emma Duffy, Ravallon My forever Tooth Fairy, Louth, Ireland.
My forever Tooth Fairy reimagines the traditional tooth fairy experience through a magical, keepsake gift set. The award-winning product includes a handcrafted Forever Tooth Fairy doll, a beautifully illustrated storybook, a velvet tooth tote, and a light-up display case, all designed to turn the milestone of losing baby teeth into a meaningful, confidence-building experience for children while creating lasting family memories.
A significant milestone for My Forever Tooth Fairy is winning Best Children’s Gift at the UK Junior Design Awards — a prestigious accolade recognising excellence in design, creativity and product appeal — and the brand’s selection to represent Louth at Showcase Ireland 2025, Ireland’s premier international design and gift fair.
Jolanta Boruszek, Egoist Beauty, Cork, Ireland
Egoist Beauty is a Cork-based professional beauty brand specialising in high-quality nail products, eyelash extensions, brow solutions and salon-ready accessories, catering to beauty salons, spas, independent stylists and at-home professionals with premium tools and products. The company also offers comprehensive, accredited training courses—including classic and volume lash techniques—to equip beauty technicians with practical skills and certification.
Founded and led by Jolanta Boruszek, an experienced beauty professional, master trainer and industry educator whose expertise spans eyelash extension, eyebrow and brow services. Under her leadership, Egoist Beauty has earned recognition through industry accolades — including the All Star Accreditation from the All Ireland Business Foundation (2021) for excellence in trust, performance and customer focus — and multiple nominations and awards in national and international beauty competitions.
Charlene Coleman, EchoMind AI, Wicklow, Ireland.
EchoMind AI provides a sophisticated cognitive workforce intelligence platform that helps organisations map and understand cognitive diversity, assess burnout risk, and enhance team performance through data-driven neuro-inclusion insights.
The platform converts millions of data points into actionable workforce profiles, facilitating smarter talent allocation and better organisational results. A significant achievement for EchoMind AI is its dual-archetype cognitive profiling model, which gives leaders a deeper understanding of how individuals think and work together.
Nora Irwin, Arona, Cork, Ireland.
Arona Natural Fragrance is an Irish premium solid perfume and natural fragrance brand founded by Nora Irwin in Youghal, County Cork. Inspired by a lifelong love of scent and trained in the art of fragrance, Nora creates 100% natural, alcohol and synthetic-free solid perfumes made with organic beeswax and pure essential oils, packaged in eco-friendly, portable 7 ml containers designed for modern lifestyles.
A notable milestone for Arona was launching its signature solid perfume collection at Showcase Ireland in the RDS and subsequently debuting the brand online in early 2020, helping establish the company in both the national and international gift and skincare markets.
Erica Hargaden, Babogue, Kildare,Ireland.
The company provides evidence-based, empathy-led sleep support through personalised 1:1 consultations, bespoke sleep programmes, courses and community-focused solutions designed to help families establish healthy sleep habits and restore harmony at home. Having supported over 5,000 families in more than 37 countries with its sleep solutions and online programmes, the company reflects its reach and impact beyond Ireland.
Babogue’s services are tailored for modern parents, offering both virtual support and digital resources that empower caregivers worldwide to improve their children’s sleep and overall family wellbeing.
Marie Walker, MCS Branding, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
MCS Branding specialises in custom merchandise and fundraising solutions, helping charities, community groups, sports clubs, and event organisers maximise their impact through bespoke branded products, promotional items, and easy-to-manage merch on demand online shops. Their approach enables organisations to raise funds, increase visibility, and engage supporters efficiently, without the burden of managing large inventories.
Leonie Lynch, Juspy, Dublin, Ireland.
Juspy is an Irish functional food and lifestyle brand founded by Leonie Lynch that creates nutrient-dense, delicious cacao & collagen protein superfood blends designed to support busy, health-conscious lifestyles without compromising on taste. Its signature blend combines high-quality hydrolysed marine collagen and plant proteins with other wholesome ingredients, making it versatile for smoothies, shakes, coffee, and recipes that nourish the body and support energy and well-being.
A significant achievement for Juspy is winning Food Innovation Product of the Year at the Irish Enterprise Awards 2022 and Best European Lifestyle Food Products Company at the LuxLife Magazine Food & Drink Awards 2021, highlighting its recognition for product quality, innovation, and international appeal.
Grainne Mullins, Gra Chocolates, Galway, Ireland.
Grá Chocolates is a luxury artisan chocolate brand founded in 2020 by award-winning pastry chef Gráinne Mullins.
The company handcrafts premium chocolates in small batches using ethically sourced Valrhona chocolate, Casa Luker cocoa butter, and rich Irish cream and butter. Each piece takes up to three days to create and is finished with hand-polished moulds and hand-painted designs to ensure quality and flavour.
Orla Connaughton, Aztec Medical, Galway, Ireland.
Aztec Medical is a Galway-based MedTech regulatory consultancy specialising in strategic regulatory affairs, design assurance, clinical compliance, and quality management support for medical device companies. With over 20 years’ experience, the firm helps innovators navigate complex global regulatory systems — from approvals and CE marking to clinical documentation, risk management, and post-market activities — enabling safe, compliant market entry and lifecycle support for technologies ranging from start-ups to established manufacturers.
Tonya Kidd-Beggs, STORIES Parfume, Down, Northern Ireland.
STORIES Parfums specialises in luxury niche fragrances, body care and scented candles, blending artisan perfumery with sustainable design — including refillable formats and thoughtful packaging — to create emotionally driven Eau de Parfums and complementary products that connect scent with memory, mood, and personal story.
A notable milestone for STORIES Parfums is its appointment as the first-ever fragrance partner for The Culloden Estate & Spa, a prestigious five-star hotel in Northern Ireland, significantly elevating the brand’s presence in the luxury hospitality market and exposing its handcrafted fragrances to an international clientele
Beatriz Gomez Morenzo & Mamobo Ogoro, GORM, Dublin, Ireland.
A multi-award-winning social enterprise and intercultural consultancy focused on bridging cultural, social, and community divides through innovative media, intercultural education, and research-based training.
The organisation amplifies diverse community voices, promotes storytelling through digital media projects such as The Wideshot, and equips leaders with intercultural skills to foster inclusive workplaces and communities. A key milestone for GORM was earning the People & Planet First Verification, a globally recognised standard that confirms its impact as a purpose-driven social enterprise.
Eileen Taylor & Clare Taylor, Woofland Dog Park, Mayo, Ireland.
Woofland Dog Park is a multi-location, off-leash dog park network in Ireland, offering purpose-built, secure spaces where dogs can run, play and explore off-lead in a safe, fun environment. Sessions — including bookings and social meet-ups — take place in fully fenced parks featuring agility courses, open space and bespoke obstacles designed to boost physical and mental stimulation for all types of dogs.
A notable milestone for Woofland has been the expansion of its off-leash parks beyond its original location in Claremorris, Co. Mayo, to include a second park in Portlaoise, Co. Laois, making it the only multi-location private dog park network in Ireland and supporting growth plans to open further parks.
Meabh McCaffery- Lau, Future Ready Lab, Down, Northern Ireland.
Future Ready Lab is an innovation and digital transformation consultancy focused on equipping organisations, educators and communities with the tools, strategies and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The company operates at the intersection of research, education and emerging technology to drive digital readiness, inclusion and future-focused capability-building.
Led by Dr Meabh McCaffery-Lau, Future Ready Lab reflects her expertise in digital education, innovation strategy and community empowerment across the UK and Ireland.
Island-Wide Impact and Collaboration
The WeScale cohort exemplifies genuine all-island participation, featuring founders from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland collaborating closely. The cohort includes businesses from various urban and regional areas, showcasing Ireland’s diverse entrepreneurial landscape. This geographic and sectoral diversity fosters valuable collaboration, peer support, and cross-border opportunities, enabling WeScale founders to expand not only locally but also nationally and internationally.
Looking Ahead
As these founders continue to scale their businesses, they are creating jobs, driving innovation, and contributing to a more inclusive and resilient economy across the island of Ireland.
Women entrepreneurs leading established SMEs and ready to scale are encouraged to explore future WeScale cohorts. Investors, partners, and supporters are invited to engage with the WeScale community and support the growth of women-led enterprises.
Celebrating Women Scaling with Confidence
The founders participating in WeScale demonstrate the power of strategic support, community, and ambition. Their journeys highlight what is possible when women entrepreneurs are equipped to scale with confidence, clarity, and connection.
Together, they are shaping the future of business across the island of Ireland.
Conclusion
The WeScale programme is more than a pathway to business growth—it’s a catalyst for transformation. These visionary women are proving that with ambition, strategic support, and a strong community, scaling a business is not just possible—it’s powerful. Across the island of Ireland, they are breaking barriers, driving innovation, creating jobs, and inspiring the next generation of women entrepreneurs. WeScale shows what happens when talent meets opportunity: businesses flourish, communities thrive, and women lead with confidence, clarity, and courage. The journey of these founders is a bold reminder that when women scale, we all rise.