Going for Growth: Vanessa Creaven, co-founder of Spotlight Oral Care, says cracking America is the Galway’ firm’s biggest focus right now.
Award-winning business development scheme for women entrepreneurs Going for Growth is accepting applications for the 16th year of the programme.
The programme, which is supported by Enterprise Ireland and KPMG, helps ambitious female entrepreneurs to achieve their growth ambitions – helping to build stronger companies, create new jobs and increase revenues.
“Beginning the cycle I expected I would gain a lot of expertise, but I had no idea as to the extent of that expertise, or the friendships I would make along the way”
The 15th cycle of Going for Growth reported significant results for its 69 participants. Combined turnover increased from €80.6m at the start of the cycle to almost €92.3m by the end, almost a 15% increase in just six months.
The deadline for applications for the 16th cycle of Going for Growth is Friday 17 November 2023.
Up to 60 places will be available and applications are sought from female entrepreneurs across all sectors who are strongly focused on growth. There is no charge for those selected and the six-month initiative will begin in January 2024. To learn more, click here
Spotlight Oral Care
Dr. Vanessa Creaven (B. Dent. Sc. (Hons) MFDS Edin ) is a global leader in oral care product creation, and the co-founder of both the Quay Dental Practice and Spotlight Oral Care Products with her sister, Dr Lisa Creaven.
Launched in 2016, Spotlight Oral Care was designed and formulated by Vanessa and Lisa with the aim of creating the best oral health products without harming the environment. At their dental practice in Galway City, they identified a gap in the market for safe and effective oral care products that contained clinically proven active ingredients to target their clients’ dental needs.
Spotlight Oral Care initially began developing teeth whitening strips and toothpaste and has grown to provide wide a variety of products, from toothpastes for specific ailments to toothbrushes, dental floss, mouthwashes, teeth whitening pens, and electrical oral care products – the Sonic Toothbrush, Water Flosser and the most recently launched new product, the Professional LED Teeth Whitening System.
“Spotlight is the only range of oral care products that can boast of being clinically proven, vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, ocean-safe, 100% recyclable and formulated by dentists.”
The Spotlight product range is now in Boots, Tesco, Dunnes Stores and most pharmacies throughout Ireland. The brand is also well known in the United Kingdom, with the products sold through a dedicated UK website, through third party websites such as Look Fantastic and Cloud 10 Beauty as well as retailing in Boots and Lloyd Pharmacies.
The Spotlight Oral Care product range has also gained great traction in the United States where it is sold in 1,200 Ulta Beauty stores and 7,000 CVS stores. Vanessa sees massive opportunity in the US market and the sisters’ commitment to this market is such that Lisa has moved to California to drive this growth opportunity. “It’s our biggest focus for now”, says Vanessa.
Spotlight Oral Care completed their Series A funding round in 2020 with an investment from Dermot Desmond and IIU and the Spotlight team has also grown to support the company’s internationalisation ambition with 50 people now employed across Galway (where the company is headquartered), London and California.
Vanessa and Lisa won Start-up of the Year at the IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2017 and Vanessa was listed in the Sunday Independent 2019 30 Under 30. Both sisters have been awarded Tatler Businesswoman of the Year 2020 and IMAGE Entrepreneur of the Year in 2022. A
Vanessa participated in Starting Strong in 2017 with Susan Spence as her Lead Entrepreneur and in the 11th cycle of Going for Growth with Lead Entrepreneur, Louise Phelan. Commenting on her experience, she says “Beginning the cycle I expected I would gain a lot of expertise, but I had no idea as to the extent of that expertise, or the friendships I would make along the way”.
The deadline for applications for the 16th cycle of Going for Growth is Friday 17 November 2023. To learn more, click here
