€1m funding available from Enterprise Ireland to international entrepreneurs and recent graduates

Two Competitive Start Fund (CSF) competitions – the International Entrepreneurship CSF and the Graduate Entrepreneurship CSF,, combining a total of €1million in funding from Enterprise Ireland will open for applications on Wednesday 24^th August 2016.

Applications are invited from ambitious graduates and international entrepreneurs with early stage companies capable of succeeding in global markets, creating jobs and growth.

Twenty successful applicants will receive high-level business development support and an investment of up to €50,000 each. The CSF is designed to accelerate the growth of start-ups and enable companies to reach key commercial and technical milestones.

The funds are open to companies active in manufacturing and internationally traded services targeting Internet, Games, Apps, Mobile, SaaS, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, Lifesciences, Food, Cleantech and Industrial Products.

The International Entrepreneurship CSF is a competition specifically for start-ups that are currently based overseas but are willing to relocate to Ireland. Successful applicants from outside the EU will be eligible for a Startup Entrepreneur Visa. Applicants for the Graduate Entrepreneurship CSF must be a graduate with a third level qualification within the last three years.

In addition to written online applications, companies will be asked to prepare an online video pitch. Companies must meet certain eligibility criteria and applicants may apply for either the International Entrepreneurship or the Graduate Entrepreneurship CSF, but not both.

Both competitions will close at 3pm on Wednesday 7^th September 2016 and full details are available at www.enterprise-ireland.com.