From midwifery to meeting regulatory requirements for a health product

Experienced midwives Nora Irwin and Joan Phelan embarked on the New Frontiers Programme at WIT to help get a health product investor and market ready

Nora Irwin participated in Phase 2 of New Frontiers at WIT – her business partner and Joan Phelan took part in Phase 1.

Nora explains that they are both experienced midwives and have an expertise in women’s health. “New Frontiers has helped us to develop our business model and assist us in becoming investor ready in order to secure the necessary finance required to meet regulatory requirements, CE marking (regulate our product) and to launch it on the market.”

While Nora and Joan are currently keeping details of their product under wraps, Nora’s advice for people considering applying for New Frontiers is: “New Frontiers is an excellent programme, it equips the entrepreneur with the necessary tools and skills to progress your business.”

She notes that it is interactive and supportive. “The workshops and workshop leaders are excellent in assisting the entrepreneur to develop their business plan, validate the market, work on and understand business finance models and develop a credible business plan. The entrepreneur also learns to identify the routes to market for their product/business and the relevant marketing tools and avenues for their product. The benefit of the interaction between the participants in a very supportive safe environment identifying and supporting the common problems that many start up businesses have.”