GROWING A SMALL business into something bigger is no easy feat, and every entrepreneur knows that the right boost at the right time can make all the difference.
Over the past four years, Three has invested €650,000 in promoting SMEs across Ireland. Every year since 2021, 10 Irish businesses benefit from a €100,000 bursary that provides Irish SMEs with funds, connectivity solutions and mentorship.
Applications for the grant will be open until 30 September, and you can apply here.
Since launching the Grants for Small Businesses programme, Three Ireland has provided Irish SMEs with products and services, marketing and PR support, and access to industry expertise.
Winners of this year’s grant will receive €5,000 in cash, €5,000 in the form of device and connectivity solutions, as well as invaluable mentorship and support from Three Ireland’s in-house experts.
Dozens of Irish companies have already seen staggering results following their receipt of the grant. This includes successful growing Irish businesses like Donegal based Pumpskynz which makes accessories for diabetes devices, and Galway-based accessible gaming specialists ByoWave.
Since being awarded a portion of the Three grant in 2021, Byowave have grown their business and secured an official partnership with tech giant with Microsoft. They recently launched their Proteus Controller globally at Gamescom and Byowave received further investor funding of €1.5m and continue on their mission to make gaming more accessible.
Three has maintained its relationship with many previous winners, including with Niamh Tallon from Her Sport, who won a portion of the grant in 2021 and will also be part of the judging panel this year.
Tallon, founder of Her Sport and winner of a grant in 2021, spoke of the difference the programme made to her business, saying: “Winning Three Ireland’s Grants for Small Businesses programme has been invaluable to us in boosting our growth journey. The bursary and business support from Three has helped us to add people to our team, increase brand awareness through more publicity and ensured we have the right tech in place to thrive as a young business.
“I am honoured to be one of the judges this year on the programme as I know how it feels to start your own business and I cannot wait to be inspired by the next generation of businesses coming through the programme in 2024. I encourage all small businesses to enter. You never know, you could be the next winner, just like Her Sport was in 2021.”
Sonya Lennon, who will also sit on the judging panel for this year’s Three Ireland’s Grants for Small Businesses programme, further encouraged businesses to apply for the grant: “What a privilege to see baby titans in the making. Extraordinary young companies get precisely what they need to mould themselves for success through this powerful programme each year.
“I’ve witnessed that growth in the years I have been involved. If ever there was a reason to apply for this competition, it’s the success of those who went before you.”
In order to be eligible for Three’s Grants for Small Businesses, companies must have a workforce of 0-9 employees (micro sized businesses) and have been trading for a minimum of 6 months. Applications will be scored and the 20 applicants who secure the highest score will be shortlisted for the judging panel.
The judging panel includes:
Pádraig Sheerin, judge for Three Ireland’s Grants for Small Businesses programme and Head of SME, Three Ireland, said: “Three prides itself on supporting businesses big and small across Ireland to scale and innovate through our connectivity products and solutions. This unique programme enables small businesses to not only avail of funds but also to access a range of hands-on support and mentorship from Three business experts.
“Since Three launched this SME Grant Programme four years ago, we have seen incredible growth from winning businesses and we are so proud of the role we can play in supporting them as they scale.”
Businesses who want to participate must apply by 30 September, and can do so at 3.ie/grants.
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