Young entrepreneurs across Ireland have taken their first steps toward turning bright ideas into real-world business ventures. Inspired by Enterprise Ireland’s Student Entrepreneur Awards, third-level students have put their business proposals forward in hopes of winning cash prizes – as well as expert mentoring. Enterprise Ireland, with the support of local enterprise offices, has run the annual Student Entrepreneur Awards since 1981. The competition continues to foster Ireland’s up-and-coming generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders. It encourages students to develop their ideas, upskill and learn
to navigate the business environment. In March this year, the latest crop of young people with ambitions to start a business in Ireland submitted their entries. They showcased their ideas in two-minute videos, highlighting commercial and export potential. After reviewing this year’s entries from 1,000 applicants, Enterprise Ireland asked the top 50 to submit a business plan by May 1. From there, 10 finalist projects were chosen to face the judging panel on May 28 and 29 at Technological University Dublin Blanchardstown Campus. The overall
winner will get €10,000 to fund their business. Three more finalists will win €5,000 start-up funding each, sponsored by Cruickshank, Grant Thornton and the Local Enterprise Office. And a €10,000 Merit Awards fund from Enterprise Ireland will be distributed among runners-up. There’s more than money at stake. Winners get access to business advice and mentoring from Enterprise Ireland and their Local Enterprise Office. Cruickshank offers them intellectual property consultancy and protection, while Grant Thornton supports them with business plan development. Last year’s overall winner was
Saor Water, founded by Technological University Dublin students Ryan Ormonde and Jonathan Hoffman. The startup offers branded aluminium water cans to companies who want an alternative to single-use plastics. Younger students also get a time to shine as entrepreneurs. Local Enterprise Offices, supported by Enterprise Ireland, run a Student Enterprise Programme for second-level students. More than 500,000 of them have participated in the annual competition since 2002. The Student Enterprise Programme links up with junior and senior cycle curriculums, and offers free in-school workshops and
supports. Students get the whole entrepreneur experience, generating business ideas, marketing them and writing business plans. And along the way they have opportunities to learn from successful entrepreneurs. This year, 88 businesses made the shortlist. The winner, announced two weeks ago, is 16-year-old Cathal Sweeney, of Mungret Community College, in Co Limerick, who developed the Glo Ball, a glow-in-the-dark sliotar that helps hurlers train longer on winter days. The fourth-year student has seen sales of €40,000 since launching his company Glo Hurling earlier this year.
To learn more about Enterprise Ireland’s Student Entrepreneur Awards, visit https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/student-entrepreneur-awards/ Teri Smith is Manager, Local Enterprise Office Operations and Client Excellence with Enterprise Ireland.
Enterprise Ireland, Student Entrepreneur Awards, Ireland, young entrepreneurs, student business plans, mentoring, Technological University Dublin Blanchardstown, Cruickshank, Grant Thornton, Local Enterprise Office, Cathal Sweeney, Glo Ball, Glo Hurling