Tipperary Businessman shortlisted for top national entrepreneur award – Noel Coonan TD

Fine Gael TD for Tipperary, Noel Coonan, has said that Tipperary businessman Philip Martin will next Sunday (December 6th) compete for the title of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) for 2015. The competition is run by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in order to encourage young entrepreneurs to innovate and create the products that

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“I want to commend Philip Martin and his company Blanco Nino for reaching the finals of this prestigious and extremely competitive national competition. Philip presented his idea to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton and the panel of judges at a judging session in the Department of Jobs in Dublin this week. This was Philip’s opportunity to make a final pitch to the judges ahead of the IBYE National Final in Google’s European HQ in Dublin on Sunday 6th December.

Mr Martin had to come through county stages and regional stages of the competition in order to reach the final. Over 1,400 young Irish entrepreneurs, aged between 18 and 30, participated in this year’s €2 million IBYE competition, part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2015, which is being run by the Local Enterprise Offices.

Deputy Coonan continued: “The 24 finalists from 17 counties have now made it to the national final for a chance to win an investment of up to €70,000 in their business. By reaching the final, Philip joins a select group of the top young entrepreneurs in the country. I wish him success in the final on December 6th.

“The Government has initiated this competition in order to encourage and support entrepreneurs from around the country. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups, and that is why we are putting in place a range of measures, including the IBYE competition, to support, encourage and celebrate the young people who start those businesses that are the bedrock of our economy.

“Participation in IBYE provides can prove invaluable for young entrepreneurs. Through the course of this year’s IBYE competition, 450 young entrepreneurs have already participated in business bootcamps, 92 local winners have won ‘game changing’ investments of between €10,000 and €20,000 for their businesses and hundreds more have been offered training and mentoring opportunities,” concluded Deputy Coonan.