Overview
Am I Eligible?
Maximum Funding
How do I Apply?
Call Close Dates
Assessment Criteria
Contact Details/More Information
Overview of the Competitive Feasibility Fund for Female Entrepreneurs
Enterprise Ireland is the state agency responsible for supporting the development of manufacturing and internationally traded services companies. The objective of the Competitive Feasibility Fund for Female Entrepreneurs is to assist a female-led new start-up company or female entrepreneur to investigate the viability of a new growth orientated business proposition that has the potential to become a High Growth Potential Start-up (HPSU). These are companies that can develop scalable innovative technologies, products and services for sale on world markets.
The purpose of the Feasibility Grant is to to enable the female promoter (and Enterprise Ireland) to reach firm conclusions regarding the project's viability and set out investor-ready plans and financials associated with developing and commercialising the product or service on international markets. The Fund is open to manufacturing and internationally traded services business, including sectors such as ICT, Industrial, Food, Internet, Games, SaaS, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, Telecoms, Lifesciences, Cleantech, and engineering, electronics and construction etc.
Typical elements involved in carrying out a feasibility study include:
- Market research
- Cost analysis
- Financial projections
- Manufacturing process assessment
- Plant evaluation and selection
- Raw material sourcing
- Prototyping
- Negotiating with potential joint venture partners or obtaining a manufacturing licence may also be included
Am I Eligible?
A female entrepreneur or a female as part of the lead management team, with a business start up that has the potential to create jobs and export growth. The new business should be;
- Less than 3 years since the date of incorporation.
- a manufacturing or an internationally traded services business.*
- Not involved in activities that fall within gambling or "gaming" as defined in the Gaming & Lotteries Act 1956.
*Projects focused solely on the domestic market may not be considered to have significant growth potential.
What is the maximum funding available and what costs are eligible?
Up to €250,000 in total, will be allocated to this Competitive Feasibility Fund for Female Entrepreneurs. The maximum grant funding available for an individual feasibility study is 50% of eligible expenditures. The maximum level of grant funding is €25,000.
Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. Enterprise Ireland will assess eligibility of the activities proposed in the study and associated costs. The amount of support will be determined by the Evaluation Panel following this assessment.
Any expenditure incurred prior to the call close date is not eligible for support.
| Eligible Expenditures | Maximum Limits and Notes |
| Salaries and Overheads | - Maximum salary support of €1,000 per week (€200 per day) for a maximum of 12 weeks (60 days) per employee/promoter.
- Only time spent on the proposed project by employees/promoter of the company can be applied for.
- Support for external consultants must be applied for in the Consultancy Fees section.
- Employee time spent attending Trade Fairs is ineligible.
- Overheads of up to a maximum of 30% of eligible salary costs can be applied for.
|
| Foreign Travel and Subsistence | - Only Travel and Subsistence costs for overseas trips related to the proposed project are allowed.
- Foreign Travel and Subsistence costs must be for company employees.
- Subsistence rate is to cover all out of pocket expenses including hotels, meals, taxis local fares, incidentals etc.
- If Foreign Travel and Subsistence is for Trade Fairs it is limited to 5 employees.
- Eligible Travel Costs: Economy Air/Ferry or Rail Fares, Mileage (60c per kilometre) or Economy Car Hire (note mileage cannot be claimed on Hire Cars)
- Eligible Subsistence Rates: Overnight Rate - 24 hr period, max €200 per Day rate, < 24 hours €60.
|
| Consultancy Fees | - Costs of hiring a specialist consultant to input into or undertake the proposed project for a maximum of 30 days per consult/firm.
- Max. Consultancy rates: Days 1 to 20: €900 per day, Days 21 to 30: €700 per day.
- Where a consultancy firm has more than one consultant engaged, the aggregate number of days worked by all consultants engaged on the project is counted.
- Daily rates to be inclusive of travel and subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses.
- Where there is more than one consultancy firm involved on the project, the rates & limits apply to each firm separately.
|
| Trade Fair Costs | - N.B. - Only the cost of the grantee’s first-time participation in an international Trade Fair/Trade Show in any one country is eligible.
- Not available to Large Companies.
- Eligible Expenditures relating to Trade Fair: Entry Fees - for a max of 5 company employees, Rental of exhibition space/stand, Stand Set-up and Installation Costs, Sundries: expenditure of €500 is allowable towards the cost of trade show related promotional material, brochure design/printing costs, translation costs etc.
- Purchase of equipment/ICT etc is ineligible
- Participation at conferences, symposiums, standalone company events, demonstrations or meetings are not eligible for support.
|
| Prototype/Materials Costs | - Prototype materials, specialised software tools, hire of equipment or facilities and other sundry costs relating to building a prototype are eligible.
- Where consultants/contractors are being used to input into the prototype design/build, the costs should be entered in the Consultancy Fees section of the application form.
- Employee time should be entered under the Salaries and Overheads section.
- Capital items/equipment costs such as laptops, servers are not eligible under this expenditure item.
|
How Do I Apply?
Download and complete the official Female Entrepreneurship application form and reference document. Only applications submitted using the official application form will be deemed eligible.
Call Close Dates
This call closed on 4th September 2012.
Assessment Criteria and Evaluation Process
Project evaluation will consist of a two phase Assessment:
Assessment Part 1:
An evaluation panel comprising three representatives of Enterprise Ireland will evaluate each application and will score them under the following criteria: a maximum of 20 applications will proceed to the next stage.
| Evaluation Criteria | Weighting |
| Promoter(s)/ Team profile, track record and knowledge of this sector, market etc. | 40% |
| Customer demand and the long -term potential of the Business to achieve significant growth in three to four years (sales of €1m per annum and employment of 10 or more). | 20% |
| Feasibility study planned activities and expenditure (and the likelihood of achieving the feasibility study objectives) | 20% |
| Innovation level of proposed product / service | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Assessment Part 2:
The short-listed applicants will be invited to make a short presentation to an Evaluation Panel comprising industry experts and representatives of Enterprise Ireland. The presentation will take place at the offices of Enterprise Ireland, Eastpoint, Dublin on Tuesday 18th September.
The evaluation panel will score the applicant’s presentation based on the following weighted criteria:
| Evaluation Criteria | Weighting |
| Promoter(s)/ Team profile, track record and knowledge of this sector, market etc. | 40% |
| Customer demand and the long -term potential of the Business to achieve significant growth in three to four years (sales of €1m per annum and employment of 10 or more). | 20% |
| Feasibility Study planned activities and expenditure (and the likelihood of achieving the feasibility study objectives) | 20% |
| Innovation level of proposed product / service | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Download the Female Entrepreneurship Reference Document.
National supports for Female Entrepreneurship
 | StartUp Enquiries
Tel: + 353 1 7272130 |
| Gillian Slattery, Enterprise Ireland, Shannon
Tel: + 353 61 777027 |