At the core of everything we do, is our commitment to finding and supporting people with innovative ideas to solve social problems.
Our Impact
When founded in 2004, SEI was the first organisation in Ireland explicitly dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurs. Since then, SEI has supported more than 550 social entrepreneurs across the country who are championing and driving solutions in areas such as mental health, housing, the environment and education.
SEI alumni have directly impacted the lives of millions of people throughout Ireland and have contributed significantly to creating employment opportunities.
100
+
Social entrepreneurs supported in 2021 alone
550
+
Social entrepreneurs and organisations supported by SEI to date
13
M+
Over 13 million in direct funding and pro bono supports provided
500
K
Five hundred thousand yearly average of pro bono expertise
Meet our social entrepreneurs
Annette Josephine Mulvihill & Lisa Sherringham,
HAPPY C.A.F.E
September 8, 2022
Aoife Cahill & Claire Donnelly,
Building Blocks Child Development
November 16, 2022
AlumniDublinEducationEthnic CommunitiesIdeas AcademyLeinster
A platform that equips and empowers college students and young adults from ethnic minorities to grow in every area of their lives.Esther Adesemowo and Favor Weyimi-Oboyo are the founders of…
Eabha Harper-McKeeverSeptember 2, 2022
Action LabAlumniChildren and Young PeopleCommunityCorkEducationHealthIdeas AcademyMunster
Vampire Cup is a student-run initiative which aims to increase information availability and participation rates of blood donation.Glenn Curtin is the founder of Vampire Cup SECTOR Children and Young People Education…
Sophie AinscoughJuly 12, 2022
AlumniDublinIdeas AcademyLeinsterSupport Services
Creating a nationwide online community for those suffering or in recovery from addiction.Claire Donegan is the founder of Meloria SECTOR Support Services COUNTY Dublin REGION Leinster WEBSITE SEI JOURNEY Ideas…
Eabha Harper-McKeeverOctober 7, 2022
AlumniCorkEnvironmentIdeas AcademyMunster
Empowering women by combating underrepresentation, promoting self-confidence and inclusivity and ensuring women feel valued and visible in their own stories.Sharon Huggard is the founder of Get in the Picture SECTOR…
Eabha Harper-McKeeverSeptember 27, 2024
Action LabAlumniChildren and Young PeopleDublinEducationIdeas AcademyLeinsterMental Health and Wellbeing
The Little Fitness programme is inclusive for all children and families living in emergency accommodation, family hubs and where children may come up against barriers within their community. The programme…
Eabha Harper-McKeeverFebruary 27, 2023
Action LabActive CitizenshipAlumniHealthIdeas AcademyMunsterNationalWaterford
The Midlife Women Rock Project aims to open taboo conversations and remove stigma and silence around the menopause. Breeda Bermingham is the founder of Mid-Life Women Rock Project. SECTOR Active Citizenship Health COUNTY Waterford REGION…
Sophie AinscoughJanuary 10, 2022
AlumniChildren and Young PeopleConnachtGalwayHealthIdeas Academy
A project aimed at fostering physical activity and encouraging healthy eating habits among school children by establishing afterschool clubs in primary schools.Saintuya Dashdondog is the founder of Improving Physical Activity…
Lucy BarlowOctober 2, 2023
AlumniIdeas AcademyKildareLeinsterSupport Services
A project that makes a car and sponsor available for learner drivers who, due to family circumstances and/or financial constraints, do not have a car to practice driving in.Cliodhna and…
Eabha Harper-McKeeverOctober 28, 2022
AlumniIdeas AcademyLeinsterSupport ServicesWaterford
An Occupational Therapy supported service that enables people with mental health issues access community spaces that promote physical activity, social engagement and wellbeing.Niamh Gibney and Una Belton are the founders…
Eabha Harper-McKeeverOctober 2, 2023
AlumniDublinEthnic CommunitiesHealthIdeas AcademyLeinster
Hosting small group sessions which aim to increase health literacy amongst Ireland's refugee populations.Matt Casey and Fionn Donnelly are co-founders of Tar Isteach SECTOR Health Ethnic Communities COUNTY Dublin REGION…
Eabha Harper-McKeeverOctober 11, 2022
Action LabActive CitizenshipAlumniEmploymentGalwayIdeas AcademyMental Health and Wellbeing
Working with the criminally convicted to develop a portfolio of ‘commitment to change’ while also facilitating rehabilitation processes.Damien Quinnis the founder of Spéira Nua. SECTOR Support Services Employment COUNTY Galway…
Ciara FranckJune 16, 2022
Action LabAlumniCommunityConnachtDisabilityGalwayIdeas Academy
Helping and guiding disabled people in becoming self-employed by assisting them in finding freelance/contract work and advising on mandatory revenue requirementsCaroline O'Shaughnessy is the founder of Reskill Ireland SECTOR Disability…
Sophie AinscoughJuly 12, 2022
Action LabActive CitizenshipAlumniConnachtGalwayHealthIdeas AcademyNational
Carers Network Ireland's mission is to support and empower social care professionals via intuitive digital tools developed to eliminate carer distress and improve quality of care.Ronah Corcoran is CEO and founder…
Sophie AinscoughJanuary 10, 2022
Action LabAlumniCase StudiesEducationIdeas AcademyLeinsterLouth
Dedicated to working directly with communities to make science more accessible and understandable, breaking down the barriers that often keep people from engaging with scientific topics. The Problem The planet…
Renée MackeyAugust 19, 2024
Action LabAlumniDisabilityEducationIdeas AcademyLimerickMunster
Provides training programmes designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to lead inclusive Irish céilí dance activities for older adults and individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities.Carmel McKenna…
Lucy BarlowOctober 2, 2023
Action LabCase StudiesChildren and Young PeopleEducationHealthIdeas AcademyKerryMental Health and Wellbeing
Using sport as an agent for change to empower girls across Ireland. Problem In Ireland, teenage girls are dropping out of sports at twice the rate of boys. Just 7%…
Ciara FranckJuly 20, 2022
Action LabAlumniChildren and Young PeopleCommunityCorkEducationHealthIdeas AcademyMunster
Vampire Cup is a student-run initiative which aims to increase information availability and participation rates of blood donation.Glenn Curtin is the founder of Vampire Cup SECTOR Children and Young People Education…
Sophie AinscoughJuly 12, 2022
Action LabActive CitizenshipAlumniHealthIdeas AcademyMunsterNationalWaterford
The Midlife Women Rock Project aims to open taboo conversations and remove stigma and silence around the menopause. Breeda Bermingham is the founder of Mid-Life Women Rock Project. SECTOR Active Citizenship Health COUNTY Waterford REGION…
Sophie AinscoughJanuary 10, 2022
Action LabAlumniDublinIdeas AcademyLeinsterMental Health and Wellbeing
An affordable Virtual Reality (VR) app combining game design and education to help people struggling with anxiety.Pierce O'Brien & Rob Sheridan are the founders of AnamVR SECTOR Mental Health and…
Lucy BarlowOctober 2, 2023
Action LabAlumniChildren and Young PeopleConnachtGalwayIdeas AcademyNational
Kinship Care Ireland (KCI) is an organisation providing supports, information and advocacy to Kinship families and their communities. Caitriona Nic Mhuiris is the founder of Kinship Care Ireland. SECTOR Children and Young People COUNTY Galway REGION National…
Sophie AinscoughJanuary 10, 2022
AlumniDublinImpact ProgrammeLeinsterMental Health and Wellbeing
Nurture Health is a nationwide counselling & training support service dealing with conception, pregnancy, childbirth and other related difficultiesIrene Lowry is the founder of Nurture Health SECTOR Mental Health and…
Eabha Harper-McKeeverJanuary 5, 2023
AlumniDisabilityDublinEducationImpact ProgrammeLeinsterTechnology
Peer is cloud-based assistive technology solution for people with dyslexia that addresses issues with accessibility, reading and spelling.Graham Brocklebank is the founder of Peer Education Technologies SECTOR Disability COUNTY Dublin REGION…
Sophie AinscoughJanuary 10, 2022
AlumniCommunity ProgrammeDublinImpact ProgrammeLeinsterNationalScale PartnershipSupport Services
AsIAm is Ireland’s national Autism charity working to create a society in which every autistic person is empowered to reach their own personal potential and fully participate in society. Adam…
Social Entrepreneurs IrelandDecember 3, 2021
AlumniCommunityDublinEnvironmentImpact ProgrammeLeinster
The Grow Dome Project is an intensive all-year-round sustainable food-production tool, an arts and music exhibition space, a community meeting and education area, and an iconic artwork in its own…
Sophie AinscoughJanuary 10, 2022
AlumniChildren and Young PeopleDublinHealthImpact ProgrammeLeinsterNationalTechnology
Speech at Home is an online platform that uses a research-based method to facilitate parents of children with cleft palate to deliver speech therapy at home, under the supervision of…
Sophie AinscoughJanuary 10, 2022
blogCommunityImpact ProgrammeNews
SEI have recently entered into a partnership with one of Ireland’s leading market research companies, Behaviour and Attitudes. The first wave of this research project gauged the public’s interest in…
Renée MackeySeptember 20, 2022
Active CitizenshipAlumniChildren and Young PeopleDublinEducationEthnic CommunitiesImpact ProgrammeNational
Mother Tongues creates and delivers training and informative resources in the areas of multiculturalism and bilingualism.Dr. Francesca La Morgia is the founder of Mother Tongues SECTOR Education Children and Young People COUNTY Dublin…
Sophie AinscoughJanuary 10, 2022
AlumniChildren and Young PeopleDublinEducationImpact ProgrammeLeinsterNational
Fighting Words aim to help children and young people, and adults who did not have this opportunity as children, to discover and harness the power of their own imaginations and…
Social Entrepreneurs IrelandDecember 6, 2021
AlumniConnachtEnvironmentImpact ProgrammeLeinsterNationalRoscommonTechnology
Positive Carbon works with hospitality businesses to reduce their impact on the environment through using its fully automated food waste monitoring technology. Aisling Kirwan and Mark Kirwan are co-founders of Positive…
Sophie AinscoughJanuary 10, 2022
AlumniDublinEducationImpact Programme
An Cosán Virtual Community College (VCC), pioneering social change through online community education. VCC is an education initiative to scale the work of An Cosán in Tallaght West. We empower…
Renée MackeyMay 31, 2023