Clare McGee
BA (Hons) Business Studies
PG CERT in Digital Media Communication
ADVDIP Sustainable Investment for the Third Sector
Ulster University alumna Clare McGee is Co‑Founder and CEO of AwakenHub and AwakenAngels, Ireland’s first women‑led (not women‑only) angel syndicate backing women‑founded and women‑led businesses across the island.
She first completed a BA (Hons) Business Studies at Ulster University, before returning to study as a postgraduate on two further occasions - Digital Media Communications and later Sustainable Investment for the Third Sector, a combination that now underpins her work in gender‑lens investing and social enterprise.
Clare’s relationship with Ulster University has come full circle. AwakenHub partners with Ulster University as part of the Atlantic Futures shared island research partnership, collaborating on research into women’s entrepreneurship and the Embedded Entrepreneurs initiative. AwakenHub also currently hosts an Ulster University placement student on its payroll, giving a Business School student hands on experience in marketing, events and operations inside a live startup and investment ecosystem. Ulster University is now a key part of the wider ecosystem supporting women founders through research, teaching, placements and networks, while AwakenHub brings a real time pipeline of founders and investor activity.
With over 25 years’ experience at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship and education, Clare co‑founded AwakenHub in 2020 as the first all‑island community for women founders and allies, and the team launched AwakenAngels in 2023 to mobilise more women as angel investors and get more capital to women‑founded businesses. In 2025 she was named Business Leader of the Year (SME category) at the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards, and she has been nominated this year for Social Entrepreneur of the Year at the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards.
Sanil Xavier
Masters Degree, Management
Sanil Xavier graduated from Ulster University with a Masters degree in Management in 2022. After graduating, he stepped into the hospitality industry as a manager — and it was there, witnessing first-hand the financial pressures faced by everyday workers, that the idea for PrizeBNK was born.
He is the founder of PrizeBNK, a B2B financial wellness platform built on open banking technology, designed to help SMEs offer meaningful financial benefits to their teams. PrizeBNK is currently in active development, with a focus on helping HR leaders and employers improve staff retention and wellbeing through smarter, more accessible financial tools.
In recognition of his innovation and early traction, Sanil was recently awarded a Techstart Regional Innovation Challenge grant — a competitive funding programme supporting the next generation of tech startups in Northern Ireland.
Alongside building PrizeBNK, Sanil hosts The Prize Effect, a podcast exploring financial wellness, entrepreneurship, and the future of work.
Ulster University played a key role in shaping his business mindset, and he credits the programme with giving him the foundation to turn a real-world problem into a startup.
Danielle Logie
BSc Hons Language and Linguistics
MSc Marketing
Monday Media Marketing was founded by Danielle Logie, a marketing professional passionate about helping small businesses grow and succeed in a competitive business environment. Danielle began her career in marketing in 2021, specialising in social media marketing, content creation, and brand development.
Danielle completed both her undergraduate and postgraduate at Ulster University. In 2022, Danielle completed an MSc in Marketing graduating with Distinction. During her studies, she secured her first freelance client and received the Ulster University Award for Excellence after achieving the highest mark in her Applied Consultancy Dissertation.
Since founding Monday Media, she has worked with clients across a range of industries, including aesthetics, hospitality, retail and sport. The business currently provides consultancy services, marketing support, and content creation for clients across Northern Ireland.
With a strong understanding of both traditional and digital marketing channels, Monday Media creates tailored campaigns designed to increase online presence, strengthen audience engagement, and deliver measurable results. The business is committed to working closely with clients to understand their goals and provide creative, strategic solutions that help brands stand out within their industry while achieving long-term growth and success.
