We’re thrilled to share some exciting news: EcoKinly founder, Kate Doyle, has been selected to take part in the 11th intake of the ACORNS Programme — a highly regarded support initiative for female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland.
What is ACORNS?
ACORNS stands for Accelerating the Creation of Rural Nascent Start-ups. The programme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and delivered by Fitzsimons Consulting. Its mission is to support early-stage women-led businesses based in rural areas through mentoring, peer-learning, and business development over a six-month period.
Since its inception, ACORNS has supported hundreds of women entrepreneurs across Ireland — helping them build sustainable, thriving rural businesses.
Why this matters for EcoKinly
For us at EcoKinly, this opportunity means more than just validation for our brand and our product range — it's a chance to grow, learn, and enhance our mission of making reusable, eco-friendly products accessible for families across Ireland.
Kate comments:
“Starting a business in a rural area can sometimes feel isolating, so being part of a network of supportive, like-minded women is really encouraging. I’m excited to learn, share experiences, and continue building EcoKinly as a sustainable Irish brand for modern families.”
With ACORNS’ support, we hope to accelerate our plans — from expanding our product range, to improving supply chain sustainability, to boosting outreach and education about reusable nappies, cloth wipes, and period products. All while building relationships with a network of women-led rural businesses.
What’s next for EcoKinly
Over the coming months, while participating in the ACORNS programme, we’ll be:
- Engaging in mentoring sessions and business-development workshops
- Connecting with other female founders across rural Ireland — sharing challenges, insights, and inspiration
- Refining our product line and eco-packaging approach
- Strengthening our commitment to sustainability, quality, and accessibility
We’ll keep you posted on journey updates, learnings, and how this experience helps shape the next chapter of EcoKinly.
Thank you for your support 🌿
Getting selected for ACORNS is a milestone — but it belongs to our entire community. To every parent, retailer, partner, and friend who has supported EcoKinly so far: thank you.
We promise to keep working hard to bring you beautiful, functional, and earth-friendly products that support your family — and our planet.
Stay tuned!
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