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Calling all Irish start-ups – Enterprise Ireland is on the lookout for fresh ideas.
Enterprise Ireland has issued a call for applications for its seventh Competitive Start Fund (CSF) to be launched in 2017.
The €750,000 fund is open to all sectors, with a particular focus on start-ups in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, life sciences and renewables.
‘Start-up businesses offering innovative products and services are the lifeblood of the economy’
– FRANCES FITZGERALD
Up to 15 successful applicants will receive high-level business development support and an investment of up to €50,000 each.
The CSF is designed to accelerate the growth of start-ups and enable companies to reach key commercial and technical milestones.
In addition to written online applications, companies will be asked to prepare a video pitch. The fund will close for applications at 3pm on Wednesday 27 September.
Global potential
From left: Joe Healy, High-Potential Start-Ups, Enterprise Ireland; An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Frances Fitzgerald TD; and Martin O’Connell, CEO, Nasal Medical. Image: Chris Bellew/Fennell Photography
“Start-up businesses offering innovative products and services are the lifeblood of the economy, and Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Start Fund injects vital early-stage funding into companies who have the potential to thrive in international markets,” said An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Frances Fitzgerald, TD.
Joe Healy, divisional manager of High-Potential Start-ups at Enterprise Ireland, said that the export agency has structured the CSF funds to reflect a broader range of start-ups.
“This is our seventh CSF in 2017 and this time, the Enterprise Ireland start-up team is looking for applications from start-ups working in all sectors – in particular, the areas of agritech, agribusiness, agricultural machinery, e-health, digital health, medical devices, diagnostics and clean tech,” said Healy.
“Since the start of the year, we’ve seen an increased number of applications to our Competitive Start Funds, and we are anticipating more great, innovative ideas with global market appeal in this call.”
In April, Enterprise Ireland revealed a €750,000 start-up fund for female entrepreneurs to accelerate the number of women-led start-up companies that have the potential to employ more than 10 people and achieve €1m in export sales within three years.
At the recent Inspirefest event in July, Enterprise Ireland’s director of ICT programmes, Dr Carol Gibbons, revealed that out of 128 start-ups that joined its programmes last year, 63 were women-led businesses.
