Local man is top entrepreneur!

An Athlone businessman made it to the final three in Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) event in Carlow recently.

James Sherlock of Smart Business Analytics was representing Westmeath in the event. Smart Business Analytics produces software to analyse and transform data into business opportunities for companies.

However, it was 26-year-old physiotherapist from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown who developed an app that is transforming the lives of thousands of people with Parkinson’s disease all over the world has been named as Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE).

Ciara Clancy of Beats Medical won a €45,000 investment fund through the Local Enterprise Offices after scooping the coveted title at the IBYE national final.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor made the announcement in front of 360 guests at the IBYE national final held at Google’s European Headquarters on Sunday.

The competition, which is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland and run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices, attracted entries from over 1,800 18-to-35-year-olds, showcasing some of the country’s best and brightest business talent. In addition to becoming Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur, Ciara won the ‘Best Established Business’ category.

Already through the competition, 180 entrants have won investments of between €3,000 and €15,000 each from their local LEO.
The IBYE national final took place on the opening day of Local Enterprise Week, which runs nationwide through Local Enterprise Offices until March 10.

Information on the supports available to entrepreneurs through the Local Enterprise Offices is available through www.ibye.ie and www.localenterprise.ie.
On Monday, James and Aidan Sherlock were chosen as the winners in the Westmeath Enterprise Awards Innovative Category and received €1,000.