Background: Barry's entrepreneurial journey began with the founding of Nifty Nosh in 2007, a pioneering online takeaway food ordering service co-founded with his brother. The venture quickly gained traction, boasting around 300 outlets across Northern Ireland and a user base of over 60,000 people. The success of Nifty Nosh attracted significant investment from angel investors and entrepreneurial backers.

In 2015, Nifty Nosh achieved a major milestone by being acquired by the stock market-listed rival, Just Eat.

Currently serving as the Director and Co-founder of Gig Grafter, Barry is once again at the forefront of innovation. Gig Grafter, a web and mobile workforce management application helping businesses overcoming staffing challenges. The genesis of Gig Grafter emerged from Barry's first-hand experiences managing casual staff during the Nifty Nosh project.

Our host Susan O'Kane, works for the British Business Bank, the UK Government’s economic development bank, as Senior Manager for Northern Ireland within the UK Network Team.  In her role she works with funding delivery partners, business development agencies and other organisations across the small business finance ecosystem to improve access to financial support. Her remit also includes working with local finance markets to shape the British Business Bank’s support for smaller businesses and to help inform government policy.  Prior to taking up her position in British Business Bank a year ago Susan spent 23 years in Danske Bank in various roles largely aligned to business banking, including managing the bank’s suite of business products, aiding the mobilisation of Government Loan Schemes during the pandemic and supporting early-stage technology businesses during her time in Danske’s Fintech Hub

In this open conversation with Barry Lynch, Susan  will delve into various aspects of his start-up journey. Topics to be covered include:

1. Establishing Your Business:
• Things to watch out for in the early stages.
• Understanding the nuances of the start-up landscape.
2. Finance and Funding:
• The availability of finance for start-ups.
• The value of securing the right financial support from the outset.
• Insights into angel investment and alternative finance options.
3. The Exit Process:
• Navigating the exit process successfully.
• Lessons learned from the exit journey with Nifty Nosh.
4. Starting Again:
• The decision to embark on a new start-up journey.
• Challenges and opportunities in starting afresh.
• Building on prior experiences for continued success.
5. Co-founder Dynamics:
• The dynamics of a successful co-founder relationship.
• Balancing professional and personal aspects in business.

Who Should Attend: A must-attend event for aspiring entrepreneurs, founders, and anyone keen on gaining insights into the highs and lows of start-up life. Whether you're looking to launch your own venture, secure funding, or navigate the complexities of co-founder relationships, Barry's experiences and advice will provide valuable perspectives, alongside Susans knowledge of accessing finance as a small businesses.