START 2026 competition open for innovative businesses

Kilkenny County Council and the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny are delighted to announce START Competition 2026.

START 2026 is open to anyone with an innovative business idea in the early stages of trading (within the first 18 months of trading or pre-trading)

If you have an original and innovative idea and intend setting up a business in Kilkenny, or already in the early stages of development, check out this competition.

The initiative will involve availing of LEO Kilkenny training and mentoring where appropriate and will culminate in a final comprising of an investor ready pitch for an investment fund worth €5,000. There will also be a runner up prize fund of €1,000

To support budding entrepreneurs to come forward, LEO Kilkenny are running a Vision to Action programme. This programme consists of 6 workshops designed to focus on practical Market Research, viability assessments and route to market exercises. This programme is currently running and was opened to all business types regardless of eligibility for this competition.

The competition will be open for applications on Wednesday the 22th April 2026 through the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny website at www.localenterprise.ie/kilkenny

‘At the launch of the ‘START 2026’ competition, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Mary Hilda Cavanagh said “The Local Enterprise Office is an excellent local resource for businesses to start on their entrepreneurial journey or grow their business. This competition aims to encourage innovative Start-ups to engage with the LEO and work together to bring the idea to the next stage’

‘Also, at the launch the Head of Enterprise in Kilkenny County Council Aileen McGrath said “At the Local Enterprise office, a critical component of our work is to promote and incentivise entrepreneurship. Competitions like this, do just that and highlight the progress that ambitious Kilkenny Start-ups are achieving in many industries. We are delighted to see last year’s Winner of the Exit 4 Start competition go on to represent Kilkenny in this year’s National Enterprise Awards’

At the first stage of the competition, applicants are invited to submit their entries via an online application form on www.localenterprise.ie/kilkenny Closing date for entries is Friday 15th May 2026. Participants will then by supported to refine and finalise their business proposal and the winners will be announced at the final on the 22th May 2026 following a competitive pitch process.

For more information about the ‘START 2026’ competition, visit www.localenterprise.ie/kilkenny

Application link : https://submit.link/4Su