Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland
The state agency supported 181 “highly-promising” start-up companies. Over half of these (55%) were based in Dublin.
The main avenues for investment were through Enterprise Ireland‘s two programmes, High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) and Competitive Start Fund (CSF). These are funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
Enterprise Ireland also announced a new €500,000 CSF for start-ups based in regional areas at the annual Start-Up Showcase event in Croke Park. This CSF application process will be open for businesses outside of Dublin on Tuesday, 27 February, closing on the 13 March at 3pm.
This fund will provide €50,000 for up to ten successful candidates.
The state body said that it will be focusing on the marine tech and the deep tech sectors for the rest in 2018.