New E.I fund for businesswomen
ENTERPRISE Ireland are encouraging female entrepreneurs in Kerry to apply for funding under a new programme specifically aimed at female led start ups.
Enterprise Ireland’s €750,000 Competitive Start Fund (CSF) for Female Entrepreneurs opened for applications last week and the deadline to apply is next Wednesday, May 17 at 3pm.
Up to €50,000 in equity funding is available to a maximum of 15 successful female applicants with early stage start-up companies.
Last year, one in three companies who received CSF investment from Enterprise Ireland were female-led.
As well as securing up to €50k in funding, 10 of the successful applicants will also have the opportunity to participate in Dublin BIC’s INNOVATE accelerator programme.
This is Delivered over a 12-week period in the Guinness Enterprise Centre and the interactive programme is designed to increase the capabilities of the participants and move them their businesses to investor-ready status within a short period.
Enterprise Ireland said the purpose of this CSF offering is to accelerate the growth of female-led start-up companies that have the potential to employ more than 10 people and achieve €1 million in export sales within three years.
Female Entrepreneurship Manager at Enterprise Ireland Sarita Johntson said there has be en a huge jump in the number of female led start ups in recent years.
“Working with ambitious start-ups led by women is a key focus for Enterprise Ireland and the purpose of the CSF is to accelerate the growth of start-up companies that have the capability to become High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) companies,” she said.
“We have seen a major leap in female-led early-stage companies since the commencement of our initiatives in 2012 - fromaround seven per cent of HPSUs to 20 per cent in 2016,” said Sarita Johnston.