Business News

Enterprise Ireland launches new Competitive Start Fund aimed at female entrepreneurs

By Business & Finance
12 November 2015
Competitive start up fund
Pictured (L-R): Ollwyn Moran, Creeper Crawlers; Helen Flynn, KonnectAgain; Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD; Sarita Johnston, Enterprise Ireland

The Government has launched a new €500,000 Enterprise Ireland Competitive Start Fund to support ambitious businesswomen in starting new enterprises.

The initiative is part of an ongoing drive by Enterprise Ireland to boost the number of innovative, export-oriented businesses being set up and led by female entrepreneurs.

A primary strategic objective of Enterprise Ireland is to leverage all assets available to support the creation and growth of Irish-owned enterprises. This means targeting all sources of founders, including young entrepreneurs, research-based start-ups and businesswomen.

Female founders have traditionally been under represented in their participation in start-up businesses in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland developed a pro-active campaign to support ambitious businesswomen to start and grow Irish businesses of scale.

The fund is open to female-led start-ups in the following sectors: internet, games, apps, cloud computing, enterprise software, life sciences, food, consumer products, medical devices and e-health.

Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said:Ensuring that innovative and ambitious business women realise their full potential is critical to Irish economic prosperity and a major priority for Enterprise Ireland. Over the last three years Enterprise Ireland has put in place a range of specific supports to increase the number of female-led start-ups. I am delighted to say that the level of female entrepreneurship has significantly improved over this period and Ireland is now on a par with other international economies. This Competitive Start Fund represents a strategic investment by Enterprise Ireland in female-led start-ups. The Fund will support women to expand their business horizons and set up viable companies that can win business in international markets and create jobs at home.”