A CLARINA-based businessman who aims to revolutionise how the world approaches search and rescue operations is in the running to be named Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) for 2019.
22-year old Eoghan Mulcahy will represent Limerick and the Mid-West Region in the National Finals of IBYE in the Best Idea Category with his business idea called Deepseek, which uses the power of artificial intelligence to automate rescue missions using unmanned robotic systems.
Eoghan along with the 23 other finalists across three categories met with Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys. and Junior Business Minister Pat Breen at Government Buildings in the lead up to the IBYE National Final.
The finalists had the opportunity to discuss their businesses and ideas with the Ministers ahead of the grand final, which takes place this Sunday [15 September] in Google HQ in Dublin.
The 24 entrepreneurs also attended a pitch-training day at Google HQ in Dublin where they were given extensive pitch training and they had the chance to meet their fellow finalists for the first time.
The IBYE programme is run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and is funded by the Government of Ireland with the support of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland.
Eamon Ryan, Head of LEO Limerick wished Eoghan the best ahead of the final; “Eoghan has been an exceptional entrepreneur to work with right through the IBYE process. He has an excellent attitude to furthering his business and that makes our job a lot easier. He is a credit to Limerick and a further example of how the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the region. We wish him the very best of luck in the National Final and we look forward to continuing to work with him beyond the Final to help him grow his business.”
The finalists for this year’s Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur include a recent BBC Dragons’ Den participant, an entrepreneur using artificial intelligence drones for river rescues, a serial entrepreneur bringing shopping from your phone to your door, a 19-year-old whose skills learned in transition year now sees her employ 23 people, an entrepreneur using plant based nutrition to combat MS and diabetes and a young woman who is revolutionising the methods by which horses are bred.
The 24 IBYE Finalists for 2019 will be competing for a €100,000 fund across the three categories. The winner of the Best Business Idea will receive a €15,000 investment with the runner up securing a €5,000 investment. The Best Start-Up Business and Best-Established Business winners will receive a €25,000 investment each with the runners up in those categories receiving a €5,000 investment, while the 2019 Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur selected from the three category winners will receive an additional €20,000 investment.
The Final of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur takes place on Sunday September 15 at Google HQ in Dublin. For more information on the competition go to www.IBYE.ie
