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GATEWAY UCC Hosts EI International Competitive Start Funding Pitching Event
GATEWAY UCC was delighted to play host to 13 International Entrepreneurs who are starting up businesses, all competing for Seed Funding from Enterprise Ireland under the EI Competitive Start Fund (CSF) aimed to support early stage start-ups.
GATEWAY UCC was delighted to play host to 13 International Entrepreneurs who are starting up businesses, all competing for Seed Funding from Enterprise Ireland under the EI Competitive Start Fund (CSF) aimed to support early stage start-ups. This call for applicants was specifically for start-ups that are currently based overseas but are willing to relocate to Ireland.
The fund was open to early stage companies in manufacturing & internationally traded services, including the following subsectors: Internet, Games, Apps, Mobile, SaaS, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, Lifesciences, Fintech, Food, Cleantech and Industrial Products. Attracting Entrepreneurs from right around the Globe.
The short-listed projects were invited to travel to Ireland to experience the start-up ecosystem and to pitch to the evaluation panel, which took place on Friday 18th November 2016 in GATEWAY UCC Business Incubation Centre.
The maximum support available was €50,000 for a 10% ordinary equity stake in the start-up company.
The purpose of the Competitive Start Fund is to accelerate the growth of start-up companies that have the capability to succeed in global markets. The fund is designed to enable those companies reach key commercial and technical milestones, for example:
- Evaluate overseas market opportunities and reach firm conclusions regarding the viability of the proposed business.
- Build a prototype.
- Secure a reference site.
- Develop a market entry plan for exploiting international opportunities.
- Secure partnership deal or strategic alliance.
- Identify suitable channels to international markets.
- Secure third party investment e.g. business angel, Venture Capital.
