Margaret Charleton, Regional Development Executive, Enterprise Ireland; Tom Hayes, Head of Entrepreneurship & Regions, Enterprise Ireland; An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, launched the new Enterprise Ireland €200,000 Competitive Feasibility Fund for the West Region. The fund, which can provide up to €25,000 per initiative, is aimed at stimulating innovative start-ups and creating jobs and growth in the region.

The Fund is now open for applications from entrepreneurs and early-stage start-up companies in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, and will close at 3pm on Tuesday, 20 October 2015.

The purpose of the Competitive Feasibility Fund is to enable the promoter to assess the viability and the market potential of their business idea. Through the fund, Enterprise Ireland is seeking to support business ideas that are likely to achieve significant growth within three to four years, with sales of €1 million+ per annum and employment of 10 or more.

The fund is open to individuals, early-stage companies or prospective businesses involved in manufacturing and internationally traded services, including sectors such as internet, games, apps, cloud computing, enterprise software, life sciences, food, beverages, consumer products, industrial products, engineering, medical devices and e-health.

Full details of the fund, including the application form, are available here.