The ACORNS 11 programme was supportive, informative, inspiring and kind. It has given me a quiet yet strong confidence to achieve my potential, alongside an invaluable network of like-minded people. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to any woman in business.
-Adrienne Diamond, The Glass Farm
Taking part in the ACORNS programme has been a very valuable experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to step back, refocus, and strengthen the foundations of my business. Through the sessions, I gained more structure, clarity, and confidence in my decision-making. It helped me implement real changes in DogVille, from refining my pricing to positioning the brand more clearly in the luxury market. I would highly recommend ACORNS to any entrepreneur looking to grow their business in a more focused and sustainable way.
-Agnes Stawosz, DogVille
My experience of ACORNS 11 has been wholesome and joyful from beginning to end. It surpassed any of my expectations and I could not recommend it highly enough. I have learned so much from my Lead Entrepreneur, as well as my group colleagues. We had such a diverse range of businesses between us but many of our issues overlapped. If you are privileged enough to get offered a place on an ACORNS cycle, do not hesitate! Grasp it with both hands! You won’t regret it!
-Aisling O’Toole Aisling’s Taste of Home
Completing the ACORNS programme has been a hugely valuable experience for me as an entrepreneur with my tourism business ‘Johnsfort – Ireland at Your Leisure’. The support system it provides is exceptional and being surrounded by other business owners who genuinely understand the challenges makes a huge difference. The roundtable meetings, in particular, were invaluable. They created a space for honest conversations, practical problem-solving and shared learning that you never get working on your own. The insights and experience gained from other entrepreneurs have helped me plan better, make informed decisions and feel far less isolated in my business. I would strongly advocate ACORNS to any early-stage female entrepreneur. It offers not just guidance, but a sense of community and confidence that is incredibly powerful when growing a business. I am delighted to say that I now have a peer support group that I can go to at any time, knowing that they care about me and the success of my business as I do theirs.
-Bairbre Mulvany, Johnsfort – Ireland at Your Leisure
I came into ACORNS not quite knowing what to expect, and left genuinely inspired. The programme exceeded every expectation – from the connections I made, the business clarity I gained, and the sheer wealth of knowledge in the room was second to none. What’s stayed with me most is the ongoing support from an incredible community of female entrepreneurs who just get it. If you’re on the fence, don’t be.
-Cassie McCarthy, Lunasa Farm
ACORNS helped me step back and properly look at my business instead of just being stuck in the day to day of it. The round tables were honest, practical and genuinely supportive, and they gave me the confidence to back my own ideas more. It also helped me realise there is a real gap in the market for specialist cat grooming, which has completely changed the direction I want to take Purrfect Paws in.
-Charlotte Woods, Puurfect Paws
Running a business can be lonely and the day to day isn’t glamorous so it’s great there is an organisation that really has our best interests at heart. It goes down to the bones of the business from tax, systems, market research, AI, sales. The part I really love was the belief they instil in you and that they understand and nearly know what you need before you know it yourself. Everyone needs a mentor and we got that in buckets full. It’s professionally ran which I like. Time is precious so focus, respect and kindness is also at the core. I never would have got my first retreat off the ground without having deadlines and targets. I just couldn’t talk highly enough of the Paula and the ACORNS team, my Lead Entrepreneur and my group which met monthly. I wish it didn’t have to end.
-Claire Kiernan Campbell, Longford Country House
ACORNS is a truly inspiring programme that brings together ambitious women who genuinely want to support and elevate one another. It creates a space where everyone understands the realities of the entrepreneurial journey, while also encouraging you to pause, reflect, and plan your next steps with clarity and confidence. Our Lead Entrepreneur Caroline, along with Paula and her amazing team, are incredibly generous with their time, insight, and experience. Their guidance is both practical and empowering, and it’s clear they are deeply invested in helping each participant grow and succeed. Being part of ACORNS has been a valuable and motivating experience, and I would highly recommend it to any woman looking to grow her business alongside a supportive and driven community.
-Clara Mulligan, HomeBot Ireland
ACORNS has been an incredibly valuable experience for me, both personally and professionally. As the founder of a growing skincare brand, it can often feel like you are navigating challenges alone but ACORNS creates a space where you are understood, supported, and challenged in the right ways. The peer learning environment is one of the most powerful aspects of the programme. Being surrounded by ambitious women who are building and scaling businesses brings a level of honesty and insight that you simply can’t get elsewhere. It has helped me refine my thinking, make more confident decisions, and see my business from a wider, more strategic perspective. What I found particularly impactful was the balance between practical guidance and personal development. ACORNS doesn’t just focus on the business, it also supports the person behind it. That shift in mindset has been instrumental in how I approach growth, leadership, and long-term vision. I would highly recommend ACORNS to any female entrepreneur who is serious about growing their business while staying grounded, connected, and clear in their direction.
-Danilly Carvalho, IPERA
I am very grateful for the experience of being part of the ACORNS Programme. It was great to work on my goals, thinking them through and putting them on paper at the very beginning, and then going through them at the end of the cycle. I met so many amazing entrepreneurs and formed some valuable connections on different levels. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
Diana Markova, Gateway To Ireland Tours
Participating in the ACORNS 11 programme was highly beneficial for the development of my business, InnLyte. Having monthly roundtable sessions with a group of diverse founders sparked many new insights and aha moments. During the programme, I refined the strategy and goals for InnLyte. Paula and her team did an amazing job, and I truly enjoyed the residential forums and celebrations. I’m proud to be part of the ACORNS community, and I highly recommend the programme to other founders.
-Dee Stoppa, InnLyte.com
Taking part in the Acorns 11 programme has been a genuinely transformative experience for me, both personally and professionally. From the very beginning, I felt supported, challenged, and inspired by the calibre of people involved—Lead Entrepreneurs, organisers, and fellow participants alike. One of the most valuable aspects of the programme was the opportunity to step back and reflect on my business with fresh perspective. The structured sessions, combined with honest peer discussions, pushed me to think more strategically and with greater confidence. I found myself making decisions more decisively and with a clearer sense of direction. The peer network was another standout element. Being surrounded by like-minded entrepreneurs who are navigating similar challenges created a strong sense of community. The openness in sharing experiences, wins, and setbacks made the learning feel real and immediately applicable. It’s a network I know I’ll continue to rely on well beyond the programme.
-Eadaoin Curran Clarke, Curran Construction Services
Participating in ACORNS 11 has been one of the most valuable investments I’ve made in myself and in my business. It gave me the rare combination of structured accountability, honest peer support, and practical, immediately usable advice that I could bring straight back into my day‑to‑day work as a founder. From the very first meeting, I felt part of a network of ambitious, like‑minded women who understand both the opportunities and the pressures of building a business from rural Ireland. The roundtable format pushed me to clarify my goals, own my numbers, and take focused action between sessions, rather than simply “collecting” information. Each session built on the last, and I could see clear progress in my strategy, confidence, and decision‑making over the course of the programme. Our Lead Entrepreneur brought a wealth of experience but, more importantly, a very grounded, practical approach. The guidance I received on refining my value proposition, pricing, and routes to market has directly influenced how I now position and grow my business. I also came away with a toolkit of frameworks and questions I’ll keep using long after ACORNS 2026 has finished.
-Eimear McDonnell, Tiffy & Penguin
There is a magic to ACORNS that is unlike anything else I’ve encountered. It builds a community of fellow founders that stay with you long after the programme ends. It facilitates opportunities to ideate, hash it out and even vent in a safe space of women who genuinely want you to succeed. ACORNS is absolutely invaluable.
-Emer Magisha, Cyberminds
Rural entrepreneurship can be isolating, especially when you’re literally living in the field yet planning and piloting for the future of your business. ACORNS 11 gave me a peer group that understood the grit behind the Springfield Sanctuary concept. It pushed me to test my ‘Makers Corner’ craft and connect workshops at a local business, and then in my field studio this year helping to make our 13-acre project into a collaborative focused reality. I moved from concept on paper to registering as a farm with Teasgasc, starting the Leader and other funding applications and actually planting 1,000 trees in the ground. I have attended agroforestry training twice this year and have a 3 year plan for this land use as well as agrotourism offers. We have a formal live booking site on my website and plans to push for mini retreats with holistic partners. The 6 month meet up in October and the ACORNS Community will continue to give me a target to push forward on these goals new strategies for the summer and into the next years.
-Esther Gerrard, Springfield Sanctuary
ACORNS gave me the confidence, structure, and strategic thinking I needed to turn a strong idea into a real business. As a healthcare professional developing Next Steps Rehab and the RehabReady programme, I had the expertise and vision, but ACORNS helped me think like a business owner – about positioning, pricing, long-term growth, and much more!. The mentoring was practical, honest, and incredibly supportive, while the peer network made the journey feel far less isolating. What stood out most was being challenged to think bigger – to move from asking ‘Could this work?’ to planning ‘How do I make this work well and at scale?’ It has been a genuinely transformative experience, and I would strongly encourage any woman starting or growing a rural business to take part.
-Geraldine O’Callaghan, Next Steps Rehab
The ACORNS Programme gave me something I didn’t realise I needed – a space to be completely honest about my business, analyse and critique it. The conversations were open, supportive, and genuinely impactful. Over the programme, I rebranded my business, built stronger foundations behind the scenes, and moved from feeling unsure to feeling confident and proud. It’s been a transformative experience.
-Jane Browne, Telltale Podcast Management
ACORNS 11 was an absolute rollercoaster for me in the best possible way. I went into the programme with an open mind and honestly didn’t know what to expect. I was placed into a group where I didn’t know anyone, including our Lead Entrepreneur, but that quickly changed. Over time, we built amazing connections and became each other’s allies, supporting and encouraging one another every step of the way. We were able to speak openly about the struggles and challenges we were all going through, which made such a difference and reminded us that we were not alone. ACORNS 11 definitely put me on the right path. It helped me define my goals, made me accountable for taking action, and gave me the confidence to take the next step in my business. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me turn my thoughts into actions. Today, I can honestly say I see a brighter future and a much clearer path ahead of me. I’m so grateful for the experience, the support, and the people I met along the journey.
-Judit McNally, cocoabyjudit
Taking part in ACORNS 11 has been an incredibly valuable experience for me both personally and professionally. The programme provided encouragement, practical guidance, and a supportive network of inspiring female entrepreneurs who truly understood the challenges of building a business in rural Ireland. Through the mentoring and workshops, I gained greater confidence in my abilities, clearer direction for my business, and the motivation to think bigger about what I can achieve. The support and connections I made through ACORNS have had a lasting impact, and I would highly recommend the programme to any woman looking to grow her business in a positive and empowering environment.
-Julie Kennedy Fogarty, Julie Kennedy Fogarty Children’s Author
When I applied for ACORNS 11, I was already trading, already growing, but I was doing it largely alone. What ACORNS gave me was something no business course or online programme had managed to: a room full of women who genuinely understood the journey, led by someone who had walked it herself. From the residential forum in Mullingar to the monthly round tables, every session challenged me, grounded me and reminded me that every small step forward still counts as progress. The Lead Entrepreneur model is what sets ACORNS apart. It’s not mentorship at arm’s length, it’s real, honest, human guidance. If you are a rural female entrepreneur who is ready to grow but needs the right people around you to do it; ACORNS is exactly that.
-Katie Corbett, KADA Management
I partook in the ACORNS programme after my second maternity leave. I really needed a structure as a self employed business owner and really benefit from meeting like-minded female entrepreneurs at a similar stage in life and business development. We were facing similar challenges and supported each other professionally and personally throughout the programme. I am delighted to now be collaborating with another business from the programme and I hope to continue to grow this network more in the future.
-Kate Costello, Narrator & Co.
I would highly recommend the ACORNS programme to any female entrepreneur looking to grow and strengthen their business. One of the most valuable aspects for me was the opportunity to connect with other women who truly understood the day-to-day realities and challenges of running a business. The programme provided a safe and supportive space to step back from the daily pressures and think more strategically. I gained practical insights, particularly around staffing and running a business in a rural area, which I have already started applying. The Lead Entrepreneurs were excellent—especially in how they combined empathy with clear, logical guidance that helped make complex challenges feel more manageable. Overall, ACORNS gave me greater confidence, clarity, and structure in how I run my business, and I would strongly encourage others to take part.
-Katie Naughton, Katie Naughton Safety (KNS)
ACORNS has done exactly what it claims to do in that it has accelerated the growth of my business and opened up so many doors for me. It is a privilege to be part of such a supportive community and to feel that I have a team rooting for me in this world of self-employment that I am trying to navigate my way through.
-Katie Tuite, Empower Dyslexia
I learned so much more about myself and my business from joining ACORNS, the support and mentorship I received were invaluable and I truly enjoyed the experience.
-Kelly O’Rourke, Kelly O’Rourke
My experience of ACORNS has been incredibly valuable, both personally and for my business. What really set it apart was the combination of accountability and access to people who are actively building businesses themselves. At an early stage, it’s very easy to get stuck being busy without actually making progress. The structure of setting clear goals each month, and knowing I would be coming back to report on them, forced me to focus on what actually moves the business forward. That accountability created real momentum. Each session also brought a level of clarity that translated directly into action. I wasn’t just leaving with ideas, I was leaving with decisions and executing on them. Over time, that cycle of clarity, action, and results has had a tangible impact on how I operate. Being surrounded by people with different skill sets and real experience made a huge difference. The advice and insights were practical, relevant, and immediately useful, which helped me avoid going down the wrong path at key moments. For me, ACORNS hasn’t just been supportive, it has driven real, measurable progress in my business, and that’s what makes it so valuable.
-Laura Richards, Postitlocal
Taking part in ACORNS has been an incredibly valuable experience for my business. It gave me the opportunity to step out of the day-to-day and work on my business rather than in it, exploring all areas in a structured and supportive way. Being self-employed can often feel challenging, trying to be everything to everyone, so it was incredibly valuable to connect with so many women facing similar experiences. The guidance from the Lead Entrepreneur, combined with the shared insights of the group, created a space for open honest conversation, learning, support and guidance. It also opened up my network and gave me the opportunity to build meaningful connections with other women in business, which has been invaluable.
-Leanne McGrath, Virtually Leanne
ACORNS gave me the tribe I so desperately needed. There are so many programmes that sound good on paper but in reality are of little practical benefit. ACORNS gave me so much more than I expected both personally and professionally. Growing any business is lonely but for female entrepreneurs in rural areas it can feel like nobody gets it and the barriers are endless. ACORNS gave me the network that constantly saves me time and money. Honest, hardworking women who want me to succeed and avoid mistakes along the way.
Maria Behan Doyle, Retain Grow
Joining ACORNS was a turning point for my business. Scaling a rural manufacturing start-up can feel isolating, but this programme connects you with a powerhouse of female entrepreneurs who truly understand the journey. The peer-led support and collective wisdom gave me the confidence to grow my production and successfully secure listings with major retailers like SuperValu. For any woman growing a business in rural Ireland, ACORNS is an invaluable resource that turns ambition into real-world action.
-Meg Muir, Renegade Trading
I found the whole experience from start to finish inspiring and yet extremely practical. The whole programme is designed with female rural entrepreneurs in mind. It is extremely encouraging and will fuel ambition to go further. I now have my ACORNS family and am delighted to give and receive as part of that.
-Michelle Daly Hayes, Marketingbase.ie
The ACORNS programme has been an incredibly valuable experience for both my business and my personal development. One of the most impactful aspects for me was the shift in mindset. I started Soul Stuff Adventures as a hobby and never initially intended for it to become a business so the imposter syndrome was very real for me. Through the roundtable sessions, and the support and encouragement of the other women in my group, I’ve developed a much stronger sense of confidence and belief in myself as a business owner. The peer support throughout the programme was invaluable – having a group of women to share experiences with made the journey feel far less isolating. I would highly recommend ACORNS to anyone looking to grow their business in a supportive, practical, and encouraging environment.
-Sarah Casey, Soul Stuff Adventures
My experience with ACORNS was extremely positive and rewarding. The group of people in our cycle felt almost handpicked — a wonderful mix of supportive, motivated, and like-minded individuals who learned so much from one another throughout the programme. Our Lead Entrepreneur was truly inspiring, approachable, and always available to talk through any aspect of business. She created an environment where you felt comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, and gaining valuable guidance. The monthly accountability to have goals achieved and progress made was one of the most beneficial parts of the programme for me. It kept me focused, motivated, and moving my business forward. Meeting other entrepreneurs and building connections with people on a similar journey was also incredibly valuable. I would highly recommend ACORNS to anyone considering taking part. It was hugely beneficial for me, and it gave me a real boost in confidence as both a business owner and entrepreneur.
-Sinead Cooper, Serene Beauty & Wellness
ACORNS came at exactly the right time for me. I was still in the very early stages of building my business and it gave me structure, confidence and a space to step back and think more strategically about where I wanted to take it. The community side of it was probably the most valuable part for me. Being around other women building businesses, all at different stages, made the whole process feel far less isolating. I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone starting or growing a business.
-Siobhan Gannon, The ImagiNation
As the founder of TAM – a newly established marketing agency in Co. Mayo – ACORNS came at exactly the right time for me. It gave me time to focus on getting clarity around my business, the monthly meet up and accountability forced me to stay focused and keep moving the business forward. The peer group, honest conversations and advice with other female entrepreneurs who understood the realities of building a business in rural Ireland. It was motivating, practical and reassuring, and I would highly recommend ACORNS to any woman looking to grow her business in rural Ireland.
– Tracy Armstrong, TAM