Final of the €2 million IBYE competition will take place in March in Dublin
Adrian Fleming from Accuvio Sustainability Software in George’s Quay, Limerick has been selected to compete in the National final of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition in Dublin this March.
The 33-year-old was competing in the established business category in the Regional Finals held in Bunratty.
Accuvio Sustainable Software was founded by Adrian Fleming in 2009 after he was made redundant by DELL when they ceased manufacturing at their plant in Raheen. Accuvio provide large multi-national companies in 44 countries with a software platform to report their global energy and sustainability performance for regulatory and voluntary purposes.
The Regional winners across three categories who will go forward to the National Final were announced at the Regional Final in Bunratty, Co. Clare by Pat Breen TD, Minister for Employment and Small Business.
In addition to Adrian, the judging panel chose Damien Mason, Flexibod from Scariff, Co. Clare in the Best Business Idea Category and Derek Counihan, Harpoon from Tralee, Co. Kerry in the Best Start-Up category.
Adrian now has the opportunity, along with 23 other national finalists, to become Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur and share in a €100,000 winners’ investment fund.
Speaking at the event, Minister Breen said: “IBYE is not just a competition, it is a training ground to guide and mentor young entrepreneurs through all the stages of developing and sustaining a business. The aim of the initiative is to support a culture of entrepreneurship among young people, to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice, and to encourage young people to set up new businesses which will ultimately create and sustain jobs.”
“What we have witnessed here is the proof that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in this region. We need more of this energy and commitment in order to create and sustain more jobs across the regions”.
“I want to congratulate the winners here tonight and to all of you who entered the competition in the region which comprises LEOs Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Kerry. It takes courage and commitment to start up a business. I hope that your participation in IBYE has set you on a path to continued success. We should all look forward to the final with great enthusiasm and I wish all three category winners the very best of luck at the National Final on 5th March."
Eamon Ryan, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Limerick, congratulated Adrian on his achievement, saying: “We started the search to find and support Ireland’s best young entrepreneurs in September last year, and after a very successful bootcamp, County Final and now Regional Final, Limerick will be proudly represented in the ultimate stage of the competition – the IBYE National Final in March.”
Pat Daly, Deputy Chief Executive Limerick City and County Council congratulated Accuvio and added: “the future of enterprise in Limerick is very bright judging by the entries to this year’s IBYE and the positive attitude of all of the young entrepreneurs. We want to create and foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, to allow us to grow into the future.”
Judging takes place in early March and each finalist will have the opportunity to pitch their business plan to the judging panel. hey will be assessed on criteria such as the level of innovation in their business, the potential for future job creation and their leadership skills.
Aimed at 18 to 35-year-olds, the IBYE initiative is run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) nationwide, and supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland. The investment awards will be used by the young entrepreneurs to help fund business start-ups, create new jobs locally and help develop new products for international markets.
Competition details and results are available from www.ibye.ie and information around the supports available to young entrepreneurs through the Local Enterprise Offices is available from http://www.localenterprise.ie
About IBYE: www.ibye.ie
- Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) is an enterprise initiative run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices around the country and funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland. A €2 million investment fund is available through IBYE which supports young entrepreneurs through training, mentoring and direct financial investments.
- During the application phase (closing date of October 14th 2016), the competition was open to those aged between 18 and 35 with an innovative business idea, new start-up or established business, including: individuals, venture teams, partnerships, existing businesses with a new idea, or people overseas (including Irish emigrants) who will headquarter in Ireland.
- A record 1,842 young entrepreneurs submitted entries to the current competition, a 32% increase on the previous year.
The three categories and county prize funds were as follows:
- Best Business Idea (pre-trading) – up to €10,000 investment fund through every LEO (€7,000 for category winner and €3,000 for runner-up, through every LEO)
- Best Start-Up Business (up to 36 months), with up to €20,000 investment fund through every LEO (€15,000 for category winner and €5,000 for runner-up, through every LEO)
- Best Established Business (over 36 months) with up to €20,000 investment fund through every LEO (€15,000 for category winner and €5,000 for runner-up, through every LEO)
At the County Final stage before Christmas, winners and runners-up were awarded investment funds and category winners were then invited represent their area at one of eight Regional Finals in January and February 2017.
Three national finalists, one for every category, are currently being selected to represent that Region at the National Final in March 2017.
A total of 24 national finalists will compete to become “Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur”, with a €100,000 investment fund to be shared between five prize winners on March 5th.