The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has launched a new €500,000 Enterprise Ireland Competitive Start Fund to support start-up activity in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
The Enterprise Ireland Fund, which provides €50,000 in equity funding for each successful applicant, will open for submissions on Wednesday, September 21, and will close at 3pm Wednesday, October 5.
The purpose of the fund is to stimulate growth for start-up companies working in areas of agriculture and manufacturing that have the capability to succeed in global markets. It is designed to enable those companies reach key commercial and technical milestones, that will ensure delivery of their product or service to an international audience.
The fund is open to applications from individuals, early stage companies, or prospective businesses operating in the agri-business sector.
Launching the fund, Minister Mitchell O’Connor, said: “The Enterprise Ireland Competitive Start Fund aims to provide a launch platform for young companies in this sector to establish their business and launch new products and services in international market places.
“A priority for the government is to help Irish entrepreneurs grow their business, and the €500,000 fund will go towards supporting the next generation of Irish agri-businesses and manufacturers to compete in export markets, creating valuable jobs throughout Ireland.”
Full details on the Competitive Start Fund, including the application form, can be accessed on the Enterprise Ireland website at www.enterprise-ireland.com/agricsf
