Padraig goes top in Google rankings!

 Colin Goulding, Head of SMB Publishers, EMEA, Online Partnerships Group, Google Padraig O'Scanaill, Fund Recs, winner of Best Online Promotion of a Business Award and Valerie Legrand, Ads Quality Operations Vendor Manager, EMEA, Google (Keogh Photography)

Padraig O’ Scanaill, a young Waterford entrepreneur and finalist in Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition, picked up the award for the ‘Best Online Promotion of Business’ and won €1,000 worth of Google Adwords for his company, Fund Recs.

Of the 24 finalists from 17 counties competing in the inaugural national competition, the special award was presented to Padraig and was judged by Google to be the best at promoting business online.

Paddy Flynn, Director of Product Quality Operations at Google Ireland said: “The Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is a natural fit with the existing ‘Google for Entrepreneurs’ programme, which aims to foster entrepreneurship and empower the next generation of innovators to be successful. The ‘Best Online Promotion of a Business’ Award is an extension of that, offering one young entrepreneur the opportunity to find their audience, extend their reach, and grow their business both locally and internationally.”

Padraig was delighted to receive the award for his company, Fund Recs, which provides cloud based software to the Investment Funds Industry.

He said, “From start to finish the IBYE journey has been a rewarding experience for me and for Fund Recs.  We participated in invaluable business boot camps, received great mentoring from established practitioners, won best Waterford and Munster start-up titles and to top it all off were singled out by Google as having a national award winning online strategy.”

“The #TeamWaterford campaign was instrumental in driving visitors to our website. The content was engaging and interactive and it certainly increased our company’s profile.”

Padraig added, “Despite the much heralded economic difficulties, there has never been a better time to start a new business.  There are plenty of support services available to start-ups, particularly through organisations such as the Local Enterprise Offices to enable new companies to grow and become successful.”

Ciaran Cullen of Waterford Local Enterprise Office said, “Padraig was a deserving winner of the best online promotion award.  The Fund Recs online campaign has allowed them to grow their business and put them on an equal footing with some of the world’s more established software providers to the global funds industry.”

“Waterford LEO engaged the services of Waterford marketing company, B2B Communications, to implement and manage the highly effective #TeamWaterford social media campaign, which not only built links to support Fund Recs SEO efforts, it gave a wider audience access to the whole IBYE process and particularly, Padraig’s journey.”

Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the 31 Local Enterprise Offices around the country. 

For further information about the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition, visit www.ibye.ie, www.localenterprise.ie or search #TeamWaterford or #IBYE on social media.

Fund Recs co-founder through to National IBYE final.

A young Waterford entrepreneur has won a place at the first ever national final of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) competition, for a chance to share a €100,000 investment fund.

Padraig O’Scanaill of Fund Recs will represent the Munster region in the Best Start-up category at the national final in Dublin this December and has already won €20,000 worth of investment from Waterford Local Enterprise Office.

Founded in 2013, Fund Recs provides cloud based software to the Investment Funds Industry, targeting a need for disruptive technology to automate the manual reconciliation of data and deliver streamlined workflows. Not even a year in business, Fund Recs already works with a Top 5 Global Bank, a FTSE 100 company and a globally renowned independent securities depository.

Originally from Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, Padraig graduated from UL and after several years working in Limerick, Galway and Dublin came to Waterford and volunteered as a CoderDojo mentor.  Padraig now regards Tramore as home.

Speaking of the IBYE journey, Padraig was delighted with the company’s progress in the competition. “The competition has been a fantastic experience for me personally and also for the company.  The starting point was being accepted onto the local IBYE programme, where we received mentoring and attended intensive business bootcamps.”

“I thought winning the Best Start-up category in the Waterford final was a major achievement, particularly in the face of such tough competition.  However going on to win the Munster regional final was tremendous. Representing Munster in the National Finals has focused so much positive attention on the business.  That, coupled with the support received from Waterford LEO has given our business invaluable exposure, funding, networking opportunities and potential to grow.”

Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the 31 Local Enterprise Offices around the country. 

Mr. Ciaran Cullen, LEO Waterford said, “It is very fitting that Padraig will go on to represent Munster in the national final in December.  Over 1,000 businesses entered from every county in Ireland and the competition was intense.  Padraig’s company Fund Recs develops cloud based reconciliation software and was recognised for its strong concept, innovative nature, originality and international growth potential.”  

“We are delighted to support Padraig and his company, which is testament to the entrepreneurial spirit in Waterford.  Business challenges and business opportunities are breeding start-ups, like Fund Recs.  Locally, there is a wealth of talent, intellect and vision, all combined with sound business acumen, which is ensuring that we see more young innovative companies like Padraig’s start, grow and flourish in Waterford.”

For all the latest news and updates about the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition, visit www.ibye.ie, www.localenterprise.ie or search #TeamWaterford or #IBYE on social media.

Waterford Local Enterprise Office is open for business

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation today [Thursday 2^nd October] officially launched the Waterford Local Enterprise Office.

The Waterford LEO is part of a network of 31 LEOs which will deliver an improved system of local enterprise supports to start-ups and small businesses across the country – with more staff, more funding, and more services being provided.

Today’s announcement means that from today, people thinking of starting or expanding a business in every part of Waterford will be able to access the full range of State supports provided by different Government bodies – for example Waterford City and County Council, Enterprise Ireland, Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, the Credit Review Office and training bodies .

The establishment of the LEOs will mean that all categories of business – including sole traders, micro businesses and small and medium sized companies – will have access to Government supports and advice. Previously some businesses – for example, companies who were too large to access CEB supports, but were not exporting and therefore did not qualify for Enterprise Ireland supports – fell through the cracks between different agencies.

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD said “This morning we are seeing some very positive jobs news in the multinational sector for Waterford.  It is worth remembering that two thirds of all new jobs are supported by start-ups."

 “The Waterford Local Enterprise Office will deliver more services and better services to the start-ups and small businesses across the county that we rely on to create the jobs we need, with more staff and more funding. Today is a good day for business in Waterford”.

“A key part of our Action Plan for Jobs and the South East Employment Action Plan is supporting job-creation across every region of the country. Waterford was hit hard by the collapse in employment across the country. Between 2008 and 2011 38,000 jobs were lost in the South East region. It is encouraging that in the last two years employment has increased by over 12,000 across the South East region, and the live register in Waterford has fallen by 14%.

"However we must do more to make the recovery local, and that is why were are making changes such as establishing the Waterford LEO, building advance IDA facilities in Waterford and a new competition to find the best young entrepreneur in Waterford.”

“I am convinced that with the right support by Government, we can build on the progress we have made and help create the jobs we need in Waterford”.

Commenting on the launch, Director of Economic Development, Mr. Lar Power said “The launch of LEO Waterford heralds an exciting time for enterprise in Waterford.  Small businesses and start-ups now have, at their disposal, an enhanced range of business support services.  Services such as business training, mentoring, grant assistance, enterprise education and more are in place to encourage the growth of the small business sector in Waterford.”

“With increased investment, resources and initiatives at LEO Waterford we can look forward to seeing more business success stories, like those of M & D Bakery, Metalman Brewing, CF Pharma and Chia Bia.  Companies like these simply start with an idea and the assistance provided by LEO Waterford has given them the opportunity to expand, create employment, discover new export markets and drive the recovery of our economy.”

New initiatives to the LEO Waterford portfolio include the recently launched Digital Voucher Scheme, which assists businesses in expanding by trading online; Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE), an allocation of €50,000 for an outstanding idea or commercial venture for entrepreneurs under 30 years of age and the SuperValu / Bord Bia collaboration, Food Academy, which gives local food producers access to the national marketplace.

If you have a business idea and want to find out what assistance is available to you contact your Local Enterprise Office at 32, The Mall in Waterford City or the Civic Offices in Dungarvan. Alternatively you can email info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie .  

Are you Waterford’s Best Young Entrepreneur?

L-R; Vincent Reynolds, Chairman of Local Enterprise Office, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Minister Richard Bruton for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation,  & Minister John Perry for Small Business

New competition launched to find Waterford’s Best Young Entrepreneur (Under 30) with investment of up to €25,000 available for winner.

Winners in Waterford will proceed to regional and national finals with aim of finding Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur

The Taoiseach and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation launched a new competition to find Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur, with a total fund of €2million available to invest in winning businesses at entrepreneurs in every county in the country.

In Waterford the competition to find Waterford’s Best Young Entrepreneur will be run by the new Local Enterprise Office. Winners will be named in three categories – best new idea, best start-up, best new venture for established business – as well as an overall winner who will be Waterford’s Best Young Entrepreneur.

The Waterford Local Enterprise Office will have a total fund of €50,000 to invest in the three winning businesses, according to criteria including the prospects and investment needs of each business. The overall winner of Waterford’s Best Young Entrepreneur can receive an investment of up to €25,000.

Mentoring, marketing and other supports will also be available to participating businesses at various stages of the competition. 

Lar Power, Director of Economic Development, Waterford City and County Council believes this initiative is particularly important to Waterford, “Following the success of Waterford in the National Student Enterprise Awards this year I am looking forward to seeing what ‘under 30’ sector entrepreneurs in the City and County enter this competition. Waterford’s small business enterprises in particular require as much assistance as they can get and the new Local Enterprise Office in Waterford is fully prepared to help these young and innovative future entrepreneurs make their ideas turn into a commercial reality.”

Ciaran Cullen of the Local Enterprise Office complimented the scale of the competition, “This size of investment for these young start-up businesses is a significant statement of intent. The investment is more than just monetary, the boot camps, mentoring and national exposure will give the best of these entries the boost they require at this stage of their development.”

The competition is open to individuals aged 30 and under and will be judged under three distinct categories:

• ·         best new idea
• ·         best start-up business
• ·         best established business with new add-on

The first stage will be a county-based competition (run by the 31 LEOs) leading to the naming of the Best Young Entrepreneur in each county. This stage will include boot camps and mentoring programmes. This will be followed by regional finals and ultimately national finals with one business-person being crowned Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur before the end of the year.

There have been expressions of interest from television production companies on the possibility of covering the later stages of the competition in a reality TV format.

The aim of the initiative is to encourage and support a culture of entrepreneurship among young people in Ireland, to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice, and to encourage the establishment and development of new innovative businesses by Ireland’s young entrepreneurs. This is hugely important for job-creation as two thirds of all new jobs are generated by businesses in the first five years of existence – more start-ups and a thriving entrepreneurial culture will lead to more jobs being created.

This project is an integral part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 and is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through the Local Enterprise Offices.

Applying is simple – go to localenterprise.ie or your Local Enterprise Office in Waterford City or Dungarvan – and the deadline is 30^th June 2014.