Taking a Bite out of the Big Apple 🍎
AwakenHub & AwakenAngels New York Round-Up
Part 2 ofthe AwakenHub &AwakenAngels Third USA Trade Mission brought a dynamic group of women founders to Manhattan last week, showcasing innovation, resilience, and ambition across a series of high-impact events. Check out Part 1 in Boston and read / watch below to see how the rest of the week unfolded.
Day 3: A Skyline of Opportunity 🌆
After traveling up from Boston, 17 companies gathered at the private residence of Melanie Hopkins OBE, Acting British Consul General for New York, with the iconic Manhattan skyline as their backdrop.
Founder Showcase: Each founder delivered their pitch in a “New York Minute” to a private audience of investors, potential partners, and clients. This was more than just pitching—it was about seizing the moment to make meaningful connections. Both Melanie Hopkins OBE and Gareth Hargadon, Deputy Consul General of Ireland to New York, emphasized the importance of supporting women founders and praised the calibre and diversity of this year’s delegation.
"The biggest push right now should be women funding women." – Mary Ann Pierce, AwakenHub & AwakenAngels Global Ambassador
Day 4: Building Momentum 🚀
This day was all about action:
Founders followed up on leads, explored opportunities, and held one-on-one meetings.
The evening brought everyone together at Bank of Ireland NYC Hub for an engaging Angel Investing Masterclass, followed by an Investor Panel & Pitch Event featuring Anthony Rose (SeedLegals) and Mary McKenna MBE.
The evening ended with another round of pitches, where founders showcased their innovations to investors eager to support women-led ventures.
🎥"As a founder, theconnections, networking, and strategic partnerships coming out of thisweek are utterly transformative formy company."–Shana Chu, Founder of Tailr
🔖"We stepped up where others might hesitate, took risks some can only dream of, and embraced challenges others might avoid. What I’ve Learned from Doing This Twice: 📍 Visibility compounds, conversations evolve and support systems matter.” – Sheelagh Brady, Founder of Kowroo
Day 5: Closing with Impact 🌟
The final day brought the delegation back to where it all began three years ago—the First Friday Breakfast at the Irish Consulate, hosted by Consul General Helena Nolan andDeputy Consul General Gareth Hargadon. Helena’s warm welcome and unwavering support for the delegation underscored the power of the Irish diaspora in global business.
🎙️ The breakfast featured an inspiring panel discussion titled “Shared Histories, Shared Stories: The Black and Irish Experience”, with speakers Dennis Brownlee, CĂara Emmanuel, and Christine Kinealy—a fitting conclusion to a week focused on belonging, connection and collaboration.
Reflections on an Extraordinary Week 🤝💡
This year’s mission was a testament to what can be achieved when women founders are given opportunities to shine on a global stage. From pitching innovations to forging strategic partnerships, these 17 companies demonstrated resilience, creativity, and ambition.
Last year marked the launch of AwakenAngels, Ireland’s first women-led investment syndicate. This year celebrated tangible outcomes—founders securing investments and building vital relationships with U.S.-based investors and clients. But the journey doesn’t end here:
Founders now face dozens of follow-ups with potential investors and partners.
Strategic next steps are being planned to build on this momentum, ensuring long-term growth and success.
đź’ˇ Why It Matters
Investment in women-founded businesses remains critically low globally—and particularly in Ireland. Events like this mission not only highlight the incredible talent among women entrepreneurs but also challenge systemic barriers by fostering collaboration between founders and investors.
If you’re an Irish-connected #founder or want to support women-led businesses as an Angel Investor, join us on this journey to build something extraordinary together.
Acknowledgments 🙏
A heartfelt thank you to:
The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (Ireland) Emigrant Support Programme, The Irish American Partnership, Invest Northern Ireland and Underscore VC for your support.
Our hosts, speakers, and investors who opened doors for our founders.
All the Irish diaspora networks who helped us along the way.
Together, we’re driving impactful change in the start up ecosystem for women across Ireland—and beyond.
