Kilkenny County Council Local Enterprise Office in partnership with the South East Technological University and the Urlingford Town Team took an important first step on the the road to creating a Rural Innovation Hub in Exit 4 Urlingford on 13 June last.
The rural Innovation Hub is an initiative by the South Eastern Technological University, in partnership with Kilkenny County Council Local Enterprise Board and Urlingford Town Team CLG (T/A Exit 4).
The final of the “START Exit 4” competition, was held in Exit 4, Urlingford, Co Kilkenny on Friday 13th June. This successful initiative was organised by Kilkenny County Council, Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny, South East Technological University (SETU) and the Urlingford Town Team.
The South East Technological University- SETU- has chosen Exit 4 to be its partner in supporting the delivery of its programmes for rural innovation and collaboration in Kilkenny and in supporting rural enterprises develop key skills in areas that can drive their business forward, whilst helping them to build their own support networks within their local communities. For information on how to acces this support contct Ian Campbell Ian.Campbell@setu.ie
The initiative was launched back in April and the competition attracted entrepreneurs from right across the County with an array of tech related business ideas. The competition involved a series of business workshops and one-to-one mentoring culminating in a finale where finalists pitched their ideas towards an investment fund worth €10,000.
Following a series of individual pitches on Friday last 13th June to the judging panel which comprised of Aileen McGrath, Local Enterprise Office, Dymphna Hayes, Urlingford Town Team and Ian Campbell, SETU, the winners were announced. Shane Doherty was announced the overall winner. Shane is currently developing a fully integrated AI-powered hotel operating system aimed at improving revenue and overall efficiency for the hospitality sector. In second place, Mark Dunne received the award. He is currently developing an AI powered fintech platform for the corporate sector specifically providing a solution for the Mergers and Acquisitions landscape. In third place, Denis Queally, Awaken Botanical based in Urlingford, has developed a premium herbal wellness brand rooted in nature, science and personalisation.
At the Awards ceremony of the “START Exit 4” competition, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Michael McCarthy, Kilkenny County Council said, “The overall aim of this competition was to encourage and support people starting out on their entrepreneurial journey.” He added, “We hope the participants have enjoyed the experience and learnt a lot through participation in terms of refining the business proposition and developing an investor ready pitch which helped to prepare for future funding.”
Aileen McGrath, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny said, “Whilst the investment fund is a very important element of the competition, other business supports such as management training, networking and one-to-one mentoring are also at the heart of this competition. We hoped that by taking part, it was supported our finalists move their business proposals to the next level.”
For more information about supports from the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny, visit www.localenterprise.ie/kilkenny
ENDS
Photo Caption: At the final of the ‘START Exit 4” ‘competition, from left to right: Mark Dunne, 2nd place finalist, Aileen McGrath, Local Enterprise Office, Dymphna Hayes, Urlingford Town Team, Chief Executive Lar Power, Kilkenny County Council, Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael McCarthy, Cllr. Mary Hilda Cavanagh, Shane Doherty, Overall Winner, Ian Campbell, SETU and Denis Queally, third place finalist.