The fourth cycle of Accelerating the Creation of Rural Nascent Start-ups (ACORNS) will run over six months from October 2018 to April 2019.
Places will be offered to 50 female early-stage entrepreneurs. It is being funded through the Department of Agriculture’s €1.5m Rural Innovation and Development Fund and run through Fitzsimons Consulting.
Peer support
Over 150 female entrepreneurs have taken part in ACORNS to date and the programme is based on peer support and collaborative learning.
"The female entrepreneurs that I have met on previous cycles of ACORNS have shown tremendous commitment and drive,” said managing director of Fitzsimons Consulting Paula Fitzsimons.
“This programme is about helping such women to realise their entrepreneurial ambitions. I am delighted that this opportunity is being offered once again to other female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland.”
Launch
Launching the call for applicants, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for rural-based female entrepreneurs and I urge them to apply to participate in this exciting initiative.
"Each year, the participants give an overwhelming endorsement of the role ACORNS has played in supporting them to grow their business. This is an opportunity not to be missed.”
Deadline
The deadline for application for this year’s cycle is 21 September. Those interested can get more information and register their interest in receiving an application form at www.acorns.ie.
There is no charge for successful applicants.
Eligibility criteria for participation on ACORNS
To be considered for ACORNS, applicants must:
Have set up a new business , which has generated sales no earlier than 27 June 2016; or Be actively planning a new venture and have made good progress towards getting the new venture off the ground. Indicators of actively planning a business would include organising the start-up team, sourcing equipment / facilities, money saved for the start-up, writing the business plan, etc.They must own or part-own the business which must be located in a rural area, that is in an area outside the administrative city boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford;They must commit to attending the launch forum over two days in October 2018 (15-16); the ACORNS community forum in April 2019 (date to be confirmed); the monthly meetings from November 2018 to March 2019; and give the required personal commitment to advancing their business ideas over the six-month programme duration; andThey must expect to become an employer within three years. Read more
Meet the woman who hatched her egg business, starting with just 10 hens
The fourth cycle of Accelerating the Creation of Rural Nascent Start-ups (ACORNS) will run over six months from October 2018 to April 2019.
Places will be offered to 50 female early-stage entrepreneurs. It is being funded through the Department of Agriculture’s €1.5m Rural Innovation and Development Fund and run through Fitzsimons Consulting.
Peer support
Over 150 female entrepreneurs have taken part in ACORNS to date and the programme is based on peer support and collaborative learning.
"The female entrepreneurs that I have met on previous cycles of ACORNS have shown tremendous commitment and drive,” said managing director of Fitzsimons Consulting Paula Fitzsimons.
“This programme is about helping such women to realise their entrepreneurial ambitions. I am delighted that this opportunity is being offered once again to other female entrepreneurs in rural Ireland.”
Launch
Launching the call for applicants, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for rural-based female entrepreneurs and I urge them to apply to participate in this exciting initiative.
"Each year, the participants give an overwhelming endorsement of the role ACORNS has played in supporting them to grow their business. This is an opportunity not to be missed.”
Deadline
The deadline for application for this year’s cycle is 21 September. Those interested can get more information and register their interest in receiving an application form at www.acorns.ie.
There is no charge for successful applicants.
Eligibility criteria for participation on ACORNS
To be considered for ACORNS, applicants must:
Have set up a new business , which has generated sales no earlier than 27 June 2016; or Be actively planning a new venture and have made good progress towards getting the new venture off the ground. Indicators of actively planning a business would include organising the start-up team, sourcing equipment / facilities, money saved for the start-up, writing the business plan, etc.They must own or part-own the business which must be located in a rural area, that is in an area outside the administrative city boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford;They must commit to attending the launch forum over two days in October 2018 (15-16); the ACORNS community forum in April 2019 (date to be confirmed); the monthly meetings from November 2018 to March 2019; and give the required personal commitment to advancing their business ideas over the six-month programme duration; andThey must expect to become an employer within three years. Read more
Meet the woman who hatched her egg business, starting with just 10 hens
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