Eligibility criteria:

• Applicants must (i) have set up a new business (sales generated no earlier than the end of June 2020), or (ii) be actively planning a new venture and have made good progress towards getting the new venture off the ground. Indicators of actively planning a business would include organising the start-up team, sourcing equipment / facilities, money saved for the start-up, writing the business plan, etc.

• Must own or part-own the business which must be located in a rural area, that is in an area outside the administrative city boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

• If selected, applicants must be available to attend the launch Forum and first round table session on October 23rd and 24th, 2023.

• They must expect to become an employer within three years.

• There is no restriction on sectors.

Interested female entrepreneurs can access information and should register their interest at www.acorns.ie to receive an application form.