Complete the initial application

To apply for the competition, you will need to provide us with some information on your company to ensure that you are eligible. Application for the competition is a two stage process:

• Initial application form

• Visual representation of the business idea

The initial application form involves you telling us about your business by answering twelve questions covering the relevant sections. Text boxes are limited in size to 50 words. You cannot use more than 50 words to answer any one question.

The visual representation of the business idea can either be a short video clip or a slide show presentation, or both. Video clips MUST be limited to three minutes in length. If clips are submitted that are longer than three minutes, they will not be viewed past the three minute mark. Slide decks should be limited to under 15 slides.

The closing date for applications is 28 June 2013.

Selection process

After the closing date of 28 June 2013, all applications will be grouped into the region that they have entered from:

• Dublin (City & County)
• Munster
• Connacht & Leinster (including counties Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan)
• Northern Ireland

An initial selection panel will shortlist applications and invite successful companies to prepare a full business plan.

Submit Business Plan

Shortlisted companies should prepare a full business plan. The plan should be limited to 25 pages of A4 paper plus appendices.

To help prepare and develop your business plan, shortlisted companies can download the free business planning guide InterTradeIreland Business Cube Guide (356 KB) or attend one of the various business planning workshops which will take place in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast and Derry/Londonderry.

Plans should be pre-formatted and submitted in PDF format before 11th September 2013 .

Regional Finals and investment pitch masterclasses

Following submission of the full business plans, a selection panel will assess and score the business plans. The top three plans in each region and in each category will be invited to pitch at their respective regional final. After their pitch, regional winners are selected for each of the two categories in each of the four regions.

The dates of the regional finals are:

5 November 2013      NI regional final - InterTradeIreland Offices, Newry

7 November 2013      Dublin regional final - InterTradeIreland Offices, Newry

12 November 2013    Connacht & Leinster regional final – Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone

14 November 2013    Munster regional final – Maryborough House Hotel, Cork

Prior to attending the regional final, each company shortlisted will have to opportunity to attend an investment pitch master class to assist them in the preparation of their pitch. The master classes will be held in Newry, Dublin, Athlone and Cork and will take place in October 2013.

Final Judging and Awards Ceremony

Following the regional finals, the judging panel will select the winning companies in each category. There will be eight winning companies, four New Start companies and four Early Stage companies who will be invited to pitch to a separate panel of judges at the all-island final which will take place in Dublin on Wednesday 27 November 2013.

The judging panel will select the two overall winners in each category and these will be announced at the award ceremony the same evening.  Overall winners will receive their prize (either €50,000 or €100,000) payable by instalments based on achieving the key performance indicators in the business plan to finance the early stages of the venture.