Stages

31 LEOs: 3 Category Winners Per County and 1 Overall County Winner

93 County Winners will go on to compete at Regional Level. 24 Regional Winners will be announced and progress to the National Final. At the National Final 3 Category Winners and an overall Competition Winner will be announced as “Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur”
  • Application Stage

Submit Online Application and optional video 

  • Screening Process Stage 

Applicants screened on assessment criteria (See relevant section on website). Participants selected for County Entrepreneur Bootcamp

  • Entrepreneur Bootcamp Stage 

County Finalists will enter into a specialised Entrepreneur Bootcamp to help develop their business/ business idea.

  • Final Pitch and County Finals Stage 

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 Enterprise Office. Three Category Winners and from these Winners one overall County Winner will be selected. All three Winners will progress to the Regional Final.

  • Regional Finals Stage 

In total 93 County Winners will progress to the Regional Finals. Each Regional Finalist may 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

  • National Final Stage 

The 24 Finalists will compete for the three National Category Awards for Best Business Idea, Best Business Start-Up, and Best Established Business.