Seedcorn
Investor Readiness
Competition
Extended Slide Deck or Business Plan upload now open
Apply by Friday 8th August 2025, 1:00pm
Support to get 'Your idea to investment'
Get your business investor ready with real world experts
Get the chance to win a share of €800k prize fund
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Seedcorn Dashboard
Track your progress in the competition, upload your documents for Phase 2, view submission deadlines, and monitor what’s next in your Seedcorn journey.View Dashboard -
2025 Timetable
The Seedcorn competition opened for applications on 5th March 2025 and concludes with an awards ceremony on 6th November 2025More Info
What is Seedcorn?
The Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition is the perfect chance to get your business ‘investor ready’. With 3 categories, Business-to-Business, Business-to-Consumer and Deep Tech, the Seedcorn Competition mirrors the real-life investment process. Participants, who are in with a chance to win a share of a €800,000 cash prize fund, will receive expert feedback on their business ideas and pitches, improve their investor readiness and gain exposure to investors, all while boosting their firm’s profile.
Prizes
With a chance to win a share of the cash prize of €800k, the Seedcorn competition offers start-up businesses the chance to win big without giving away an equity stake. Companies will also benefit from expert feedback throughout the process. The Seedcorn competition is now open to even more businesses, with 3 categories, including Business-to-Business, Business-to-Consumer and Deep Tech.
Every business idea submitted is reviewed by our investment experts and you are given individual feedback. Shortlisted companies also get a unique opportunity to pitch to investors and business leaders.
€130,000
Overall winner
2x €100,000
Best B2B, B2C or Deep tech company winners
9x €50,000
Regional winners
€20,000
Impact award
Who Can Enter
- The competition is aimed at independent ventures incorporated on the island of Ireland (Ireland or Northern Ireland) in the seed, start up or early stages of business development and ideally targeting international markets.
- The competition is for individuals or venture teams, who have created, manage and own such ventures.
- The promoters/founder entrepreneurs are to have played a major role in conceiving the venture, continuing to have key management roles and to own significant equity.
- Ventures which have already raised external equity in excess of €1m (or sterling equivalent) are not eligible.
The judges are looking for the same elements as a potential investor including:
- High growth companies
- The optimum risk/reward profile
- A strong management team
- Ability to exit
