2022 Innovation Award Winner to Lead Entrepreneurial Summit in Belfast
A winner of the Women in Innovation Award 2022, Shannon Beattie will address Entrepreneurs, Investors and Advisors in Belfast on 29 September at a Ready Steady Grow 2022 event being hosted by the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA).
As the UK faces major economic challenges and looks towards new growth businesses to help regenerate the economy through the levelling up agenda, the EISA is bringing together entrepreneurs, start-up and SME investors, wealth managers and business advisers to meet and share knowledge on funding opportunities for entrepreneurs and the latest developments in the EIS industry.
Dr Shannon Beattie is the CEO of GenoME Diagnostics, which used the EIS to attract private investment into world leading research into early testing of ovarian cancer. GenoME is a shining example of the importance of the EIS and SEIS in growing entrepreneurship in a critical sector.
The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Seed Scheme (SEIS), are recognised as extremely valuable in ensuring the UK has a thriving start up culture. The schemes help entrepreneurs secure crucial investment by attracting initial equity funding for growth businesses from private investors. Since the schemes were launched, over £27billion has been invested in more than 52,000 businesses.
Shannon Beattie commented, ‘The support of the EIS investors who showed confidence in our research has allowed GenoME to continue our technical development and begin commercialisation of our lead product. Continued EIS support is allowing our business to grow and scale, by further developing our ovarian cancer test, beginning development in new disease areas, creating new job opportunities and expanding our market traction. At a time that the pandemic has adversely impacted early identification of cancers, and with high pressures on the NHS, enabling the development of early detection tests is critically important.'
Director General of the EISA Christiana Stewart-Lockhart commented, “Belfast is a growing centre for investment and entrepreneurship. Since 2018, £42m has been invested into Northern Irish companies through the EIS and SEIS, and at the EISA we are keen to put a spotlight on key areas outside of the South East. That’s why we are delighted to be bringing together small businesses, investors, financial advisors, entrepreneurs, and business advisers – all in one place to hear from leading entrepreneurs, like Shannon Beattie, and SME industry experts.”
The event will be held at The Mac, 10 Exchange Street West, Belfast on 29 September, starting with the technical seminar at 16:30, and followed by a networking reception at 17:30.