What the Competitive Start Fund was
Enterprise Ireland introduced the Competitive Start Fund in 2011 to back start-ups before they were ready for outside investors. A successful company got up to €50,000 in equity funding. Equity means the investor gets shares, a part-ownership of the company, instead of being repaid like a loan.
It ran as competitions. A call opened with a fixed pot and closed about three weeks later. In its last two years the pot was €1 million for up to 20 companies and the calls were open to all sectors. In 2021 there was also a separate call for women entrepreneurs.
The money was meant to get a start-up to its first milestones: testing overseas markets, building a prototype, planning its market entry and attracting other investors. Applicants had to be in manufacturing or internationally traded services.
Is it still open?
Type a scheme name. Old schemes keep showing up in search results long after they close.
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When it ended
We could not find a formal closing notice. This is what the official record shows:
- The last call on Enterprise Ireland's news pages opened on 15 February 2022 and closed at 3pm on 8 March 2022. It offered €1 million for up to 20 companies.
- On 5 October 2022 Enterprise Ireland launched the Pre-Seed Start Fund for the same kind of company.
- The old Competitive Start Fund address on enterprise-ireland.com no longer shows the fund. It now sends you to a page about funding for High Potential Start-Ups.
- The Pre-Seed Start Fund's rules refer to companies that "previously received" Competitive Start Fund money.
So if a website tells you to wait for the next Competitive Start Fund call, it is out of date. You can check which other well-known business schemes have closed and which are still running.
What replaced it
| Compared | Competitive Start Fund | Pre-Seed Start Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Up to €50,000 | €50,000 or €100,000 |
| Type of money | Equity: shares in the company | Convertible loan note: a loan that can turn into shares later |
| When you can apply | Only during a call, about three weeks at a time | Any time. There is no closing date |
| Who it is for | Start-ups in manufacturing and internationally traded services | The same kind of start-up |
Our guide to the Pre-Seed Start Fund covers the rules, the loan terms and the application for the fund that took over.
If your company received €50,000 from the Competitive Start Fund, it can still apply to the Pre-Seed Start Fund, but only for €50,000. A company that has had money from both funds cannot apply again.
If your business is not a tech or export start-up
Neither fund was built for a shop, a cafe, a trade or a local service. If that is your business, start with what a Local Enterprise Office will and will not pay for.
For money to get going, there is a start-up loan from the State's microfinance lender. And if you are on a long-term jobseeker's payment, look at keeping that payment for up to two years while the business finds its feet.
Common questions
Is the Competitive Start Fund still open?
No. Enterprise Ireland has not announced a call since the one that closed on 8 March 2022. It launched the Pre-Seed Start Fund in October 2022, and that is the fund to apply to now.
Will the Competitive Start Fund come back?
Enterprise Ireland has announced nothing to suggest it will. Its supports for very young companies are now the Pre-Seed Start Fund, which is open all year, and its funding for High Potential Start-Ups.
My company got Competitive Start Fund money. Can it still get the Pre-Seed Start Fund?
Yes, for €50,000 at most, if Enterprise Ireland validated the earlier investment and the company is otherwise suitable. The company still has to bring in €5,000 of new money. A company that received both funds cannot apply.
Was the Competitive Start Fund a grant?
No. It was an investment. Enterprise Ireland described it as equity funding, which means it took shares in the company in return for the money.
Keep reading
Where this comes from
- Enterprise Ireland, Minister Damien English announces opening of €1m Competitive Start Fund (15 February 2022)
- Enterprise Ireland, opening of two Competitive Start Funds (7 September 2021)
- Enterprise Ireland launches new investment offer for early-stage start-ups (5 October 2022)
- Enterprise Ireland, Pre-Seed Start Fund
- Enterprise Ireland, Pre-Seed Start Fund frequently asked questions (September 2026)
- Enterprise Ireland, former Competitive Start Fund address (now redirects)
- Department of Enterprise, Focused Policy Assessment of Start Up and Entrepreneurship Expenditure
- Microfinance Ireland, loan packages
- gov.ie, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
Checked on 3 October 2026. We are an independent guide, not a government service. Rules change, so confirm the detail on the official page before you apply.