Tipp Food Entrepreneur Wins ‘Best New Idea’ at Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur National Final #IBYE

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, announced Eamon Keane (2nd from left) of Xpreso, South Dublin as ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ and winner in the ‘Best Start Up’ category, Dean Gammell (right) of The Group System from Co. Westmeath as winner of ‘Best Established Business with Add On’ and Philip Martin of Blanco Nino from Co. Tipperary as the winner of ‘Best New Idea’ at the first-ever ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ (IBYE) competition National Final, held at Google’s European Headquarters in Dublin. A total investment fund of eur100,000 was awarded to the three winning companies, in a competition that attracted over 1,100 entries when it was launched earlier this year through the Local Enterprise Offices and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Each of the three finalists also wins a place at the Google ‘Adopt a Start Up’ programme next year. The Google award for ‘Best Online Promotion of a Business’ was also announced and went to Padraig O’Scanaill, from Fund Recs in Waterford. Photo: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Philip Martin of Blanco Nino has won the ‘Best New Idea’ award at Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition, winning a total €20,000 investment fund for his business through the Local Enterprise Offices. The Minister for Jobs, Richard Bruton T.D. made the announcement in front of 350 guests at the first-ever national final, held at Google’s European Headquarters in Dublin.

Supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the nationwide competition forms part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 with an overall investment fund of €2 million awarded to county winners and national winners.

Martin, who’s setting up Ireland’s first corn tortilla factory in Tipperary, is being supported by the Local Enterprise Office Tipperary.

The ‘Best Start Up’ award and overall title of ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’, with the €50,000 investment prize, went to Eamon Keane of Xpreso Software in South Dublin; the ‘Best Established Business with Add On’ award and €30,000 investment prize went to Dean Gammell from The Group System in Westmeath.

Each of the three finalists also wins a place at the Google ‘Adopt a Start Up’ programme next year. Meanwhile, the Google award for ‘Best Online Promotion of a Business’ went to Padraig O’ Scanaill, from Fund Recs in Waterford.

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton T.D said: “In Ireland we have great entrepreneurs – we just don’t have enough of them. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups and so we must encourage more young people to consider starting a business as a career choice – to become the job-creators of the future.

“We began the first-ever search for Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur last May, to support, encourage and celebrate the people who start the businesses that Ireland needs. Over 1,000 young entrepreneurs responded to the call and 400 of those have participated in bootcamps and mentoring programmes around the country since then.

“On behalf of the Government, I’d like to congratulate Philip Martin of Blanco Nino on winning the ‘Best New Business Idea’ award. But more importantly, I’d like to congratulate all 24 finalists – and all 1000 young people who entered this competition. I’ve been personally massively inspired by the energy, commitment and sheer quality of these young business-people. We are relying on these young entrepreneurs to create the jobs of tomorrow, and I am determined to ensure that Government supports them in every way possible on their journey.”

Rita Guinan of the Local Enterprise Office Tipperary congratulated the young entrepreneur, saying:    “We are all incredibly proud of what Philip and Blanco Nino have achieved. Since the doors of the Local Enterprise Office first opened for business earlier this year, we’ve been supporting hundreds of entrepreneurs and new start-ups, just like Blanco Nino, helping them on their business journey. For those young entrepreneurs involved in this year’s competition and for anyone else considering starting a business, the doors of the Local Enterprise Office are always open.”

In all, 24 finalists from 17 counties competed for the overall title and 9 of them made a live pitch to the judging panel at today’s final round at the Foundry in Google. This year’s judging panel included two entrepreneurs: Sarah Doyle of Kinesense and Brian Crowley of the TTM Group, alongside Colin Goulding of Google, Mary Fitzpatrick of the Local Enterprise Offices and Tom Hayes of Enterprise Ireland.

Details for all the finalists are available at www.ibye.ie and by searching #ibye on social media and YouTube.