Hosted by the Local Enterprise Office Dublin City, the regional winners of Dublin City’s “Best Young Entrepreneurs” were announced this week. Three winners out of 15 local finalists were chosen from a variety of different categories; the winners will share a €50,000 investment fund. Runner ups were also chosen and awarded.
For the ‘Best New Idea Category’, Lizzy Hayashida, 34, won €7,000 from the investment fund. Hayashida is the founder of Change Donations, a community-oriented organisation that assists non-profit organisations fundraise effectively by using microdonations and improving communication between donors.
The ‘Best Start Up Business’ winner was Luke Mackey, 24, who won €15,00 for his business, Bamboo. Bamboo is an app that allows busy workers to order sit in or pick up meals from restaurants that are close to their work.
‘Best Established Business’, with a prize of €15,000 was 30 year old Devan Hughes. He is the founder of Buymie, an app that allows users to have grocery and home items delivered from the store to their door.
All of the winners attained specific business support from the Local Enterprise Office Dublin City, attended business boot camp where they were able to network with other entrepreneurs and be mentored by them.
The winners will move on to the Dublin Regional Finals on June 12th where 24 finalists will be selected to move onto the next round of the contest, ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’. This will take place September 15th and the winner will receive €100,000 at the award ceremony, which will take place at Google’s European Headquarters in Dublin.
