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SEI has E500m for entrepreneurs

Monday, February 11 15:51:56

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) has half a million euro in new funds for Ireland's brightest and most ambitious emerging entrepreneurs as part of its 2013 Awards programme.

Applications for the awards programme close next Monday and SEI said numbers already exceeded 2012 levels, when SEI received over 200 applications.

These were put forward by entrepreneurs with game-changing ideas to solve the social problems facing Ireland and SEI is now looking for a new batch of applicants.

This year SEI will provide E500,000 in funding to eight social entrepreneurs, as well as a further E250,000 in professional consultation and support. This will ensure the entrepreneurs are equipped to scale and grow their businesses, and positively impact as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.

Three Social Entrepreneurs will be awarded the top level "Impact Award" and E130,000 in direct funding, with over E70,000 worth of support over two years. A further five will receive the "Elevator Award" and E22,000 in direct funding, with over E10,000 worth of support over one year.

Over the last seven years SEI has supported 161 social entrepreneurs, investing E4.9 million in their projects and provided significant additional supports. These in turn have directly impacted over 200,000 people across Ireland and created over 800 employment opportunities in the process.

Sean Coughlan, CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, said:"The application process is a hugely exciting one for us as we get a snapshot into the lives of Ireland's most innovative entrepreneurs all focused on changing Ireland for the better. In previous years we have been bombarded with game changing solutions in every stage of development from a scribble on a note pad to an established organisation looking to diversify".