The Minister for Small Business, John Perry TD, has unveiled the 13 successful winners of Enterprise Ireland’s €200,000 Competitive Feasibility Fund aimed at stimulating start-ups and creating jobs in the west region.
The fund, which was launched last September, offered funding of up to €25,000 to support entrepreneurs explore the feasibility of start-up ideas with job-creating potential in the west region. Enterprise Ireland is now working closely with the entrepreneurs to help them develop the potential of their start-up ideas.
Three Mayo recipients were: Michael Flanagan and Aisling Roche (speciality dairy products ); Seamus Lally (manufacturing fencing posts from used car tyres ) and Stephanie Fitzgerald O’Malley (child-centred educational software product for the compliance-driven market in the United States ). Minister Perry said: “Today’s announcement that 13 dynamic, innovative start-up companies, based in the west and operating in key growth sectors, will have access to funding of up to €25,000 each is very welcome news. By continuing to support entrepreneurs and companies like these, and by implementing other measures in the Action Plan for Jobs, I am determined to ensure that we build powerful indigenous businesses and create the jobs we need.”
Enterprise Ireland’s west regional director Barry Egan added: “It provides further evidence that the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well in the west of Ireland. Enterprise Ireland will be harnessing this spirit and working with these ambitious entrepreneurs to help them turn their ideas into sustainable export focused businesses creating much needed jobs in the west of Ireland.”
