Four of these businesses – Datahug, Barracuda FX, Sugru and Sixteen South - which are finalists in the emerging category of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition, are profiled today. Overall eight companies have been chosen as finalists in each of the three award categories: international, industry and emerging.
The finalists were chosen by a judging panel chaired by 2002 EOY winner and Aer Arran founder Pádraig Ó Céidigh. The members of the panel also included Digicel owner Denis O'Brien, PCH International founder and chief executive Liam Casey and CPL chief executive Anne Heraty.
All 24 finalists will join a group of 100 entrepreneurs, all previous finalists and winners of the EOY competition, for a week-long CEO retreat taking place between Chicago, Notre Dame University and New York in June.
The theme of the retreat is “accelerating the growth, ambition and development of Ireland’s leading entrepreneurial talent and their businesses,” according to Frank O’Keeffe, partner in charge of the Entrepreneur of the Year programme.
“The week will include world-class executive education sessions with globally renowned experts in growth and internationalisation, as well as master classes with CEOs of some of the world’s biggest multinationals,” he said.
The overall winner of the 2013 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award – and the three category winners – will be announced on October 24th. The final will be broadcast on RTÉ, with the winner representing Ireland at the World Entrepreneur of the Year finals in Monte Carlo in June 2014.
The awards, which are now in their 16th year, aim to recognise and acclaim Ireland’s entrepreneurs. They are run in association with The Irish Times, RTÉ, Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and Invest Northern Ireland.
Last year, Edmond Harty, CEO and technical director of Kerry-based Dairymaster, won the overall award.
Four finalist companies will be profiled in the business section of The Irish Times each Monday over the next six weeks.
