The inaugural Powerhouse Start Up & Scale Showcase brought together Carlow’s women entrepreneurs for a vibrant morning of learning, pitching, and networking at The Southeast Technology University Carlow. More than 40 founders took part in expert workshops and a live pitch showcase, supported by judges from Powerhouse partner organisations including Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office, Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet, SETU Enterprise Supports, Carlow County Council’s Library Service, and the County Carlow Chamber.
The event opened with a welcome from Brian Ogilvie, Head of Entrepreneurship & Rural Engagement in SETU who highlighted the many opportunities for entrepreneurs to engage with the university’s research, enterprise, and innovation programmes. He also emphasised the vital role of outreach rural centres in supporting enterprise development across the region.
Participants then took part in a Perfecting Your Business Pitch masterclass delivered by the Entrepreneurs Academy, followed by hands‑on practice and networking sessions.
The centrepiece of the day was the Live Pitch Showcase which saw every participant deliver a three‑minute pitch across two simultaneous streams: Start Up and Scale Up. Judges assessed each pitch on clarity of problem, strength of solution, market insight, traction, and team credibility. They described the overall standard as exceptional, reflecting the depth of talent within Carlow and the South East region’s women‑led business community.
Announcing the awards, Paula O’Brien, Director of Services at Carlow County Council, captured the spirit of the day saying “There has been energy, generosity, and a real sense of community. People who arrived as strangers leave as, collaborators, and friends.”
Award Winners
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Best Start Up Pitch – Shannon Redmond, Ampifi Podcast Studio
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Best Scale Up Pitch – Alison Murphy, Murphy Engineering
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Sustainability Award – Laura Mullin, The Old Post Office
Each winner received €1,000, six hours of mentorship from Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office, Skillnet training credit, and six months of Carlow Chamber membership.
Judges praised the transformative impact of the pitch training and noted: “One of the most powerful parts of the day was watching women step into their confidence as they learned to perfect their pitch in a truly supportive environment.”
Participants echoed this, saying the Entrepreneurs Academy “made pitching feel simple and achievable” and helped scaling businesses refine their message to match future ambitions.
Powerhouse continues its mission to support female entrepreneurs, founders, and professionals by offering a platform for growth, innovation, and leadership development. The initiative is supported by Carlow County Councils’s Local Enterprise Office and Carlow Library Service, County Carlow Chamber, Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet, SETU, and the Kilkenny Carlow Education Training Board. The partners are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where businesswomen can thrive.
National Women’s Enterprise Day, delivered in partnership with Kilkenny County Council’s Local Enterprise Office, will be the flagship event of the year, taking place at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel on Thursday, 15th October 2026. Full programme details and registration information will be released shortly please keep an eye out for the official link.
The Powerhouse Network will continue to support women in business throughout the year with its Business Breaks series, designed to help network members connect, collaborate, and grow. See link for upcoming dates and opportunities to get involved. Online Bookings – Carlow
Photo Caption: Celebrating the Powerhouse Women pitch winners with presenters Noel Davidson, Helen McNulty of the Entrepreneurs Academy, and our incredible Powerhouse partners