Ireland just can’t get enough of entrepreneurs. They seem to be popping up everywhere these days. But we’re not complaining. In fact we’re celebrating their achievements.

Some nine entrepreneurs will compete this week for the David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Awards, at an event that takes place on Thursday.

The overall winner will receive a total prize worth more than €100,000, comprised of mentoring support and a cash prize.

Archipelago founder John Egan, Hireland co-founder Lucy Masterson and James Corbett and Margaret Keane of MissionV will battle it out for the Social Entrepreneur Award.

Agata Stoinska of Blow photography magazine, JP Swaine and Dave Keegan of First Fortnight and Laura G Dovn and Ben Readman of BLOCK T have all been shortlisted in the Arts category.

In the business category, the founders of Smart Wall Paint, energy management company Wattics, and medical screening firm Full Health will vie this week for the David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Awards, which take place on Thursday.

“As indigenous business is vital to economic recovery, it is particularly important that emerging entrepreneurs are given as much support as possible to ensure they get to the next rung of the ladder,” Gina Quin, chief executive of Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said.

The David Manley Emerging Entrepreneur Awards scheme was established in 2003 in memory of David Manley, a former president of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, who was renowned for his encouragement and mentoring of small firms.

Now in its 10th year, previous winners of the David Manley awards include Fred Hanna, founder of Swiftext, pharmaceutical company EirGen Pharma, and bicycle company Rothar.