Start-up and early-stage firms seeking to grow their funding are being urged to enter InterTradeIreland’s Seedcorn Investor Readiness competition.
The largest business competition of its kind, Seedcorn offers a total cash prize fund of €280,000, with €100,000 earmarked for the overall winner. Since its inception in 2003, the total awarded to innovative companies stands at €4.5 million.
As well as the chance to win a substantial cash prize, entrants will benefit from guidance, advice and feedback from business experts, investors and other entrepreneurs through a series of business planning workshops and mentorship support throughout the competition.
Shane O’Hanlon, Funding for Growth Manager, InterTradeIreland: “For 20 years, InterTradeIreland has supported businesses across the island and many of our biggest success stories have sprung from the Seedcorn competition.
“The support Seedcorn has given to new start and early-stage businesses goes beyond the €4.5 million cash funding. It includes invaluable advice from industry experts and the wider investment community designed to help these young companies refine their business plans and improve their pitches to potential investors.”
Jennifer McMahon, Principal, Seroba Life Sciences was on the Seedcorn 2018 judging panel and has praised the contribution the competition has made to the business community over the past 16 years: “The Seedcorn programme is an excellent all-Island initiative which helps more emerging entrepreneurs and exciting new innovators to succeed. While prize money is always of benefit to start-up and early-stage companies when striving to reach the next value inflection point, access to the wider InterTradeIreland guidance and investor network is probably the biggest benefit to all finalists.
“The long list of success stories from Seedcorn alumni is testament to the valuable contribution of InterTradeIreland in supporting the business community and promoting cross-border trade. Being a judge in this competition is always an enjoyable and rewarding experience as the calibre of companies is amongst the best in Europe.”
Previous Seedcorn winners include Barracuda FX Dublin, Loci Orthopaedics Galway, Valitacell Dublin, ALR Innovations Limerick and Epona Biotech/Stablelab Sligo.
InterTradeIreland will host a number of free workshops in April and May, aimed at helping those who are considering applying for this year’s Seedcorn competition to prepare their entries. For further details on how to apply please visit http://intertradeireland.com/seedcorn.
The closing date for entries is Friday 31 May at 13:00.
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