New Frontiers Showcase

Thirteen entrepreneurs, who have completed the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers Programme at the Rubicon Centre in Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), will showcase their business ideas in the Millennium Hall, City Hall, Cork, on Tuesday, April 24^th from 5.30pm. Awards will be presented for Best Business Opportunity and Overall Winner, Most Innovative Business Idea, Best Business Plan, Best Trade Stand and Best Video. Guest Speaker, Tomás O’Leary. former Munster, Ireland and Grand Slam winning rugby player, will share his experience in Elite Sport which is applicable in Business. Tomás is co-founder of TOLD & CO, a designer watch brand.

New Frontiers is the National Entrepreneur Development Programme, funded by Enterprise Ireland. It is delivered in CIT through the Rubicon Centre, Ireland’s largest on campus Business Incubator. “New Frontiers is the best programme of its kind in Ireland, with no equity taken in participant businesses” says Liam Fitzgerald, New Frontiers Programme Manager, “it gives businesses exposure to the full suite of supports available through Enterprise Ireland, including industry specialist mentors, market research resources, and international offices. It also acts as the most effective introduction into funding opportunities like the Competitive Start Fund and High Potential Start-up Funding. Participating on New Frontiers is likely to be the best strategic decision a business makes.”

Amongst those participating in the Showcase are: Joe Perrot, National Finalist in Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE): Nusrat J M Sanghamitra who previously won a Star Innovator Gold Award through the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, an Indian Government Award with 1,000 entries & Vincent Forde, who has already won numerous awards and is currently one of two nominees from Cork to go through to round two judging for the Boston Mass Challenge Accelerator.

Participants in the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers Programme, based in CIT, are focused on manufacturing or internationally traded services or have ambition to internationalise a domestically focused business. They are growth orientated with a strong foundation of innovation and/or technology and will create employment. Previous participants in the programme include successful businesses like Abtran, Aspira, Cully and Sully, Crest Solutions, Treemetrics and Radisens Diagnostics.

Maria Gavin, Programme Manager New Frontiers, Enterprise Ireland said “New Frontiers is unique in its national coverage with significant regional outreach as evidenced by CIT’s New Frontiers Phase 2 Programme. I would like to congratulate the graduates on their commitment to the New Frontiers process which has seen many go on to develop award-winning businesses to match their global ambition and acknowledge their bravery in embarking upon the entrepreneurial journey. I am in no doubt that all will benefit from the comprehensive set of business development supports that the programme affords.”

Award winners are chosen by an independent panel of expert stakeholders from RDJSolicitors, AIB, EY, The Irish Examiner and CIT. The evening will also feature expert panel discussion with experienced entrepreneurs and VC’s on start-up themes such as: Raising Finance, Driving Sales and the Entrepreneurial Journey.Everyone with an interest in start-ups and entrepreneurship is welcome to attend. Registration is free of charge here http://www.eventbrite.ie/e/new-frontiers-for-cork-start-ups-and-investors-tickets-44871433666