START Exit 4 competition open for innovative TECH start-ups
Kilkenny County Council, Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny, South East Technological University (SETU) and the Urlingford Town team are delighted to announce START Exit 4 Competition 2025.
START Exit 4 is open to anyone with an innovative business idea in the early stages of trading (within the first 18 months of trading or pre-trading)
If you have an original and innovative idea within the technology sector (e.g. Agri-Tech, AI, Ecommerce, FinTech, Gaming, Healthcare, ICT, IOT, Robotics, etc.) and intend setting up a business in Kilkenny, or already in the early stages of development, check out this competition.
The initiative will involve availing of LEO Kilkenny and SETU training and mentoring where appropriate and will culminate in a final comprising of an investor ready pitch for an investment fund worth €6,000. The prize fund will include access to office space to the value of €1,500 at the newly opened Exit 4, conferencing and remote working hub located in Urlingford.
To support budding entrepreneurs to come forward, LEO Kilkenny will run a START / Exit 4 workshop and Start Your Own Business Course at Exit 4, Urlingford during Spring/summer 2025. South East Technological University (SETU) will also be onsite to support applicants in the area.
It is not a requirement to take part in the workshop and course if you enter the competition however it is recommended as this will prepare you for the competition pitch. Mentoring will also be provided for competition entrants who do not take part in workshop and course.
Deadline for Entries is Friday 30th May 2025
Enter Now by clicking on the APPLY button on the screen
(When you click on APPLY you will then be asked to create an account to access the application form)
Best of Luck in the Competition!
Terms and Conditions
Application Entry
· The applicant must be the main promoter and owner of the business i.e. the applicant must have started or acquired the business and currently have the lead role in the business and a significant shareholding/ownership in the business.
· Only the person named on the application can participate in the competition, pitch and participate in PR opportunities. No substitutions are allowed.
· Applicants must own, control and manage their business Intellectual Property where applicable.
· Not for profit and social entrepreneurship applicants must operate on a commercial basis.
· The business address/CRO registration for the business should be a Kilkenny based address and evidence of registration will be requested. Alternatively, the business must register their business address at Exit 4 should they be the competition winner. This will be required before any prize fund is made available.
· Applicants must be aged 18 or over at closing date for applications to be eligible to apply – formal evidence of same may be sought at a later date.
· Eligibility starts from the closing date for applications i.e. 9th June 2025
· Applications must be submitted via the online platform system
https://submit.link/Km before the closing date of 9
th June 2025
· Applicants can only submit one entry into the competition.
Allocation & Drawdown of Investment Fun
· The Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny has discretion in relation to how they allocate the investment, keeping in mind that it must correlate to the investment proposal submitted. The investment must be used for a legitimate business development plan.
· The Award will be made up of a combination of cash prize and targeted business development supports depending on the requirements of the winning business and the proposed expenditure plan and timeframe for expenditure.
· Voucher for use at Exit 4, Urlingford for office space is not redeemable for cash or cannot be substituted.
· Funding does not need to be all paid out immediately and can be paid out in instalments linked to milestone achievements agreed with the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny and judging panel.
· Overall the Local Enterprise Office need to be satisfied that funding decisions agreed must stand up to public scrutiny and comply with normal public expenditure accounting procedures
· Please note the decision of the judging panel is final and if no business proposals meets with the minimum scoring criteria, the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny is not obliged to award any investment.
· All Awards must be claimed and paid out before Friday 14th November 2025.