#FollowInishowenAlgae
Our fabulous #Follow this week is Edelle McDaid #FollowInishowenAlgae. Inishowen algae is an early stage start up from Donegal helping small to medium size farmers generate revenue by providing a simplified means to grow microalgae.
Q: How would you describe yourself in 6 words or less?
Enthusiastic, positive, determined, competitive, fun and loud
Q: What prompted you to start your business?
I saw an opportunity to bring our algae growing system to farmers. looking to diversify or add to their current offering. We are only scratching the surface on the potential of micro algae. and see a huge opportunity to create a network of algae growers in Ireland. I couldn't ignore the benefits this could bring to the current struggling farming sector as well the effects on climate action.
Q: Can you tell us a bit more about you?
I received my Applied Computing Degree in 2007. I have spent the last 14 years in the IT industry in various roles from QA testing to Product Management and am currently working full time as a Development Manager. Together with my husband we have 3 boys under 6 - Logan, Archer and Cooper. We are passionate about climate action and making the world a better place for our boys. So are a husband and wife duo we began Inishowen Algae in our back garden when my husband designed a micro algae growing system. We took that algae and fed it into a micro biodigestor and produced electricity to help power our home. Seeing the potential to automate that growing system we started flushing out the potential to build it into a business. 2 years later Paul is working on our proof of concept on our pilot 2 acre algae farm in Inishowen, Co Donegal, while I focus on building the business. It’s completely full on but we are determined and nothing will stop us from seeing our vision come to fruition.
Q: How has being part of the AwakenHub community helped your business?
I began this journey not knowing an awful lot about the entrepreneurial world. This left me feeling afraid, out of place and in over my head. Time and experience obviously helps but the AwakenHub network has had the biggest impact. I feel at home and understood with the other female founders and I feel in a way protected by the mentors, angel investors and experts in AwakenHub who are helping us on our journey. This network is what you make it. The help and advice is there, you just need not be afraid to ask for it!!
Q: Have you an ‘ask’ which we can share with fellow #Awakenhubbers
Spread the word please lovelies. We are doing something important up in Inishowen that can have a huge impact on climate change and the farming industry. I ask that you help us raise awareness of this project which hopefully will help when we are ready to go to market.
For more information follow Edelle on Twitter @InishowenAlgae, connect on LinkedIn and see Inishowen Algae
