Tech start-ups invited to compete for funding of €24,000

Tech start-ups are being invited to apply for funding totalling €24,000 which has been made available by the Ireland Funds in partnership with NDRC.

The prize fund for the annual Business Plan Competition 2019 has increased by more than €8,000 this year.

Over the past two years finalists have collectively gone on to raise €3.7 million in follow-on funding, with 45 per cent of the cohort securing €100,000 or more.

University and third-level students and researchers, as well as recent graduates across Ireland, have been invited to submit technology proposals that are at pre-investment stage.

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Ten business ideas will then be shortlisted, and will be invited to participate in four pre-acceleration workshops, bringing their business ideas from concept to pitch as well as receiving mentoring and feedback throughout the process.

There will be a final pitching event, and three prizes will be awarded. The winner will secure a €15,000 cash prize. Second place will receive €7,000, and third place will get €2,000. It is open for entries until April 28th.

The competition’s founder, Bill McKiernan, who is president at WSM Capital, LLC, said last year’s finalists were “by far the best we’ve hosted to date, and the teams reflected the strength of entrepreneurship on the island of Ireland”.

“It’s especially gratifying to see the growing representation by women. We were delighted to award Kids Speech Labs, created by a female duo, with first prize last year. We hope to see similar representation in 2019.”