Participants

Who Should Apply?

Potential entrepreneurs who:

• Have an innovative knowledge-based business idea
• Have experience in\knowledge of their intended market place
• Possess enthusiasm, confidence and determination
• Hold a nationally recognised third level Degree or Diploma
• Have a number of years industrial\work experience
• Are prepared to commit full-time to the get the business going

"The M50 Enterprise Programme offered great support to me in setting up HomeWise.ie. The program keeps you focused on the aspects which are vital to getting your business up and running and more importantly, ensuring its ongoing progress. It offers many benefits; the opportunity to meet a network of similar minded people, all of whom come up with similar issues on a day to day basis; mentoring from others who have been through the experience before; workshops on relevant areas to your business & the use of office facilities enabling you to work in a business environment. Through regular deadlines and clinic sessions, you don't loose sight of the importance of 'updating' the business plan, but also ensuring that it is put into practice. Through the program and through regular contact with other participants you are kept informed of the various support structures and events that take place that are relevant for you and your business. I found the M50 Enterprise Programme to be of immense benefit on many levels and would highly recommend anyone about to set up."

"The M50 Enterprise Programme provided an excellent platform with which to start a company. Regardless of previous experience, the workshops provided relevant feedback to the evolving business plan. The output of the M50 Enterprise Programme was the basis for raising significant seed capital and winning the Dublin region of the InterTrade Ireland Seed corn competition within a year of commencing the programme. Great way to extend your network of friends also. - David Seavers, Jan 2007"

"In 2004 I was toying with a couple of ideas about setting up my own business. Today I have a profitable business with significant potential, trading in multiple countries, blue-chip investors and a sizeable workforce. If you chose to set up a business for the first time, regardless of you background, you will embark on one of the steepest learning curves of your life. The range of areas where you will need to learn quickly and effectively because you will have to use these learnings to survive are immense. From company law, HR, sales, marketing, finance, accounting, drawing up a business plan, people management, time management, IP...the list goes on. The M50 Enterprise Programme identifies and develops all the key learnings needed to make you a success. The program also forces you to produce a high quality business plan at the early stages. The process is arduous and challenging but absolutely essential and if your business plan survives the experience the chances of success are greatly enhanced. One of the most important facades of the M50 Enterprise Programme experience for me was the sense of comradery and support from the program managers and the other participants. Conceiving and getting a business going is a very lonely experience at the start. I found that the M50 Enterprise Programme, and in particular the people running it, gave me a great sense of 'somebody cares' and that entrepreneurs are vital and highly valued members of our communities. And believe it or not... this really helped" - Sean Fitzgerald - Sentenial (2004 M50 Partcipant)