Susana is a business consultant for SME. She helps business owners who want to GROW &amp; FUTURE PROOF their business to achieve their growth goals by providing them with the structure, the knowledge and the tools, without increasing their workload.

Susana is senior business management and marketing professional with over 25 years hands-on experience in developing and implementing growth strategies in pharma, technology, distribution and packaging industries.

She has held strategic positions in brand management, product development, international marketing and business development at Global Corporations for EMEA markets. Susana and her family moved from The UK to Ireland in December 2020 and setup her own business, <a href=&apos;https://www.bbcs.ie/?&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Beacon Business Commercial Services,</a> during the second year of the pandemic (April 2021). Susana is passionate about providing individuals with tools to help them to be the best version of themselves and this is her drive during her corporate career as well as in her own business.

She is an adventurer, risk taker and loves collaborating with other likeminded professionals. When not working, Susana loves running, reading and travelling.

She is originally from Chile, has lived in Europe for the last 23 years, in Spain, The Netherland and The UK.

Director

Susana Marambio

John O’Shanahan is the founder and lead consultant with LeanBPI, a market leader in digital innovation for small businesses, working with Local Enterprise Office clients and Irish SMEs since 2015.
John has over 30 years’ experience in business operations, having held multiple roles with leading international companies in markets as diverse as Taiwan, Mexico, and The Netherlands.
Lean BPI specialises in helping SMEs/Micro industry clients to improve their workflows, converting from paper based or manual systems to more efficient simplified digital processes. Having completed 200+ successful business improvement projects across a variety of sectors, John’s application of lean best practice, thought leadership and digital innovation has led to clients experiencing increased business performance, reduced costs and sustainable results.
As well as helping clients optimise off the shelf software solutions, John and the team at LeanBPI develop bespoke solutions, built to meet client needs, enabling them to implement new workflows, which improve their business performance while reducing the stresses of the day-to-day operations. By applying lean methodologies, and digital Innovations, Lean BPI simplifies and streamlines a business’ processes to maximise its overall business performance.
John holds an MSc in Strategic Quality Management, Lean Sigma Systems from the University of Limerick and is a doctoral candidate in the University of Limerick.

Managing Director

John OShanahan

<a href=&apos;https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahblake-earthology/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Sarah Blake </a>is enthusiastic about communicating sustainability practices to businesses and individuals in a straightforward way, through talks, workshops and strategy. She believes that putting sustainability at the heart of what your business does will increase revenue, drive staff retention and reduce risk. Sarah’s background is a combination of both Human Resources (CIPD Associate) and Horticulture (RHS trained). Sarah believes that companies can make a profit and be Planet Positive. After studying Sustainability at Cambridge University Sarah founded <a href=&apos;http://www.earthology.ie/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Earthology</a> and subsequently <a href=&apos;http://www.greenzebra.io/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Green Zebra</a> to help employees and their companies on their sustainability journey, one step at a time! Sarah has also completed the <a href=&apos;https://www.climaterealityproject.org/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Al Gore Climate Reality</a> training and is a qualified B Leader for those companies interested in becoming <a href=&apos;https://bcorporation.eu/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>B Corporations</a>. Sarah has been certified with the <a href=&apos;https://carbonliteracy.com/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Carbon Literacy </a>project in the UK.

Sarah Blake

Enterprise Nation has helped thousands of people start and grow their businesses. Led by founder, Emma Jones CBE, Enterprise Nation connects you to the resources and expertise to help you succeed.

Bookkeeping

Learn how to do the bookkeeping for your business.

Deciding on your business status

Finding the identity and status of your business.

Knowledge checker: How to access funding

Show Me The Money is for Irish business owners to access funding and support.

Watch this webinar to gain tips on how to access finance, connect with funders, learn from panel discussions and be inspired by key speakers.

Welcome from Enterprise Nation founder, Emma Jones

Funding panel, with panellists including:

 is the most active small business network in the UK and Ireland. We've helped thousands of people turn their good ideas into great businesses.

Show Me The Money

Get help with your financial plans, receive pitching advice and be inspired by entrepreneurs!

Watch this webinar to hear from seasoned entrepreneur and now investor, 

, on how to prepare for fundraising, identify the correct funding for you and manage investors.

This webinar is perfect for anyone who has an entrepreneurial spirit, wants to start or grow their business and is interested in receiving support with funding.

John knows a thing or two about raising and managing money. He founded and successfully sold the food industry-challenger brand, New Covent Garden Soup Company and co-founded 

. He now shares his experience, invests and mentors via the 

How to raise investment from angels to venture capital

Prepare for fundraising, identify the right funding for you and manage investors.

For small businesses, there are a whole host of benefits to attending a funding event. Arguably the most important is the opportunity it provides to network and make connections with people and organisations who might want to invest in your company.

Funding events typically bring together a diverse pool of investors, including 

angel investors, venture capitalists (VCs) and other institutional investors

. Going along to one of these events means getting direct access to individuals who have the investment capital to support your venture.

Meeting potential investors face-to-face lets you make a lasting impression and establish relationships that can prove invaluable in securing valuable 

As well as being able to connect with possible investors, attending a funding event simply increases your exposure in the investment community.

Because these events tend to attract a wide range of investors – including experienced and successful investors who boast impressive track records – you're able to showcase your business model and highlight your growth potential. As a result, you expand your reach and gain visibility within the investment and business finance ecosystem.

Establishing relationships and securing funding are two vital elements of any small business's 

. By attending funding events, you tap into a vast network of potential investors and strategic partners, increasing your chances of finding the right match and securing the money you need for future growth.

These events serve as a platform for you to pitch your 

, share financial projections and discuss your business's chances of success, all while receiving valuable feedback and guidance from industry experts.

Access to Finance - Show me the mone

Preparing to attend a funding event: Top tips

Whether you're a start-up seeking seed funding or an established business looking for growth capital, funding events are critical moments that can shape your company's future trajectory. Investors play a crucial role in these events, providing the necessary financial resources and expertise to help fuel the growth of businesses like yours.

Before you decide to attend a funding event, bear the following in mind:

Turning up at an event only to find that it isn't for businesses like yours would obviously be a waste of time. Consequently, before you go, spend a little time researching the event's target audience.

Consider what types of investors would be interested in your business, their investment criteria (see below), and the industries or sectors they typically focus on. Then check whether those kinds of people will be there for you to meet.

By researching the attendees, you can prepare relevant and insightful questions to ask investors that will demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're committed to finding the right investment professional for your business.

You'll also be better placed to identify potential partners or strategic investors who can provide not only funding but also valuable guidance and industry connections.

Investors' criteria: What are they looking for?

Understanding the investment criteria of people who could invest in your business is crucial when seeking funding. Once you know an investor's preferences and how they typically make investment decisions, you can better align your pitch to what they seek, and increase your chances of securing investment.

Pitching: What do investors like to hear?

Not all funding events have a prescribed format for business owners to pitch investors, but sometimes the opportunity is there. If so, you must make the absolute most of it!

If you're attending an event and have the chance to pitch to people who are in a position to fund your business, it's important to understand 

what kind of pitch investors like to hear

By addressing the list of questions that investors typically seek answers to, you can craft a compelling and informative pitch that increases your chances of securing funding. Here are some resources on putting together a killer pitch:

Access to Finance

Enterprise Nation Ireland has teamed up with a range of finance partners to show you which funding options are available and help you gain access to them.

Take part in interactive workshops, e-learning modules and free in-person consultations to move your business to the next level. 

Funding events: How they can benefit you and your business

Funding events are a chance to network and make connections with people who might want to invest in your company.

Access to Finance

Events

E-learning

Connections

Workshops and events

Access to finance e-learning

Additional resources

Frequently asked questions