National Competition To Find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur

27th May 2015

Posted In: FYI
IBYE 2015

The Taoiseach and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation today launched the nationwide search to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE), with a total investment fund of €2million available for young people throughout every county in Ireland.

Aimed at those aged between 18 and 30, the competition is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.

The first stage is a county-based competition, with a closing date of July 31st through the Local Enterprise Offices, leading to the naming of the Best Young Entrepreneur in each county.  This will be followed by eight regional finals, with one young business-person being crowned Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur later in the year at the national finals in Google’s European HQ in Dublin before the end of the year.

Up to €50,000 will be awarded to 3 winners in each county. The winners at national level can then receive up to an additional €50,000 and over 400 young entrepreneurs will also win places at regional Business Bootcamps with mentoring supports, to further develop their business skills.

During last year’s highly successful inaugural competition, over 1,000 applications were received, 400 young entrepreneurs took part in Business Bootcamps and 93 young entrepreneurs throughout every county in Ireland won cash investments for their businesses. At the first-ever National Final last December at Google, Eamon Keane of Xpreso Software in South Dublin clinched the overall title of ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ for his parcel delivery software company, ahead of runners-up from the tourism and food sectors.

The aim of the initiative is to support a culture of entrepreneurship among young people in Ireland, to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice, and to encourage Ireland’s young people to set up new businesses which will ultimately create jobs.

Speaking on behalf of the Local Enterprise Offices, Sheelagh Daly said: “The doors of the Local Enterprise Offices across the country are always open for anyone thinking of setting up a business or for those looking to grow their business here in Ireland. Through important initiatives, such as Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition, we’re looking forward to supporting more of our young people with their business ideas and start-ups ventures. Our advice for anyone thinking of getting involved in this year’s competition  is to take the first step by simply getting in touch with your Local Enterprise Office to start your entrepreneurial journey.”

The deadline to apply for this year’s Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is Friday, July 31st and the full details are available through www.ibye.ie.

(Pictured L-R: Tom Hayes of Enterprise Ireland; Niamh O’ Neill of Niamh O’ Neill and a 2014 finalist, Minister Richard Bruton T.D.; and Sheelagh Daly of the Local Enterprise Offices.)