Young entrepreneurs to benefit from €50,000 investment fund

WICKLOW’S youngest entrepreneurs could be in with the chance of winning a substantial cash investment.

Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneurs of 2018 (IBYE) was launched recently through the Local Enterprise Offices.

The competition is open to people between the ages of 18 and 35 with an innovative business idea, new start-up or established business. The closing date to enter this year’s competition is Friday, September 29, and there is a €50,000 county investment fund on offer in Wicklow.

Sheelagh Daly, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Wicklow said: ‘ The substantial investments available under IBYE are a very important part of the programme and will help more young entrepreneurs here locally to grow their businesses and create more jobs.’

Bryan Doyle, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council said: ‘Now more than ever before, Wicklow County Council is connecting with young and aspiring entrepreneurs, through our LEO.’

There are three categories available – Best Business Idea, Best Start-Up Business and Best Established Business. With an IBYE investment fund of €50,000, LEO Wicklow will award up to six investments to three category winners and three runners-up at county level. The local winners in the Best Start-Up and Best Established Business categories at county level will receive investments of up to €15,000 each and the two runners-up will each receive up to €5,000. The Best Business Idea winner at county level will receive an investment of up to €7,000 and the runner-up will receive up to €3,000 of investment. These winners at county level will progress to Regional Finals hosted early next year in Wicklow and the national IBYE finals will be held in March 2018

To enter log onto at www.ibye.ie.