4th December 2015
‘Best Online Promotion of Business’ to be awarded at IBYE National Final this Sunday
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD today announced that Google is to present an award for ‘Best Online Promotion of Business’ at the National Final of the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition this Sunday.
24 young entrepreneurs, all aged between 18 and 30, have made it through to this year’s national final and one of them will receive the Google ‘Best Online Promotion of Business’ in recognition of their online promotion activities for their business.
In addition, Minister Bruton announced that the three winning businesses on Sunday will be offered a place on the Google ‘Adopt a Startup’ program in 2016.
Launched in May this year by An Taoiseach and Minister Bruton and supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, IBYE forms part of the Action Plan for Jobs, with a total €2million fund available to county winners and overall national winners.
After a series of 31 local finals, eight regional finals and following an eight month search, the finalists are now preparing to deliver their live pitches to the judging panel at The Foundry in Google on Sunday, which will be hosted by Television and Radio Broadcaster, Claire Byrne.
Minister Bruton said: “To support job creation for the future, we want to encourage more young people to consider entrepreneurship as a career choice. That is why we’ve put in place ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ and why Google’s involvement in this competition through the Adopt a StartUp programme and the ‘Best Online Promotion of a Business’ award is so welcome; acknowledging and supporting the people who create the businesses we need.”
Paddy Flynn, head of Google Ireland’s Startup programme said: “The ‘Best Online Promotion of a Business’ Award is an extension of our support for entrepreneurs, offering one young entrepreneur the opportunity to find its audience, extend its reach, and grow its business both locally and internationally. Through Adopt a Startup, we are also giving the winning IBYE entrepreneurs every opportunity to succeed in the digital marketplace by working with Google experts and sharing their experiences with their fellow start-ups.”
On the IBYE judging panel this year are Brian Crowley of the TTM Group, Sarah Doyle of Kinesense, Colin Goulding of Google Ireland, Christine Charlton of the Local Enterprise Offices and Tom Hayes of Enterprise Ireland.
Sheelagh Daly of the Local Enterprise Offices also welcomed Google’s support for young entrepreneurs saying: “The Local Enterprise Offices are encouraging entrepreneurs to become more active online and to think more strategically when it comes to improving their online presence. This award from Google recognises how important online promotion is, for small businesses and start-ups in particular.”
Updates and results for the competition are available through www.ibye.ie and by searching #ibye on social media and YouTube.
ENDS
For all media queries around #IBYE, please contact Engage Ireland:
Sarah Bohan on 087 65 39936 / office@engageireland.comAdrienne Ferguson on 086 355 2974 / office@engageireland.com
Notes to Editor:
#IBYE Competition Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is run by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in the Local Authorities Network, and the winners at county level are eligible for an investment in their business of up to €20,000, while the winners at national level can receive an additional investment of up to €50,000. Winners of individual categories can also win additional investments in their businesses.
Mentoring, marketing and other supports are also available to participating businesses at various stages of the competition. The competition is open to individuals aged 30 and under and will be judged under three distinct categories:
Best Business Idea (best idea for a new business)
Best Start-Up Business (in business for up to 24 months or less
Best Established Business (in business for longer than 24 months)
The first stage was a county-based competition (run by the 31 LEOs) which led to the naming of the Best Young Entrepreneur in each county. This stage also included bootcamps and mentoring programmes. This was followed by eight regional finals to select the 24 national finalists. At the national final on December 6th, one businessperson will be crowned Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur.
Photography Note (reproduction free)
Reproduction free images of Minister Bruton with the IBYE finalists are available by contacting Engage Ireland above.
Videography Note (reproduction free)
Footage and clean feed files of Minister Bruton meeting the IBYE finalists are available by contacting Engage Ireland above.
24 National Finalists: Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneurs 2015
Best Business Idea Category
Kilkenny: Blaine Doyle of GlowDX
A diagnostics company that uses molecular science to provide a more economical method of diagnosing neglected tropical diseases. Glowdx.com
Donegal: Niall McGonigle of McGonigle Industries
Designs medical products, specifically N-Tech – a medical device that will improve colostomy patients’ lives.
Waterford: Liam Sexton of Photo2Cad
A mobile app that allows users to convert images into fully-scaled CAD drawings through their smartphones. Photo2cad.com
Galway: Chris Murphy of Blue Drop Medical
Develops technology capable of remotely detecting and monitoring foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. Bluedropmedical.com
Clare: Peter Hunt of Piggyback
Develops new technology for taxi drivers, which will improve workflow, manage fleet and optimise overall operations. Getpiggyback.io
Louth: Andrew Nadin of Dooskey Irish Whiskey
Distils a range of flavoured Irish Whiskies aimed at the young adult market, with a focus on innovation. Dooskey.com
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown in Dublin: Curtis Moran of Rook
A mobile app to provide location-based free access to e-Books for users. Getrook.com
Kildare: Conor Devlin of uHerrd
Software that enables journalists and bloggers to create and place opinion polls on their articles or websites. Uherrd.com
Best Start Up Business Category
Carlow: Diarmuid Byrne of EquiRatings
Equestrian data analytics company for national and international clients in the sport of eventing. EquiRatings.com
Longford: Niall Mimnagh of Mimergy Ltd
Develops sustainable technology which converts waste tyres into valuable commodities, such as fuels and chemicals. Mimergy.com
South Cork: James Foody Ayda
A wearable fertility tracker for women, worn during sleep to pinpoint their exact basal body temperature. Ayda.co
Mayo: Daniel Loftus of Urban Fox
A mobile app that helps marketing teams analyse customer and behavioural data more efficiently. Urbanfox.ie
Tipperary: Philip Martin of Blanco Nino
Europe’s first authentic gluten-free corn tortilla manufacturer for the food service and retail sectors. Blanco-nino.com
Louth: Mark Reilly of Aphix SoftwareSoftware for the warehousing industry, delivering real-time stock and pricing information to sales representatives and customers. Aphixsoftware.com
Dublin City: Isolde Johnson of The Cool Bean Company
A consumer food brand which includes a range of healthy, nutritious, gluten-free bean meals in a pot. Coolbeans.ie
Kildare: David Carey of Nutraplenish
A lifestyle nutrition company, manufacturing healthy food and drink products for the retail sector. Nutraplenish.com
Best Established Business Category
Wicklow: James Keogh of Rathwood
A retail entertainment company employing 200 people with over 30,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, outdoor activities with a year-round events schedule for families. Rathwood.com
Leitrim: Jennifer Wyrnne Jennifer Wyrnne Ltd
A milliner within the fashion industry, designing and creating high quality, hand -crafted hats and head pieces. Jenniferwrynne.com
Waterford: Eddy Lynch of Suir Sprayers
A company that specialises in the testing, selling and servicing of sprayer parts nationwide, for the horticultural and agricultural sectors. Suirsprayers.ie
Roscommon: Oz Ibrahmi of Hex CNC
A product research and development company for the medical sector, specialising in CNC machines (computer numerical control). Hexcnc.com
Limerick: Mark Sheahan of Recycle Right
A waste collection and recycling business for households, which uses innovative software solutions. Recycleright.ie
Cavan: Alicia Treanor of Nutri-Snax Ltd
Develops, manufactures and distributes a range of nutritious, healthy snacks and biscuits for the food sector. Nutrisnax.ie
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown in Dublin: Peter Roberts, Roberts of Dalkey
Wholesaler and retailer of fresh Irish seafood, with four retail locations. Robertsofdalkey.com
Kildare: Tim Dunleavy of Dunleavy Bespoke
Designs and creates contemporary handcrafted furniture and interiors, exported worldwide.Dunleavybespoke.com
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