Calling Newry, Mourne and Down companies - Seedcorn Competition launches with €280k cash prize up for grabs! InterTradeIreland provides the successful formula for Investor Readiness

Newry, Mourne and Down entrepreneurs could get a huge cash boost for their business, thanks to a total prize fund of €280,000 being offered by InterTradeIreland’s Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition 2015. Now in its 13^th year, InterTradeIreland is calling on young, innovative companies from all business sectors to enter the competition.

Speaking about the competition, Connor Sweeney, InterTradeIreland, said: ‘With a cash prize fund of €280,000 up for grabs, Seedcorn provides a great opportunity for early stage and new start companies in Northern Ireland. But Seedcorn is more than just a competition – entrants can get invaluable guidance, tips and advice from our experts, as well as investors and other entrepreneurs, on how to improve their business plan and investment pitch and demonstrate to investors that their business is worth investing in.’

Drew O’Sullivan, InterTradeIreland’s Lead Equity Advisor adds; ‘There has never been a better time for an investor ready company to seek funding in Northern Ireland. The Seedcorn competition encourages and assists the best start-ups on the island to become investor ready. The purpose of a business plans and slide deck is to make the investment case for a prospective investor – how might their investment today multiply in value in the next 3-5 years? The Seedcorn process is designed to help great start-ups develop those compelling investment cases.’

To date, InterTradeIreland has supported more than 2,150 enterprising companies through the Seedcorn process with previous finalists going on to secure more than €187m worth of new equity. 

This year’s competition is now open for registration at www.intertradeireland.com/seedcorn and Northern Ireland businesses are encouraged to submit an entry. Deadline for submissions is 29 May 2015. Local businesses can enter in one of the two categories; new start or early stage.

You can follow all the action throughout the 2015 competition by searching for and using #seedcorn and following @iti_seedcorn