InterTradeIreland’s 2025 Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition is now open for entries. This prestigious investor readiness competition is the only all-island initiative offering an equity-free cash prize. It provides early-stage businesses with a unique opportunity to showcase their potential to investors and investment funds across the island of Ireland.
In 2025, the competition has been expanded to include three new categories: Business to Consumer (B2C), Business to Business (B2B), and Deeptech. These additions reflect the evolving landscape of business innovation and are designed to open Seedcorn up to a wider range of entrepreneurs and sectors, from emerging tech to cutting-edge solutions.
The Seedcorn competition is specifically tailored to help entrepreneurs prepare for investment, offering valuable business planning support that includes expert feedback and pitching activities. This is a chance for companies to gain exposure, connect with investors, and elevate their market presence. Participants will benefit from the expertise of seasoned investors while strengthening their investment readiness.
While the prize fund has increased to €800,000, the primary focus remains on ensuring a broad range of winners across all categories. Each regional winner will win an increased €50,000 with all category winners getting €100,000. This approach provides significant opportunities for businesses of all sizes and sectors to secure vital funding and support to drive their growth.
Margaret Hearty, Chief Executive of InterTradeIreland, said:
“We’re thrilled to continue supporting businesses across the island and drive innovation through the Seedcorn competition. This year, we’re especially excited to introduce the Special Impact Award, which will recognise businesses that are leading the way in digitalisation and sustainability – priorities reflected in the new Programmes for Government.”
Dr. Paul Byrnes, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of Mavarick and a 2023 winner of the competition, shared his experience:
“The Seedcorn competition was a pivotal moment for us at Mavarick. It provided invaluable insights into the investment process, which significantly impacted the next stages of our business. Since winning, we’ve secured €1.3m in a pre-seed funding round and continue to grow rapidly. I’d strongly encourage every entrepreneur to apply – this competition can make a real difference to your business.”
In 2023, Mavarick was awarded €100,000 as the overall competition winner, alongside an additional €20,000 for the Sustainability/Low Carbon Award. The Limerick-based company, which developed a platform that helps manufacturers optimise supply chain emissions, has since raised significant funds and seen considerable growth.
To enter the 2025 competition, please visit www.intertradeireland.com/funding/seedcorn. The deadline for entries is April 25th at 1 pm.
