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ICYMI we had a truly epic week last week starting out on tenderhooks as we waited to hear the news of not one, but two huge accolodes for our co-founder Mary McKenna. Mary was shortlisted for both Europe Female Angel Investor of the Year by Business Angels Netzwerk Deutschland e.V. (BAND) & Business Angels Europe followed the next day in London by the United Kingdom British Business Angel Association overall Business Angel of the Year. She only went and did it - on both ocassions and Mary is now gone from a living legend to what will be a history maker in the annals of time in the world of angel investing.

Blood pressures were high and nerves were shot as we waited for the results to come in but what joy and pride to be there to celebrate Mary and all that she has done and continues to do for women founders and in democratising and demistifying the world of angel investing for all.

It has been a rollercoaster of a Spring Summer as Team AwakenHub have traversed Europe and been to the NYC for the second time in 2023 building momentum for AwakenAngels and telling the world about the incredible women founders we have as part of AwakenHub and our private online founders community AwakenClub. This last week was the perfect way to celebrate AwakenHub’s third birthday.

We met with our friends in the Irish Embassy in Berlin who couldn’t have been prouder of the fact Mary was shortlisted for the awards taking place later that day, not to mind say going on to win.

It would have been rude to not meet up with some of the Irish diaspora business community so had a very welcome few hours with IBN Berlin contingent who could not have been more welcoming.

Wednesday afternoon saw Mary attend and speak at Business Angels Netzwerk Deutschland e.V. (BAND) along with c100 mostly women business angels and founders. It was a delight to behold to spend some much time in a room full of so many women angels. As we looked around all we could think was - this time next year we will have a room full of mostly women angels living on the island of Ireland. So on we go.

Team AwakenHub made a super quick turnaround back to London the next day to be at the UK Business Angels Association Awards and albeit we dreamed about it, couldn’t quite believe it when Mary McKenna’s name was announced as overall Business Angel of the Year.

Abu Mary.

Full Press Release below.

Monday, 10 July 2023.

Serial entrepreneur and angel investor Mary McKenna smashes glass ceiling as first Northern Ireland based and first time double honoree as Europe Female Angel Investor of the Year and UK British Angel Investor of the Year 2023.

Mary McKenna MBE, a well known serial tech entrepreneur and angel investor based in Northern Ireland, has received prestigious accolades as both the Europe Female Angel Investor of the Year awarded in Berlin last week by Business Angels Netzwerk Deutschland e.V. (BAND) & Business Angels Europe followed the next day in London as the United Kingdom British Business Angel Association overall Angel Investor of the Year 2023 recognising her outstanding contributions to the startup ecosystem.

Mary is the first person to win both awards in the same year and the first ever person to win from Northern Ireland. The European and UK angel investment communities have acknowledged Mary McKenna's exceptional commitment to supporting and empowering early-stage ventures by backing women founders and many impact businesses. With a remarkable track record in nurturing innovative startups and driving economic growth, McKenna has solidified her reputation as a prominent figure in the investment landscape via the recent launch of AwakenAngels.

As Europe Female Angel Investor of the Year, McKenna shows unwavering dedication to fostering diversity and inclusivity within the startup ecosystem. She has consistently championed the cause of women entrepreneurs, investing in female-led companies and actively advocating for gender equity in the industry. Her steadfast support has paved the way for numerous founders across the island of Ireland and is inspiring a new generation of innovators across the continent.

In addition to her European recognition, McKenna has been named the UK British Angel Investor of the Year, further highlighting her outstanding contributions to the UK startup scene and her commitment to working with women founders in Northern Ireland. Her investments have fueled the growth of numerous high-potential ventures, propelling job creation and economic development with a recent exit from Northern Ireland based Elemental (a women-led social prescribing software company based in Derry).

"I am humbled and deeply honored to be named both Europe Female Angel Investor of the Year and UK British Angel Investor of the Year, not to say that it should happen within a 24 hour period." said Mary McKenna. "These awards are a testament to the incredible work being done by entrepreneurs and angel investors. I accept these awards on behalf of all women angels everywhere working from the ground up to change the environment for women founders and investors. I firmly believe that investing in early-stage companies and providing mentorship is crucial for building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. I am committed to continuing my efforts in supporting and empowering talented founders, particularly women, as they shape the future of innovation through my work with my co-founders at AwakenHub and AwakenAngels."

McKenna's achievements have garnered widespread recognition and admiration from industry experts, entrepreneurs, and fellow investors alike and solidify her position as a trailblazer in the investment community.

Mary has dedicated much of her time over the last 3 years to social enterprise, AwakenHub, as part of an all women co-founder team including McKenna, Clare McGee (Derry), Denise McQuaid (originally from Co. Louth), Mary Carty (Roscommon) and Sinead Crowley (Cork). AwakenHub is a registered social enterprise with an impact mission to remove barriers to investment, scale and success for women founders, regardless of their sector or location on the island of Ireland. Fast forward to its third birthday which coincided with Mary’s double header awards last week, and the community now has in excess of 3,000 women founders at all stages on their journey. AwakenHub has had a number of firsts since its inception:

- first all island community focused on changing the landscape for women founders

- first cross-border accelerator programme for early stage women founders (SheGenerate) now open for applications for its third cohort.

The same team has recently launched AwakenAngels which is the first ever all island and women-led (not women only) angel investor syndicate. If that wasn’t enough AwakenAngels aims to democratise the investor landscape by providing a wraparound angel community including other seasoned investors, access to 9 modules of angel training and investment as part of the syndicate starting at a game changing 2k (£/Euro/$).

AwakenHub is proudly supported by partners: AIB, Taylor Wessing, Ulster Bank NI, British Business Bank, Ulster University, QUBIS, WIBNI, Catalyst, Open University, Donegal County Council, Causeway & Glens Council & MAP Digital.

AwakenAngels has partnered with British Business Bank and InterTrade Ireland to increase the number of first time women angel investors on the island of Ireland and Expressions of Interest are now open for both completely new and seasoned investors to join the AwakenAngels syndicate. A limited number of first time women angels can also apply for sponsored access to a full suite of angel training via AwakenAcademy due to start in September 2023.

Interested founders looking to raise pre-seed funding or angels can get more information via www.awakenhub.com/awakenangels .

For media inquiries or to request an interview with Mary McKenna, please email hello@awakenhub.com

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