Business Overview:

"GoPlugable" addresses a pressing issue as the UK gears up to ban petrol and diesel cars by 2035. With over 900,000 EVs on UK roads and an anticipated rise to 8-11 million hybrid or electric cars by 2030, GoPlugable focuses on the 37% of new EV buyers without home chargers. It serves as an 'AIRBNB for electric vehicle home chargers,' creating a marketplace on a mobile app to make EV charging affordable and accessible for all. Maebh states that “The GoPlugable app means EV drivers have greater control of their EV charging habits through scheduled bookings with a host at a time and a place they choose and even create recurring bookings for ultimate convenience.”

Overcoming Challenges:

Balancing her studies and entrepreneurial pursuits in her last year presented Maebh with a time management challenge, yet it instilled resilience within her. Overcoming funding obstacles was no easy feat, but as she puts it, " securing funding can be challenging however we have had excellent support through SU Enterprise Queen’s Dragons Den which helped to secure the first £10,000 through winning first prize." Thanks to the support from SU Enterprise Queen’s Dragons Den and the QUest programme, she managed to navigate through these challenges successfully.

Successes and Milestones:

Maebh embarked on the journey of building her business during the final year of her studies. Reflecting on her early days, she shared, "Initially, managing my time between studies and GoPlugable was quite challenging, but it teaches you the resilience to really make it work once you are able to go full time." She emphasised the importance of resilience in the face of weekly challenges encountered in entrepreneurship.

As her start-up faced the common hurdle of securing funding, Maebh recalled, "Securing funding can be challenging, much like my bootstrapped start-up experience." However, she expressed gratitude for the support received through SU Enterprise Queen’s Dragons Den, which played a pivotal role in securing the initial £10,000 by winning first prize. Further, she highlighted the recent assistance from the QUest programme, which provided funding for specific aspects of business development over the next 6 months.

Influence of Queen’s University Experience:

Maebh, reflecting on her journey, expressed, "I always had an interest but never thought to pursue it until my final year studying mechanical engineering." She continued, citing her experience in a module called Professional Studies with lecturer Dr. Geoff Cunningham as pivotal. "We learned about building a business case on a topic of our choice," she explained, adding, "This really opened my eyes to the potential of pursuing a career in entrepreneurship." Recalling the significant moment, she shared, "It was here where I also heard about Catalyst cofounders where I ended up meeting my cofounder and coming up with GoPlugable."

Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs:

Reflecting on her journey, Maebh shared, "I didn’t come from a business background and I often thought that only those who had accumulated years of industry experience could really make it in business. However, I think there is a huge advantage in having a go at starting your business early, whilst in university or after graduating." Highlighting the support available, she noted, "First of all, you can leverage the huge amount of guidance from the SU Enterprise who can point you in the right direction for what you need to get started." Stressing the benefits of early entrepreneurship, she added, "Early in your career, you can be more comfortable taking risks and gain a plethora of skills that you wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to if you went into a traditional graduate position."

Work-Life Balance and Stress Management:

While entrepreneurs often grapple with work-life balance, Maebh finds joy and value in building something she's passionate about. Having a supportive co-founder and dividing responsibilities aids in effective stress management.

Essential Resources and Tools:

AI plays a pivotal role in GoPlugable's operations, automating tasks and saving time. Maebh recommends AI tools like an automated note-taking system for meetings and Chat GPT for content creation and guidance.

Maebh's entrepreneurial journey with GoPlugable not only exemplifies innovation in the EV charging space but also showcases the resilience and passion necessary for success. Her experiences at Queen's University Belfast laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial spirit, proving that a strong academic background can be a catalyst for groundbreaking ventures.