merrion street

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton today announced the establishment by Enterprise Ireland of a new €250,000 Competitive Feasibility Fund for Female Entrepreneurs aimed at continuing to significantly boost the number of high potential female-led business start-ups. This initiative is part of a drive by Enterprise Ireland to boost the number of innovative, export-oriented businesses being set up and led by female entrepreneurs.

Making the announcement, the Minister said:

A key part of the Government’s plan for jobs and growth is encouraging more businesses to start-up, grow, and create jobs. Making sure that we have a substantial increase in the number of female-led start-ups is part of that strategy.  As part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs in 2012, Enterprise Ireland launched a new women-in-business drive to support female entrepreneurs, including several female competitive funding programmes which attracted a very high level of applicants with ambitious and innovative projects.  Today’s announcement that we are targeting this new €250,000 competitive feasibility fund specifically at start-up companies led by women will build on this momentum – ensuring that more women get involved in starting businesses, getting into exports, and creating jobs.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 10 September 2013.