Prize for mental health solution to COVID-19 challenges offered in partnership with Ireland Funds competition

St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS) is offering a €3,000 prize fund to start-up businesses for a mental health solution addressing a COVID-19 related challenge through the Ireland Funds Business Plan Competition.

Since 2019, we have partnered with the competition to help kickstart a mental health-focused business plan. In the 2021 competition, now open for entries, this prize is dedicated to boosting an innovative solution to difficulties raised by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, such as new ideas for service delivery models or tools supporting self-care.

This special category prize is in addition to €24,000 prize money to be awarded to the first, second and third-place winners of the overall competition.

Tags:   Mental Health Innovators   The Ireland Funds Business Plan Competition  

Entries now open

Now in its tenth year, the Business Plan Competition is a leading third-level start-up competition in Ireland with participants from 39 universities, colleges, research centres, and institutes of technology involved to date. Over the last four years, finalists have collectively gone on to raise over €8.1 million in follow-on funding. 

Seeking to nurture creativity and hone entrepreneurial skills among early-stage entrepreneurs, the competition is now open for entries until Tuesday, 16 March 2021.

University and third-level students, researchers, and recent graduates (two years or less) across the island of Ireland are invited to submit proposals that are at pre-investment stage.

Significant prizes and mentoring available

Ten applicants will be shortlisted and invited to participate in virtual pre-acceleration workshops in April, May, and June to bring their business ideas from concept to pitch, as well as receiving mentoring and feedback throughout the process.

There will be a final pitching event online in June, when prizes will be awarded. The overall winner will have the opportunity to receive one-to-one mentoring from San Francisco-based tech-entrepreneur and founder of the Business Plan Competition, Bill McKiernan, as well as securing a €15,000 cash prize. Second place will receive a €7,000 cash prize and third place will receive €2,000. 

Foundations for change being set

Caitriona Fottrell, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Ireland Funds said: “For ten years, The Ireland Funds Business Plan Competition has been providing an educational experience and laying the foundations for entrepreneurial spirit across the island of Ireland. We are so proud of the impact that this programme is having on early-stage and student entrepreneurs. I'd encourage any team with a smart, new idea, even if it's not yet fully developed, to enter the competition where we can hopefully see it come to fruition.”

Orla Gogarty, our Director of Digital Health, added: “We are delighted to partner once again with The Ireland Funds for its annual Business Plan Competition. The mental health of our nation and the services which support it are being greatly challenged due to the pandemic. This competition offers a unique opportunity to incentivise young entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions that will transform the future of mental healthcare in Ireland.”