Enterprise Ireland has announced a new €500,000 Competitive Start Fund (CSF ) to support start-up activity in all sectors.
The fund, which provides €50,000 in equity funding for each successful applicant, will remain open for submissions until 3pm on Wednesday, October 5. The CSF provides young companies in all sectors with the critical early stage funding to test the market for their products and services and progress their business plans for the global marketplace.
The fund is open to applications from individuals, early stage companies, or prospective businesses active in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. This includes the following subsectors: internet; games; apps; mobile; saas; cloud computing; enterprise software; lifesciences; cleantech; industrial products.
Applications are invited from ambitious entrepreneurs and early stage companies capable of succeeding in global markets, creating jobs and growth. The all sector CSF is part of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy for increasing the number and quality of high potential start-up companies that have the potential to employ more than 10 persons and achieve €1 million in export sales within three years.
Commenting on the announcement, Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor said: “A key part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs is targeting sectors where we have established strengths, and supporting growth and expansion in those areas in order to create jobs. Ireland is recognised as a key hub for innovation and entrepreneurial drive and this new fund targeting all sectors across the board will make a real contribution to supporting more start-ups and ultimately more jobs in 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
