06/11/2015
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
South Dublin Companies Compete to reach National Final of “Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur”
Two local business innovators and new start-ups from South Dublin, both under the age of 30, have gone head-to-head with other winners from Co. Dublin at the regional final of ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ competition.
While neither of the South Dublin finalists made it through to December’s national final, they will all share a €30,000 investment fund through the Local Enterprise Office, from the county final stage of the competition.
Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the 31 Local Enterprise Offices around the country.
The nominees were all interviewed by a three member judging panel and had to deliver a business pitch, live. Assessed on criteria such as business innovation, job creation potential and financial planning, the announcement of the national finalists was made at a reception in The Conrad Hotel with special guest Minister Richard Bruton T.D. Other guests at the Regional Final included Mayor of South Dublin, Councillor Sarah Holland and Master of Ceremonies Sean Gallagher.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D. said: “Central to our plans for jobs and growth is supporting more businesses to start-up. Part of this plan is also fostering a stronger culture of entrepreneurship and promoting start-up business as a career option for young people. That is what is behind this competition to find the best young entrepreneur in each region, and ultimately Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur. I am delighted to congratulate all involved.”
More than 400 business owners and start-ups from around the country have already benefitted from intensive business bootcamps and mentoring programmes through the network of Local Enterprise Offices, as part of the competition.
The Head of Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office South Dublin, Colm Ward, said: “We are very proud and honoured to have had such strong contenders in this year’s ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ competition, especially when you consider that over 1,000 small business owners entered this year. I’d like to congratulate all our nominees and entrants, who ‘flew the flag’ for us at county and regional finals and we look forward to supporting their businesses into the future.”
Mayor Sarah Holland stated: “we aim to develop and foster a culture of entrepreneurship within our County and this competition, supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and Enterprise Ireland, is a very innovative way to offer the opportunity to showcase new business ideas. It is clear from the whole process that there is no shortage of quality young entrepreneurs out there.”
The two young entrepreneurs representing the South Dublin County at the Regional Final were:
- Clondalkin’s Christopher Conlan with Pewter Games Studios in the Best New Business Idea category
- Eugene Murphy from Perrystown whose company Muscrai Suction Excavation Irl Ltd, were finalists in the Best Start-Up Business category.
The winners at the Dublin Regional Final on 4th November 2015, were
- Curtis Moran of Rook representing Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County in the Best New Business Idea category,
- Isolde Johnson of The Cool Bean Company was the winner in the Best Start Up Business category, representing Dublin City Council
- Peter Roberts of Roberts of Dalkey won the Best Established Business category representing Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County.
We would like to wish the best of luck to the 3 winners who will represent the Dublin Region in the National IBYE awards. #teamDublin
News, results and updates for ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ competition, is available through www.ibye.ie, www.localenterprise.ie and by searching #IBYE on social media.
-ENDS-
Notes to the Editor
For all local media queries, please contact your Local Enterprise Office.
Photography Note: Joe Keogh Photography was commissioned to attend this regional final and high res imagery will be available, reproduction-free, from your Local Enterprise Office.
Image 1: Mayor Sarah Holland, Eugene Murphy of Muscrai Suction, Christopher Conlan of Pewter Games Studios, Colm Ward A/Head of Local Enterprise, South Dublin.
Image 2: Peter Roberts, Winner Best Established Business, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton, Isolde Johnson, Winner Best Established Business, Curtis Moran, Winner Best Start Up Business Idea
Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur 2015 (#IBYE)
Website: www.ibye.ie
Social Media: #IBYE #teamDublin
Now in its second year, Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur is a competition that is open to everyone with an innovative business idea
- individuals
- venture teams
- partnerships
- existing businesses with a new idea
- people overseas (including Irish emigrants) who will headquarter in Ireland
The competition is broken down into three categories:
- Best New Idea (pre-trading), with €10,000 investment prize fund available through every LEO
- Best Start up Business (up to 24 months), with €20,000 investment prize fund available through every LEO
- Best Established Business (over 24 months) with €20,000 investment prize fund available through every LEO
Each Local Enterprise Office (LEO) within the Local Authorities Network ran a competition from May to August 2015, aimed at finding winners in each of the three categories as well as an overall winner in each county. Each LEO has a total fund of €50,000 to invest in their three local winning businesses according to criteria including businesses’ investment needs.
Through eight regional finals in October and November 2015 (listed below), involving winners from each LEO, a total of 24 finalists will be selected by the various judging panels. All 24 finalists, eight per category, will win a place at the #IBYE national finals, to be held in December in Dublin.
Organised with the support of the Local Authorities Network, the full list of Regional Finals for Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is as follows:
- Monday October 19th: Finalists from LEOs in Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny
- Tuesday October 27th: Finalists from LEOs in Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Longford
- Wednesday, October 28th: Finalists from LEOs in Cork City, Cork South, Cork North and West and Waterford
- Friday, October 30th: Finalists from LEOs in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon
- Monday, November 2nd: Finalists from LEOs in Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Tipperary
- Tuesday, November 3rd: Finalists from LEOs in Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan
- Wednesday, November 4th: Finalists from LEOs in Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
- Thursday November 5th: Finalists from LEOs in Kildare, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath
Images
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Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr. Sarah Holland, Eugene Murphy of Muscrai Suction, Christopher Conlan of Pewter Games Studios, Colm Ward A/Head of Local Enterprise, South Dublin. -
Peter Roberts Best Established Business, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Richard Bruton, Isolde Johnson Best Established Business, Curtis Moran Best Start Up Business Idea