Connor Sweeney, Seedcorn project manager, InterTradeIreland; Prof Vincent O'Flaherty, chairman, Westway Health; and Dorothy Creaven, CEO, Element Software
New start-ups and early stage companies can now enter Ireland’s largest business competition, the InterTradeIreland all-island Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition.
Now in its twelfth year, the competition has supported 1,949 enterprising companies, with the companies that have made it through to the regional finals successfully raising €179m in new funds.
Initial applications for the competition will be shortlisted and successful companies will be invited to submit their full business plan.
Companies will then have the opportunity to attend one of a number of Seedcorn workshops in the coming weeks, designed to guide those considering entering the competition. Topics include the preparation of video clips, slide decks and business plans.
While applicants can come from a variety of backgrounds, technology start-ups have been one of the most frequent applicants to the competition, with the most recent being Element Software. The company won the overall ‘New Start’ category with its product Element Wave, a real-time analytics and mobile messaging platform for app publishers who want to address the issues of customer retention and user conversion.
Companies must register their interest and complete the initial application form for the competition by Friday, 30 May, with the final business plan due by Friday, 5 September 2014. If shortlisted, the company will be invited to deliver an investment pitch in front of the judging panel comprised of venture capitalists, business angels and some of the island’s leading industry entrepreneurs and business experts.
