48 hours in Ballymaloe: the 2026 Entrepreneur Experience
Eamonn Grant speaking at the 2026 Entrepreneur Experience in Ballymaloe, Co. Cork.
Last weekend was one of the best weekends I’ve had in business in my entire career. I spent 48 hours in Ballymaloe, Co. Cork, as part of the 2026 Entrepreneur Experience, organised by AxisBIC and sponsored by Quintas Capital and Broadlake. And what an experience it was.
The programme brings together some of Ireland’s most successful and experienced entrepreneurs with a group of emerging entrepreneurs who are building and growing their own businesses.
From the moment we walked into the room, you could feel there was something different about this weekend.
There was trust, openness, honesty and a genuine willingness to share experiences, challenges and advice. No egos, no agendas, just people who have been there before giving their time to help the next generation of Irish entrepreneurs.
And the quality of the people giving that time was genuinely first class.
This is something that has been built over 16 years. The same formula, the same principles and a culture that makes it possible to have conversations you simply wouldn't have in most other business environments.
We had group sessions where we challenged each other on our businesses, how we tell our stories, how we sell ourselves and what we're really trying to build.
We also had dedicated one-to-one sessions with seasoned entrepreneurs. I was fortunate enough to have Rena Maycock as my mentor, and the time, insight and advice she shared with me was invaluable.
“I can genuinely say that these were probably the most valuable 48 hours I've spent working on RunCommerce since launching the business earlier this year.”
Over 84 companies applied to take part, with only 24 selected. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been one of them and am very grateful to those who supported me along the way.
The setting itself made the experience even more special. Ballymaloe, the home of Cully and Sully, who were themselves among the seasoned entrepreneurs sharing their experience, was the perfect place to bring everyone together.
But perhaps the most exciting part is that the experience doesn't end after 48 hours.
Over the past 16 years, the Entrepreneur Experience has built a community of more than 200 entrepreneurs who continue to support, challenge and help each other long after leaving Ballymaloe.
And that's where I believe the real long-term value lies.
Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey. Being surrounded by people who understand the challenges, have experienced the highs and lows, and genuinely want to see others succeed is incredibly powerful.
I'm excited about what this will mean for me personally, for RunCommerce and for the brilliant group of entrepreneurs I had the privilege of meeting as part of the 2026 cohort.
A huge thank you to AxisBIC, Quintas Capital, Broadlake, Cully and Sully, all of the seasoned entrepreneurs who gave so generously of their time, and especially Rena Maycock for her guidance and support.
And to my fellow emerging entrepreneurs in the 2026 cohort, I have a feeling those 48 hours in Ballymaloe were just the beginning.
Irish entrepreneurship at its very best.
