Clonmel company in line for major new business innovation award

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Design in Design Innovation | 0 Comments

JN Femme, a new start business based in Clonmel, is in with a chance of winning a share of €280,000 as this year’s InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition regional finalists are announced.

25 companies in total from across the island of Ireland will compete across four regional heats which start later this month.

Now in its 16th year, Seedcorn is Ireland’s biggest business competition for innovative new start and early stage businesses in any sector. As well as a substantial cash prize fund, participants benefit from promotional, business planning workshops and mentorship support throughout the competition.

JN Femme will battle it out against other companies at the Munster Regional Final which will be held on 30th October at the Strand Hotel, Limerick.

Each business will deliver an investment pitch in front of an expert judging panel comprising of venture capitalists, business angels and some of the island’s leading business leaders.

JN Femme was founded in 2015 by experienced health care professionals, Nora Irwin and Joan Phelan. The business duo have developed natural, organic personal feminine products for the over the counter retail sector and clinical use.

Speaking about the regional finalists, Shane O’Hanlon, Funding for Growth Manager at InterTradeIreland said;

“To get to a regional final, companies have already successfully submitted a visual representation of their business idea and a full business plan, so I’m delighted to offer my congratulations to all those who have reached this crucial stage. The standard of entries from Munster was very high and we look forward to seeing how the competition progresses.”

Two winners from the regional finalists will go on to compete in the all-island final of the competition which will take place on Thursday 22nd November in Belfast.

To date, InterTradeIreland has supported over 2,300 enterprising companies through the Seedcorn process. With €238 million in new equity being raised by the companies which have reached the regional finals stage of the Seedcorn competition over the past 16 years, the competition has a strong track record of supporting early business start-ups to become investor ready.