Calling all the young entrepreneurs

By Echo Reporter

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor has launched the latest search to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE).

With a €2m investment fund available, the enterprise initiative from the Dept. of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices around the country, supports young entrepreneurs through training, mentoring and direct financial investments.

Young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 are now being encouraged to apply, before the closing date of Friday, October 14 2016.

Announcing this year’s programme, Minister O’Connor said: “Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition offers a very significant stepping stone into the world of running your own business for young people aged 35 or under.”

The initiative is co-ordinated by all 31 Local Enterprise Offices and begins with a nationwide competition across three categories at county level: Best Idea, Best Start-Up Business and Best Established Business. A total of around 450 applicants, across every Local Authority area, will be invited to regional ‘Entrepreneur Bootcamps’ in November, to help them develop their business and new venture ideas.

With an available IBYE investment fund of €50,000 each, every Local Enterprise Office will award six investments to three category winners and three runners-up at county level.

To enter, young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 are being asked to visit the IBYE website at www.ibye.ie, to submit their entry online. The closing date for entries is Friday, October 14, 2016 and there is no entry fee.