Business Expertise & Experience

Training focused on specific Outputs

  • Donnchadh Hughes

    Donnchadh Hughes

    Business Advisor, Mentor & Trainer

    Donncha has over 10 years direct consultancy experience working with startups and microenterprise in Ireland. He is an expert in Business Model Canvas, Marketing, Self Employment in Ireland, Financial Projections and Business Plan and Tender Preparation.

On-demand Training to meet your Goals

Works great on phone - scroll to check out 9 programme offering practical guidance on key business issues for Startups and Small Business

Business Model Canvas

Guidance on completing the 9 building blocks

This 75-minute self-paced video-based programme will guide you to complete a Business Model Canvas. This will help to focus your business planning efforts - clarify how and why your business will be successful
Enroll for Free
Business Model Canvas

Writing your Business Plan

Use a Template to Prepare your Document

After taking this 150-minute video lesson programme, participants will be able to write a professional business plan to meet their objectives whether that be to raise bank finance, attract investment or to accompany grant and support applications to LEO, LEADER or Enterprise Ireland.
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Writing your Business Plan

Financial Projections for Local Business

Excel template for Cashflow, P&L and Balance Sheet

After taking this 60 minute video lesson programme, participants will understand how to use the provided Excel template to create integrated Cashflow, Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet projections for 3 years for their business.
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 Financial Projections for Local Business

Financial Projections for SaaS Business

Excel template for Cashflow, P&L and Balance Sheet

This self paced programme is specifically for SaaS or subscription based pricing models. The revenue model factors in churn and customer retention and looks at factors like tranched investment. It is independent to the Local Business Financial projection programme but would be a nice follow on programme. The self paced programme is entirely self contained - it uses a different and probably more sophisticated revenue model but is equally user friendly.
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 Financial Projections for SaaS Business

New Frontiers Phase 2

Application Form Section by Section

After taking this 60 minute video lesson programme, participants will understand how to complete the New Frontiers Phase 2 application form in order to represent the full potential of the business.
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New Frontiers Phase 2

Complete Your Lean Canvas

Free to enroll - instructions on completing the 9 building blocks

This one hour FREE video based workshop addresses how to complete a Lean Canvas for your startup business.
Register Free
Complete Your Lean Canvas

Introduction to Pitching

Free to Enroll - 6 Step Process to Create and Deliver an Effective Pitch

The 30-minute FREE video-based workshop focuses on both Sales and Investment pitches. The 3 modules address: Pre Pitch Preparation, Crafting your Message and Pitch Delivery.
Free to Enroll
Introduction to Pitching

Introduction to Tendering for Small Business

Winning public procurement contracts in Ireland

This 40-minute FREE video-based workshop provides Ten Top Tips for Tendering Success for SMEs
Free to Enroll
Introduction to Tendering for Small Business

Reviews by Online Programme Participants

  • Writing your Business Plan is an Excellent Course

    By Ailish Irvine

    February 2020 -. As someone who has completed many online courses, I want to say how much I really enjoyed the course. This is a wonderful and practical overview of the whole process of writing a business plan. Very easy to understand and broken ...

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    February 2020 -. As someone who has completed many online courses, I want to say how much I really enjoyed the course. This is a wonderful and practical overview of the whole process of writing a business plan. Very easy to understand and broken down in manageable modules. I would say that it teaches business planning and more. I'm now excited about doing the financial projections one, (Something I never thought I would say).

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  • A superb source of info for the CSF application.

    By Glenda Hahn

    July 2019 - this course was brilliant. It focused on all the areas that needed clarification and helped me immensely in applying for the female entrepreneurship call. Don’t hesitate to do this!

    July 2019 - this course was brilliant. It focused on all the areas that needed clarification and helped me immensely in applying for the female entrepreneurship call. Don’t hesitate to do this!

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  • This course is the very minimum you should do to get the CSF funding

    By Lorcan Mcneela

    I had tried to apply to the CSF twice and I was rejected twice before I found Donnchadh online, I contacted him and explained the situation and he immediately knew I had a good case, the problem was I just wasn't presenting it properly. https://Ea...

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    I had tried to apply to the CSF twice and I was rejected twice before I found Donnchadh online, I contacted him and explained the situation and he immediately knew I had a good case, the problem was I just wasn't presenting it properly. https://Eatstro.com is the name of my company, we deliver healthy meal-kits all over Ireland. Donnchadh pointed me in the direction of his invaluable CSF course which I followed. He very kindly reviewed my application before I submitted it and this time it was approved to pitch. We spoke by phone at length about the pitch I wrote and he was very happy with the answers we'd written for the potential questions. Donnachadh also gave us some more questions we hadn't thought of and lucky he did because they came up during the pitch. Overall we wouldn't have gotten the CSF without the help of Donnchadh's course. Thanks again for all the help Donnchadh and if anyone wants to discuss my CSF experience Donnchadh can forward on my contact details, Best, Lorcan M.

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  • Comprehensive step-by-step guide to the CSF application process

    By Roisin Kelly

    This course is very helpful when preparing a CSF application. It's straight to the point, professionally delivered and uses practical examples throughout to emphasize key points. If you're looking for a comprehensive step-by-step guide to the CSF ...

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    This course is very helpful when preparing a CSF application. It's straight to the point, professionally delivered and uses practical examples throughout to emphasize key points. If you're looking for a comprehensive step-by-step guide to the CSF application process, then I'd recommend this course. Additionally, Donncha is always happy to answer any questions and he responds promptly with insightful answers as he understands the urgency. If you're thinking of applying for the CSF but not sure where to start, then this course is definitely for you.

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  • Excellent Pitching course

    By Dan King

    A short and very beneficial course. All content clear and easy to get a grasp of.

    A short and very beneficial course. All content clear and easy to get a grasp of.

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  • Phase Two Workshop - Recommended

    By Bob Delaney

    Donnchadh has provided a comprehensive and detailed breakdown of the Phase 2 application. What originally seemed daunting and overwhelming now looks stimulating and achievable. Recommended

    Donnchadh has provided a comprehensive and detailed breakdown of the Phase 2 application. What originally seemed daunting and overwhelming now looks stimulating and achievable. Recommended

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  • Helpful and easy to follow video series for creating financial projections

    By davin kelly

    Creating financial projections was an area of my business plan I was struggling with. This course really helped me by going through cash flow, profit and loss, and balance sheets in an easy to follow video series. I would highly recommend the cour...

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    Creating financial projections was an area of my business plan I was struggling with. This course really helped me by going through cash flow, profit and loss, and balance sheets in an easy to follow video series. I would highly recommend the course to anyone who's finding their financial projections difficult to figure out.

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  • The must-have companion guide for anyone applying to New Frontiers Phase 2

    By Roisin Kelly

    The course really helped me to plan out my answers to each section of the New Frontiers Phase 2 application form. Packed with great practical examples and best practices, it's the must-have companion guide for anyone applying to New Frontiers Phas...

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    The course really helped me to plan out my answers to each section of the New Frontiers Phase 2 application form. Packed with great practical examples and best practices, it's the must-have companion guide for anyone applying to New Frontiers Phase 2. As a bonus, Donncha is always happy to answer any questions and it's very clear that he is a subject matter expert when it comes to formulating such applications. I'd highly recommend it to anyone applying for New Frontiers Phase 2 and I'm 100% certain that this course was the reason I got shortlisted for Phase 2. Definitely worth it.

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  • Intro To Tendering

    By Patrick Mc Garvey

    I found the Tendering for Small Business course a very beneficial introduction to the whole process, delivered in an excellent format and very user friendly. I will definitely be recommending it.

    I found the Tendering for Small Business course a very beneficial introduction to the whole process, delivered in an excellent format and very user friendly. I will definitely be recommending it.

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  • Great insight into preparing financial projections

    By Roisin Kelly

    Having come from a zero-experience background in preparing financial projections, this course helped me to get to grips with the financial aspects of my business plan. Donncha was on hand to help me out and answer any questions I had throughout th...

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    Having come from a zero-experience background in preparing financial projections, this course helped me to get to grips with the financial aspects of my business plan. Donncha was on hand to help me out and answer any questions I had throughout this course. I'd definitely recommend this course to anyone looking for a solid starting point on how to understand and prepare financial projections for their business.

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  • Super Helpful

    By Caroline Birch

    I met Donncha prior to purchasing the course and am absolutely thrilled I did so. Working with the videos in tandem to filling out the CSF application was incredibly helpful. The application itself doesn't seem to complicated until you start reali...

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    I met Donncha prior to purchasing the course and am absolutely thrilled I did so. Working with the videos in tandem to filling out the CSF application was incredibly helpful. The application itself doesn't seem to complicated until you start realising the word count on each section makes it incredibly difficult to say everything you need to say. The course helped with this - making sure the application contained everything required to get the attention of those who would be reviewing. Would definitely recommend this course to anyone looking for help in applying for CSF.

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  • If financials are your weak point, this course is just what you need

    By Denise O'Connell

    After finishing the New Frontiers programme, I realised that I needed support with financial projections. Donncha walks you through all the cash flow, profit and loss and balance sheets in a straightforward, user friendly way. The course can be ta...

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    After finishing the New Frontiers programme, I realised that I needed support with financial projections. Donncha walks you through all the cash flow, profit and loss and balance sheets in a straightforward, user friendly way. The course can be taken as your own pace, and will give you the confidence to take on your own projections for applying for LEO grants- would highly recommend this course

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