About HBAN
Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN) is an all-island umbrella group for business angel investing in Ireland. We are focused on creating Angel Investor syndicates across Ireland. Syndication is an internationally recognised best practice model for angel investment which;
a) stimulates angel investment,
b) empowers angel investors to build and maintain a portfolio of investments, and
c) streamlines the funding process for the entrepreneur.
HBAN is responsible for the development of angel syndicates in Ireland and is actively working to increase the number of angel investors who are interested in investing in early stage technology companies. We are dedicated to promoting best practice angel investment and supporting the early stage entrepreneurial community in Ireland. We work to create an eco-system that promotes and supports the early stage investment market. We support the formation of new and existing angel syndicates, both regionally and internationally, and within industry sectors. HBAN also acts as a voice to Government, stakeholders, business and the media to promote the interests and needs of the angel and early stage investment community. HBAN is a joint initiative of InterTradeIreland and Enterprise Ireland tasked with the development of business angel syndicates in Ireland.
InterTradeIreland – InterTradeIreland promotes and supports North/South economic co-operation to the mutual benefit of Northern Ireland and Ireland. By encouraging better use of our collective resources we help to expedite trade and business growth across the island; create an environment to make it easier to do business and increase the competitiveness of individual companies and the two economies in the global marketplace. InterTradeIreland’s EquityNetwork offers a range of support to help earlier stage companies improve their chances of becoming investor ready.
Enterprise Ireland - Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. We work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales on global markets. In this way, we support sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment.
Who We Are
Michael Culligan is an experienced international business development executive with a background in the ICT, financial & education sectors. He has direct business experience in the City of London, China, Japan, mainland Europe & North America. Michael has developed specialist skills in the seed capital arena - working with early stage, knowledge intensive, companies and has also lectured Business Strategy on the Michael Smurfit MBA programme at UCD for a number of years. He has advised multiple startups on successful seed and early stage fund raising. Michael in his role as Director of the Halo Business Angel Partnership, on behalf of Irish BICS, has led the team in raising over €30M for 80+ startup companies in in co-operation with other public and private funds. Michael has an undergraduate degree in Applied Physics & Electronics and is a 1st class MBA graduate of the UCD Smurfit School.
Orlagh Nolan has entrepreneurial, SME & large company experience having worked in healthcare, FMCG, not for profit, education and business coaching over the past 15yrs. Her roles have included senior sales and marketing manager at Baxter Healthcare, Interim-CEO of the fundraising office of Temple Street University Children’s Charity, Marketing Consultancy, UCD Lecturer, Executive director of a food start-up Chill Baby, a Fresh Organic Baby Food company. This latter experience was invaluable in understanding the journey travelled by any entrepreneur when starting his or her own business. Orlagh was responsible for all commercial aspects of the business; raising finance, selling into multiples, getting investment initially from a Business Angel and then from a large food company that acquired a significant minority shareholding. Orlagh is an excellent networker, with a very strong focus on marketing & brand development. She is a1st class MBA graduate of the Michael Smurfit School of Business.
