"At the moment there is no mobile-first food ordering company that connects people with the best restaurants in Dublin and lets them order in two taps. Every design decision was made to streamline the process because people are busy and their time is their most valuable asset - anything that gives people back their time is very valuable."

"We strive towards freedom and self-determination and I feel that entrepreneurship is the path to achieving that end goal. At this early stage, that path is hard to see amongst the bushes of doubt and the brambles of uncertainty. However, even in that dark place being able to walk that path is a wonderful feeling and I’m enjoying the experience."

"The best gamification strategy is to really understand your customers, and have a good analysis of what is a key value for them. It is important, especially in a longterm gamification, to realise that most gamified solutions are dynamic systems that require updating, and are honed and refined over time - similar to mobile app development."

"The main reason your startup business closes its doors within 18 months is because nobody knew it existed. As a founder of a new company you are walking a tightrope. On one hand you desperately need to get your brand noticed and achieve rapid customer acquisition, but you will likely, not have the deep marketing budget, so you've got to be smart."

"One of the things I have learnt is not to overthink too much and just go for it. The more exposure you can create the better, more contact points and engagements mean more potential for cross pollination or meeting a person that is genuinely going to make a difference to your company."

Being social entrepreneurial is something that can be part of everyone's life from CEO of big company to every teacher to doctor or a professional hockey player. We can all work to create innovative solutions to not only create new businesses but shape businesses, to think about creating wealth not just for our shareholders but for everybody."

"Word of mouth is probably our strongest growth channel. We recently did a Net Promoter Score survey. The NPS is a simple question: "How likely are you to recommend Bullet to someone?" We scored 75 for the first couple of weeks which now hovers around 68. That's a higher recommendation than Apple's iPhone, and we're an accounting product!"

So, you want to set up your own business? Let’s get in control of the controllables for your entrepreneurial journey, so that you can make the most of what will no doubt be a bumpy ride! This article is particularly aimed at someone who may not have a concrete business idea yet, but thinks they want to begin their startup journey.

75% of all the entrepreneurs I mentor are Women and they seem to be very receptive, proactive and determined to turn their ideas into reality. One striking difference I have seen in the difference in how they work is their ability to network, ask questions and learn from more experienced business people - a key skill to be successful!"

"Team is so important. It goes without saying, in work or in life, surround yourself with people who lift you up. It doesn’t matter if it’s a costume team or a software team. I must work with people who love what they do, are fired up about it. I like it when the people around me hold me to a very high standard. I surround myself with the best."