From the Bin to a Multi-Million Exit: Mary McKenna on Angel Investing, Female Founders, and Scaling Tech Beyond Borders

In this episode of Trading Up, recorded live at the Tech Tides Conference in Derry, Jim Fitzpatrick sits down with renowned technology entrepreneur, active angel investor, and Awaken Angels co-founder Mary McKenna. Mary shares the remarkable origin story of how retrieving a discarded government memorandum from a London co-working bin sparked Learning Pool - a multi-million-pound edtech enterprise that helped kickstart the Northwest tech ecosystem.

She reflects on her pivot from enterprise founder to angel investor, managing a 45-company portfolio with five successful exits, including two on a single day.

Mary details the vital work of Awaken Hub and Awaken Angels in tackling the early-stage funding deficit for female founders, while offering strategic advice on scaling internationally, tapping into vibrant Irish-American investor networks, and sharpening sales execution.

To conclude, she explains why ambitious tech entrepreneurs must pursue rapid revenue growth rather than waiting on local government support to deliver results.

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