A 54 Hour Sprint to Drive Positive Change
Imagine dedicating a weekend to transforming an idea into a tangible business, surrounded by experienced mentors, industry leaders, and a community of like-minded women, all committed to making a real impact. This is the essence of Techstars Startup Weekend Women Dublin, where female entrepreneurs come together to build enterprises that tackle pressing challenges in society and business.
Taking place from 21-23 March at Accenture Song, Dublin, this intensive event brings together women of diverse backgrounds – some stepping into entrepreneurship for the first time, others looking to take their experience in a new direction. The theme, “Business for Good,” reflects a growing movement where commercial success and social impact go hand in hand. And, even though it says women in the title, everyone is welcome!
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Startup Weekend Championing Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship
In today’s business landscape, sustainability, ethical leadership, and social impact are no longer afterthoughts, they are driving forces for change. Female-led startups are leading the way, tackling challenges from climate change to financial inclusion, from education to ethical AI.
Caitlin Hafer, the lead organiser and founder of What the Hack, has shaped this year’s event around that very idea. “Entrepreneurship isn’t just about profit, it’s about purpose,” she says. “This weekend is about proving that business can create real, positive change.”
The People Behind the Weekend
Pulling together an event like this takes a team of experienced organisers, dedicated volunteers, and hands-on mentors. Alongside Caitlin, the planning team, Israel Ngombo, Deirdre McCarthy, Sharon Ramsey, Miren M. Samper, and Poorvi Gupta have worked to create a weekend that’s both challenging and inspiring for participants.
Mentors play a crucial role across the weekend, offering real-world advice, strategic insights, and the occasional reality check. This year, participants will have the opportunity to work with Aine Mulloy, Eugene Mitchell, Gloria Rull, Jenny Ervine, Laura Enache, Lauren O’Reilly, Leyla Karaha, Melissa Roa, Mike O’Dea, Sarah Fleisberg, and Sorcha Mulligan. (I’ll also be there, bringing my own experience as a business mentor, having previously served as a judge at last year’s event).
Speaking of judges, Sunday’s pitch session will be the defining moment of the weekend, where teams present their businesses to an expert panel. This year, the judging panel includes Anne Brady, Fiona Nagle, Raisa Pokrovskaya, and Mairin Murray – leaders in business, investment, and social impact. Their role? To offer constructive feedback, challenge assumptions, and highlight which ideas have real potential.
What Happens Over the Weekend?
Friday night is all about getting started. Participants pitch their ideas in one-minute presentations, after which teams form around the strongest concepts.
Saturday is the big workday. With guidance from mentors, teams refine their business models, customer validation strategies, and product concepts, ensuring that they are building something that can work beyond the weekend.
Sunday brings the final push. Teams polish their pitches before presenting them to the judges and a wider audience. Some will win prizes. Others will walk away with something just as valuable, a business idea with the potential to grow into something much bigger.
“We’re looking for ideas that go beyond the weekend,” says Caitlin, “it’s not just about innovation, it’s about creating something with lasting impact.”
Why It Matters: Closing the Funding Gap
Despite the success of female entrepreneurs, access to funding remains a significant challenge. Globally, startups founded solely by women received just 2% of venture capital funding in 2023. In Europe, that figure was 1.8%.
In Ireland, the numbers are improving. A Tech Ireland report found that one in four startups that raised investment in 2022 had a female founder or co-founder. This is progress, but it’s not enough. Initiatives like Techstars Startup Weekend Women Dublin help to close this gap by providing access to networks, mentorship, and funding opportunities.
Recent reports indicate a positive trend in funding for women-led startups in Ireland. In 2024, 48 female-founded startups secured a total of €145 million, marking a 46% increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed to several substantial investments. Despite this progress, female-founded companies accounted for less than 15% of the total capital raised by Irish tech startups in 2024, with their average funding being half that of the overall average.
Supported by Industry Leaders
This event would not be possible without the support of sponsors and partners who believe in backing female-led businesses. This year’s sponsors include Accenture Song, Enterprise Ireland, Furthr, Huckletree, Technological University Dublin, Hosting Ireland, the Guinness Enterprise Centre, Hare Branding, Your Y Network, TechFoundHer, Shareclub, and Diversin In. Their backing ensures that participants have access to the tools, support, and connections they need to succeed.
How to Get Involved
If you’re thinking about launching a business, or even if you’re just curious about the process, Techstars Startup Weekend Women Dublin is an opportunity to take that first step.
Follow the conversation: Techstars Startup Weekend Women Dublin
Will this be the weekend you start something new? There’s only one way to find out. Check out what happened at last years event here.
About the Author
Billy Linehan is the Managing Director of Celtar Advisers, a business consultancy guiding SMEs, family businesses, and entrepreneurs to scale and succeed. He has assisted Target Integration in setting up their Business Connector programme. As co-founder of StartUp Ballymun and a contributor to Irish Tech News, Billy is passionate about business growth, digital transformation, and community development.
Connect with Billy on LinkedIn and Bluesky
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