News

Jun 23, 2023

Accelerator programme for Nenagh entrepreneur

Nenagh’s George O'Leary is a young entrepreneur who has been chosen to take part in Patch, the youth accelerator backed by Stripe, NDRC, and Dogpatch Labs. The Nenagh man has a passion for business,

Nenagh’s George O'Leary is a young entrepreneur who has been chosen to take part in Patch, the youth accelerator backed by Stripe, NDRC, and Dogpatch Labs.

The Nenagh man has a passion for business, politics, and technology. He's the founder of kayakful.com and his current focus is on Locoful, a super app that offers delivery of local goods from all shops in a given district, making it easy to support local businesses. He also has plans for a container house business and a company that makes bricks for building using hemp and lime.

During the seven-week accelerator programme, renowned industry leaders such as Stripe’s Will Gaybrick, Intercom’s Des Traynor and Loyal’s Celine Halioua will be providing fireside talks and Q&A sessions.

The accelerator, which began on July 5, is made up of 16-21-year olds, with females making up 46% of this year’s 31-strong cohort, marking the highest number in the programme's five-year history. Patch has also witnessed an increase in participation from across the country this year, with over 60% of participants coming from outside the Dublin Area, and Munster-natives accounting for one-quarter of the cohort. Patch has attracted renowned speakers and mentors to this year's programme, offering invaluable insights and guidance to the cohort, including fireside talks and Q&A sessions from Loyal founder, Celine Halioua, President of Product and Business at Stripe, Will Gaybrick, and Intercom founder, Des Traynor. The seven week accelerator will culminate with Demo Day in Dublin’s Dogpatch Labs on August 17, providing an opportunity for participants to present their remarkable projects and progress over the summer months. This year's cohort showcases projects that prioritise social impact, healthcare innovation, and sustainable solutions. It stands out as the most globally diverse and inclusive group to date with a range of projects building on the latest technology to drive change and innovation. Patch mentor Andreea Wade, Vice President of enterprise recruiting software Icims, said: “Being part of this extraordinary programme that cultivates young minds to instigate enduring social change is truly incredible. The opportunity to witness firsthand the passion and talent that these young participants exhibit at such a pivotal point in their lives is deeply inspiring. As a mentor, I've realised it's more than just guiding them - it's about giving back, investing in the future, fostering new leaders.”

The cohort will also travel to London to learn about the fields of AI, venture capital and financial services. While there, they will visit the offices of industry giants such as Stability AI and Jane Street Capital to learn more about their work and how they can apply these skills to their own projects.

Patch alumni also achieved remarkable success at this year's BT Young Scientist competition, securing eight prizes. Previous alumni include Mícheal McLaughlan, co-founder of Agtech firm CropSafe which recently raised $3m, and Diana Hrisovescu, who received the O'Shaughnessy Fellowship Grant worth $100,000 to develop Script - software which enables individuals to access government forms in their native language.

“We are proud to operate as a non-profit organisation, generously supported by donors who recognise the significance of investing in the next generation of innovators. This backing allows Patch to provide invaluable resources, mentorship, and guidance to young talent who are keen to make a difference in their communities and beyond,” shared Jack O'Regan Kenny, Managing Director of Patch. “As someone who has participated in Patch myself, I know first-hand the dedication required and world-class support you get as a young entrepreneur - it's invaluable to growing an idea in your phone notes, to something impactful.”