Embarking on her career in product design almost twenty years ago, Emma Duggan did not see product development as a realistic career path as there were very few women entrepreneurs at the time. Fast forward to 2023 and Emma is now cofounder of an all-female team that has secured Techstart funding to develop a care scheduler to support loved ones living with dementia.

Catalyst launched its Co-Founders programme today, inviting people with passion, drive and ambition to come together to create start-ups that could change the world.

Ten of the most promising start-ups in Northern Ireland have each been awarded £10,000 proof of concept (POC) grants following their involvement in Catalyst’s early-stage entrepreneurship programme Co-Founders.

Northern Ireland and the UK are seeing the number of female-founded businesses increase every day. These inspirational female founders are leading the way in their respective industries, from new software that could revolutionise health outcomes to innovative new product developments.

Kathleen Garrett, Head of Proof of Concept Grants at Techstart Ventures and Fiona Bennington, Head of Entrepreneurship and Growth at Catalyst, pictured at Catalyst Titanic Quarter

Catalyst is inviting budding entrepreneurs across Northern Ireland to apply to their Co-Founders programme, launching today with a newfound focus on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.