At the launch of IBYE back in May. Image via Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
At the national final of the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition this Sunday (6 December), the three finalists will also get a place in the 2016 Adopt a Startup programme, it has been announced.
The Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) national finals come following a series of 31 local finals and eight regional finals over the last eight months.
The 24 finalists who have made the national finals will now be preparing to deliver their live pitches to the judging panel at The Foundry in Google on Sunday.
Launched in May this year, the competition is supported by the Government, which has made a €2m fund available to county winners as well as the overall national winners.
But now, it has been announced, there will be added incentive for the final three as Google is set to present an award for Best Online Promotion of Business, in addition to three winning businesses being offered a place on the Google Adopt a Start-up programme in 2016.
Speaking of Google’s decision to take part in the national finals, the head of Google Ireland’s start-up programme, Paddy Flynn, said: “The Best Online Promotion of a Business Award is an extension of our support for entrepreneurs, offering one young entrepreneur the opportunity to find its audience, extend its reach, and grow its business both locally and internationally.
“Through Adopt a Start-up, we are also giving the winning IBYE entrepreneurs every opportunity to succeed in the digital marketplace by working with Google experts and sharing their experiences with their fellow start-ups.”
Among the names taking part as judges on the night are Brian Crowley of the TTM Group; Sarah Doyle of Kinesense; Colin Goulding of Google Ireland, Christine Charlton of the Local Enterprise Offices and Tom Hayes of Enterprise Ireland.
