€500k Start-Up Fund Announced

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton has launched a new €500,000 fund targeted at stimulating new start-up business activity for graduates. The Enterprise Ireland Competitive Start Fund fund will provide for up to €50,000 in support for each successful applicant.

The announcement is part of a broader strategy laid out in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs aimed at encouraging a higher level of entrepreneurship and start-ups.

Announcing the fund, Minister Bruton said: "In Ireland we have great entrepreneurs and start-up businesses - we just don’t have enough of them. That is why we have specifically targeted, as part of our Action Plan for Jobs, an improved performance in this area, by putting in measures like the new county-based competition to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur. The fund we are announcing today will provide investment of up to €50,000 for businesses run by graduates, and is aimed at encouraging more graduates to consider entrepreneurship as a career choice. I urge any graduate with a good business idea to get involved."

Lisa Vaughan, Head of Scaling and High Potential Start Ups at Enterprise Ireland, added: "By introducing a targeted Start Fund for early stage graduates aiming to start up their own businesses, Enterprise Ireland is emphasising the importance of this new initiative as part of the Action Plan for Jobs and contributing to the creation of a positive environment to encourage more start up businesses in Ireland. This Fund is the first of its type for graduates and will provide a package of financial and developmental supports. Applications will be considered on a competitive basis and the financial support will be in the form of equity investment. The support will be towards costs associated with developing the business and achieving key milestones."

The fund will open for applications on Wednesday 9 July and closes at 3pm on Wednesday 23 July 2014. Applicants must have graduated with a FETAC level 8 qualification in the last three years.

(IT)