Sligo Entrepreneur Reaches Final of IBYE Competition
Local Enterprise Office Sligo has confirmed that Heinrich Anhold from Stablelab in Sligo has clinched a place in the national final of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition in Dublin this March.
The 35-year-old is competing in the ‘Best Established Business’ and is one of three young entrepreneurs who will represent Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Longford. The local entrepreneur now has the opportunity, along with 23 other national finalists, to become Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur and share in a €100,000 winners’ investment fund.
The three category winners who will go forward to the National Final were announced at the Regional Final at the Radisson Hotel in Sligo this evening (26th January). The two other National Finalists who were selected by the judging panel are: Gillian Doyle of ‘Cerebreon’ from Donegal in the ‘Best Business Idea’ category and Brian O’Rourke of ‘CitySwifter’ from Longford in the ‘Best Start-Up Business’ category.
In his address at the Awards ceremony, The Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Councillor Hubert Keaney said
"I want to commend Minister Breen and his Department for investing over €1.5M in this initiative, which has attracted 180 talented and ambitious entrepreneurs from every county in Ireland. From Sligo County Council’s perspective, we acknowledge this awards ceremony as an excellent forum to showcase and encourage young entrepreneurs in this region."
John Reilly, the Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Sligo, congratulated the local entrepreneur, saying:
"We started the search to find and support Ireland’s best young entrepreneurs in September last year, and after a very successful bootcamp, County Final and now Regional Final, the county will be proudly represented in the ultimate stage of the competition – the IBYE National Final in March."
Judging takes place in early March and each finalist will have the opportunity to pitch their business plan to the judging panel. They will be assessed on criteria such as the level of innovation in their business, the potential for future job creation and their leadership skills.
The Sligo finalist has developed a handheld blood-test product for the equestrian industry which delivers rapid blood analysis, right at the side of the animal. The product is generating significant industry interest and is selling extremely well, esp. in the U.S. market.
Aimed at 18 to 35-year-olds, the IBYE initiative is run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) nationwide, and supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland. The investment awards will be used by the young entrepreneurs to help fund business start-ups, create new jobs locally and help develop new products for international markets.
Competition details and results are available from www.ibye.ie and information around the supports available to young entrepreneurs through the Local Enterprise Offices is available from www.localenterprise.ie