LEO Kildare Launches the EDEN Student Entrepreneurship Challenge with Maynooth University

On Monday 11th February, Local Enterprise Office Kildare launched the EDEN Student Entrepreneurship Challenge with Maynooth University at the University Campus.

EDEN is Maynooth University's Centre for Entrepreneurship, Design and Innovation. The aim of the EDEN Student Entrepreneurship Challenge is to allow students develop their creativity confidence and capabilities, and give them the opportunity to turn their ideas into viable businesses.

Local Enterprise Office Kildare is committed to encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship among students of Kildare, and is offering a €5,000 investment fund for the competition.

The partnership of Maynooth Univeristy and Local Enterprise Office Kildare links early stage student business ideas with possible future mentors and funding opportunities. Previous winners of the EDEN Challenge have gone on to take their ideas and convert them into successful businesses with the support and investment of the Local Enterprise Office.

Maynooth University’s own business incubation unit is home to some early stage start-ups that have emerged from the Local Enterprise Office’s Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur Competition. Matthew McCann, the winner of the overall 'Best Idea' category is currently working from the Eolas building at Maynooth University, developing his idea Access Earth from the idea into the start-up phase.

Jacqui McNabb, Head of Enterprise Kildare, said “The Local Enterprise Office is delighted to be involved in encouraging the sparks of early stage ideas and entrepreneurs to evolve and develop into significant businesses”. She placed emphasis on the importance of innovation among young people and how pleased she is to be able to offer the support of the Local Enterprise Office.