Let’s Get Networking’ Cross-border Structured Networking event with guest speaker, Grainne Kelly, Entrepreneur and Creator of Bubblebum Wednesday, 25th April in An Grianan Hotel, Burt

Grainne Kelly, CEO BubbleBum with Rosemary Lyons, Enterprise Officer, Inishowen Development Partnership

Grainne Kelly, CEO and inventor of BubbleBum, the world’s first inflatable car booster seat, was the keynote speaker at a unique cross-border networking event being held in Donegal.  The Derry born entrepreneur, who has won numerous awards for her innovative product, will describe how she took a great idea and turned it into a successful business in less than a year. The free seminar, which was organised by the Enhancing Women’s Entrepreneurship (EWE) programme, an initiative of Donegal County Enterprise Board.

Grainne started her career as a Quantity Surveyor before opening up her own successful travel business which she ran for 16 years.  A mother of two boys, she had the idea for Bubblebum in 2009 while making frequent trips between Derry and England to visit a sick relative.  After being stranded at an Airport without a car seat, she proceeded to solve the problem not only for herself but for all other parents who are faced with the same issue.  Grainne developed an inflatable seat that could be packed and taken on holiday.  She took her idea from concept to shelf in 9 months and within 18 months the product was being sold in more than 20 countries.

Since then BubbleBum has grown rapidly with Asda & Toys r Us being the latest large chain to sign up as a retailer.  Grainne has also won numerous awards, including finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011, the Ulster Bank Business Achiever Award All Island 2011, Belfast Telegraph Business Woman of the Year Award 2010 and the Mother and Baby Magazine ‘Best Travel Product’ Award.

Following Grainne’s presentation at the free event there was a networking session providing an opportunity for attendees to meet with like-minded small business owners in a series of structured fifteen minute meetings.  The event will provide an unrivalled platform to network, share experiences and develop new business opportunities with organisations from throughout the cross border region including members of the Donegal Women in Business Network, the Derry Women in Enterprise network and participants of the EWE programme.