Search under way for the next top entrepreneurs

The search for the next entrepreneurs to resuscitate the economy hasbegun, with Enterprise Ireland, the National Research and Design Centre LaunchPad programme, and it@cork announcing a new batch of start-ups.

Enterprise Ireland called for people to enter its New Frontiers programme which offers applicants €15,000 funding, office space, mentoring, and workshops. Enterprise Ireland is planning to invest more than €12m over the next three years to the programme. Already 120 business ventures have participated.

Head of research and innovation and highpotential start-ups, Greg Treston, said that feedback has been very positive from participants.

“We are excited to be launching the programme for the next three years and look forward to working with more first-time entrepreneurs to help them build the skills and capabilities necessary to bring their ideas and ambition to success in the highly demanding international marketplace and as a result create more sustainable jobs in Ireland,” he said.

The 14 participants in the National Research and Design Centre LaunchPad programme can look forward to receiving €20,000 in funding. The programme has a strong track record with more than 100 start-ups passing through and securing €10m in investment. Two of the most successful graduates of the programme are LogEntries, a company providing cloud log management services and raised $1.1m in investment from Polaris Ventures in Jul 2012, and Boxever, the customer analytics company that secured €800,000 last year.

LaunchPad director Gary Leyden said the programme is perfect for taking ideas from the blackboard to the boardroom.

Meanwhile, it@cork European Tech Cluster programme announced the second year of its innovation that matters programme, which will be focusing on the Chinese market. The winningentrant will receive a paid trip to China. More info: itcork.ie for details.

Closing date is Mar 21.