Deadline Date: April 24, 2026
The InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition provides an opportunity for start-up businesses to strengthen their investment readiness while competing for significant cash prizes.
The objectives of the competition are to assist start-up companies in raising new equity, enhance awareness of the various sources of private equity or venture investment finance, stimulate activity and development of investor-ready projects, create a flow of quality business proposals and deal flow, accelerate the development of winning projects, and create new venture role models.
The Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition is designed to mirror the real-life investment process and help businesses prepare for engaging with investors. The programme offers participants expert guidance and feedback on their business ideas and investment pitches, helping them refine their proposals and strengthen their readiness to secure funding. Through this process, businesses can improve their understanding of investment expectations and increase their chances of attracting private equity or venture capital.
The competition includes three categories: Business-to-Business, Business-to-Consumer, and Deep Tech. By participating in these categories, companies gain exposure to investors and business leaders while also improving the visibility and profile of their ventures. Every business idea submitted is reviewed by investment experts, and participants receive individual feedback that helps them improve their business strategy and pitch.
The competition offers a total prize fund of €800,000. The overall winner receives €130,000, while the best company in each of the three categories—Business-to-Business, Business-to-Consumer, or Deep Tech—receives €100,000. Regional winners can receive €50,000 each, and an additional Impact Award of €20,000 is also presented. Importantly, the prize funding is awarded without requiring businesses to give away equity stakes.
The programme targets independent ventures incorporated on the island of Ireland, including both Ireland and Northern Ireland, that are in the seed, start-up, or early stages of development and ideally aiming for international markets. Individuals or venture teams that have created, manage, and own such ventures are eligible to apply. Founders must have played a significant role in conceiving the venture, continue to hold key management roles, and maintain a meaningful ownership stake in the company.
However, ventures that have already raised external equity funding exceeding €1 million, or the equivalent in sterling, are not eligible to participate in the competition. The initiative is therefore primarily aimed at early-stage businesses that are preparing to attract their first significant external investment.
For more information, visit InterTradeIreland.
