If you are not in etc, etc

AMBITIOUS business owners have just over two weeks to get their entries in for the Bank of Ireland Startup Awards 2015. The closing date for entries has been extended to Thursday, September 17. The awards are open to star tups – that’s new businesses in old money – from across Ireland.

Entr y into the awards is free and the competition is open to sole traders, partnerships and Irish companies that have traded for three years or less and have no more than 30 employees.

Winners will be selected at regional f inals and from across 11 sector categories including food and drink and retail, as well as technolog y and the digital economy.

The Grand Prix award is for the star tup of the year, and there is also a Startup Hero award.

Last year attracted more than 750 entries and the overall Grand Prix award was won by Agile Network. The Irish Biz Party won the Startup Hero Award.

This year there is an additional categor y for international founders who have moved to Ireland to set up their business – the Overseas Startup Setting Up in Ireland Award.

For the winners, it ’s not just the glor y of the parish at stake. Prizes include valuable mentoring and support from sponsors including the likes of IBM as well as the morale and publicity boost of winning at the national gala f inal in Dublin on Thursday, November 12.