Two leading entrepreneur businessmen, Johnathon Ruane from Eventovate and Leonard Moran from Ovagen, will address this year's Enterprise Evening hosted by the Innovation in Business Centre (IiBC) at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) Castlebar.

The event titled "Spirit of Entrepreneurship" takes place in the GMIT Castlebar campus on Thursday 30th September from 6pm to 8.30pm.

From 6pm the IiBC client companies will showcase their product offerings allowing people to view the types of businesses formed since the opening of the centre.
Eventovate were listed on the 2010 Techcrunch Euro Top 100 (one of only 3 Irish Companies) and on the 2010 Irish Times Tech Top 50 companies. In May 2009, Eventovate were awarded the BOI Bright Ideas Challenge Award for New Business Start Ups.

The second speaker, Leonard Moran, sold his former company BioLabs in 2002 to US Group Charles River Laboratories for €25 million plus a €3 million earn out. Prior to this, Leonard spent 8 years with the British Medical Research Council (MRC) where he focused on clinical research and specifically breeding SPF animals. Ovagen have raised investment of €12m to date.

Both speakers will share their experiences of establishing and running a business, including the many challenges and lessons learned along the way.

Members of the public are invited to attend the event. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be provided from 6pm. Booking is advisable as places are limited. Register your attendance either by e-mail iibccastlebar@gmit.ie or telephone: 094-9043198.

Maria Staunton, Manager IiBC, GMIT Castlebar, says: ‘we are often asked of the types of businesses that are based in the IiBC, therefore this event will enable people to view these businesses and get an understanding of what the IiBC offers. The purpose of the event is to provide inspiration to people who attend which in turn will hopefully create more start-up companies in this region.

"The Spirit of Entrepreneurship" evening takes place on Thursday, 30th September from 6pm to 8.30pm in GMIT Castlebar.