WEALTH October 6, 2025 0 Comments

How ACORNS’ Unexpected Nomination Could Change the Game for European Entrepreneurs Forever

What’s the secret sauce behind turning rural female entrepreneurs into unstoppable business forces? Well, if you hadn’t heard, ACORNS—the game-changing business development program rooted in the Irish countryside—is grabbing some serious spotlight, having snagged a nomination for the European Enterprise Promotion Awards. These aren’t just any honors; ACORNS is in the thick of the Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills category at one of Europe’s most elite SME gatherings in Copenhagen this November. Imagine that: a program where peer learning and real-world wisdom fuse to push 550+ women’s revenues up by an average of over 50% in just six months! That’s not small change—it’s a €9.8 million boost across ten cycles, backed by hard data from the sharp minds at DCU Business School. As someone who’s been in the trenches of entrepreneurship and digital marketing for decades, I can tell you this kind of recognition is a big deal. It means the model works—and maybe, just maybe, it’s a blueprint the rest of the world should be keen to copy. Curious? You should be. LEARN MORE

ACORNS, the business development programme for female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland, has been nominated for honours at the European Enterprise Promotion Awards.

The initiative has been shortlisted at European level in the Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills category.

It had already been selected as Ireland’s national entry to the awards earlier this year.

The overall winner will be announced at a prize-giving event at the SME Assembly in Copenhagen in November.

The SME Assembly is the most significant event for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe.

ACORNS’ case for honours was bolstered earlier this year by an analysis of the initiative by researchers at DCU Business School, which found that, over the past ten years, the revenues of 550 ACORNS participants rose by an average of 51% during their participation in the six-month ACORNS programme.

Combined end-of-cycle revenues for 550 ACORNS participants amounted to €29m, representing a total increase in revenues of €9.8m across all ten cycles of the programme.

Paula Fitzsimons, Director of ACORNS, said: “Everyone involved in ACORNS is absolutely delighted to have the initiative shortlisted at European level for a European Enterprise Award, Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills.

“We are about to begin the eleventh year of the initiative and know the benefit that the 550 + rural based female entrepreneurs have received from their participation over the years.

“It is our pleasure to see the initiative spotlighted at European level, as we believe that other countries can benefit from adopting a similar approach.

“We look forward to the announcement of the winner at the SME Assembly in Copenhagen in November.”

ACORNS is based on the belief that early-stage entrepreneurs learn best from their peers.

Participants interact with each other in the monthly round table sessions, which are facilitated by a Lead Entrepreneur, who has first-hand experience of starting and successfully growing a business in rural Ireland.

There is no charge for those selected to participate in ACORNS, thanks to the continuing support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the voluntary contribution of time by the Lead Entrepreneurs.

To-date, since 2014, some 550 participants have completed a cycle of ACORNS, with more than half continuing to avail themselves of support through their membership of the ACORNS Community.