IBYE is a programme run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) with the support of the Department of Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland. The competition is open to people between the ages of 18 and 35 with an innovative business idea, new start-up or established business. Now in its 5th year, IBYE has an investment fund of up to €2million. IBYE is a nationwide competition, run across three categories: Best Business Idea, Best Start-Up Business and Best Established Business. Up to 450 young entrepreneurs will be invited by the LEOs to attend free regional ‘Entrepreneur Bootcamps’ later in the year to help them develop their business and new venture ideas.
With an IBYE investment fund of €50,000 each, every LEO will award up to six investments to three category winners and three runners-up at county level. The local winners in the Best Start-Up and Best Established Business categories at county level will receive investments of up to €15,000 each and the two runners-up will each receive up to €5,000.
It could be you…………
A €50,000 Investment Fund will be awarded to the Category Winners and Runners-Up from each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices, an Investment Fund of a further €100,000 is available for the winners of the IBYE National Final.
€2 Million available in investment funds and targeted supports#
The IBYE competition was happening at a very important time in Strong Roots’ growth – we had just entered the U.K market and had doubled our range of products. The competition amplified everything we had going on by providing mentorship, reach and financial support. The prize money allowed us to fast track a critical piece of feasibility research identifying opportunities for us in the U.S market. I can’t thank the LEO enough for everything they do in support of local businesses.
IBYE was a not only a great experience it really challenged my future business plans and made me really think about what direction I wanted my business to develop. I found the business booth camp invaluable for picking up business ideas and discussing challenges that other entrepreneurs were experiencing. IBYE provided great National exposure for my business
The whole IBYE programme came at a great time for The Cool Bean Company and for me personally. Winning Best Start Up in the county finals was an incredible moment for Cool Beans. It’s not easy starting your own business as all entrepreneurs know so it was amazing validation for us and for the business that we’re going in the right direction. Personally, I really benefitted from the Entrepreneurs’ Bootcamp which was an amazing opportunity to step away from the day to day running of the business and focus more on the bigger picture. The energy in the room was incredible.
Winning best Irish start-up in the 2015 IBYE competition was one of the highlights of our short entrepreneurial careers. There were immediate tangible benefits for our company as many partnership opportunities arose from the PR fallout of the program finale.
Moreover, we still have strong ties with a lot of the other competing entrepreneurs we met during the program and the value of these relationships will only increase over time. IBYE was an overwhelmingly positive experience that gave a feeling of being connected within the Irish start-up ecosystem. I would encourage any young Irish entrepreneur to participate, at the very least you will learn
The IBYE Competition was a fantastic opportunity to engage with fellow young entrepreneurs. The competition enabled us to develop our business plan with assistance from the Local Enterprise Office and to fine tune our investment proposal. I would highly recommend the IBYE Competition to any young entrepreneur looking to set up or develop their business.
Partaking in the IBYE competition and winning the national title was a truly incredible experience and will not be soon forgotten. I learnt a great deal about myself, met some fantastic people who I now call friends and built and developed a deeper understand of my business that has resulted in far reaching benefits.
I got so much support from the IBYE Program; the advice, workshops, funding and, above all, benefitting from a great network of like-minded entrepreneurs. The program helped our business share its message with people diagnosed with Parkinson’s and to scale up our R & D to enhance our impact in the marketplace. We recommend all young entrepreneurs to apply for the IBYE initiative.
Submit your application and optional video online
All applicants are invited to attend a full day event organised by their local LEO to include briefing on all LEO Supports, the competition stages and rules and judging criteria
Applicants screened on assessment criteria. Participants selected for County Entrepreneur Bootcamp.
County Finalists will enter into a specialised Entrepreneur Bootcamp to help develop their business skills and to build a viable business plan to commercialise the opportunity.
Participants from the Entrepreneur Bootcamp will submit their final business plan and make a pitch to the County Assessment Panel. This Panel will consist of a minimum of three judges to be selected by the Local Enterprises Office. Three Category Winners and from these Winners one overall County Winner will be selected. All three Winners will progress to the Regional Final.
In total 93 County Winners will progress to the Regional Finals. Each Regional Finalist will receive additional mentoring and business support prior to making a pitch to the Regional Assessment Panel. In total 24 Category Winners will be selected to progress to the National Final.
The 24 Finalists will compete for the three National Category Awards for Best Business Idea, Best Start Up Business and Best Established Business. In addition Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur for 2019 will be announced.