Start-up supports come in three kinds: grants for businesses that are already trading, programmes for founders still building the idea, and loans. Most of the grants here need paying customers or a plan to create a job, so they suit the first year of trading better than the day you register.
Grants / Start-up and new business grants in Ireland
| Scheme | Amount | What to know for this page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feasibility Grant | Up to 50% of the investment or €15,000, whichever is less (Dublin City LEO). LocalGov.ie says 60% or €15,000 in the border, midlands and west region. | For testing an idea. You must meet a business advisor first. | LEO Dublin City: Feasibility Grant LocalGov.ie: Feasibility grant |
| Priming Grant (business start-up) | Dublin City LEO: up to 50% of the investment or €50,000, whichever is less. LocalGov.ie (page last updated June 2024) gives €80,000 instead. The two official pages disagree, so confirm the current cap with your LEO. | First 18 months only. Needs a new job and paying customers, and the two official caps differ. | LEO Dublin City: Priming Grant LocalGov.ie: Priming Grant |
| Innovation Voucher | €5,000 voucher. | €5,000 to work with a knowledge provider on a problem or opportunity. | LocalGov.ie: LEO Innovation Voucher |
| Microfinance Ireland loan | Loans from €2,000 to €25,000 over 1 to 5 years. A reduced rate of 5.5% APR applies if applied for through an LEO. | A loan, for when grants exclude you. | LocalGov.ie: Microfinance Ireland loan |
| Access Advice: Digital Discovery | Up to 80% grant funding to a maximum of €5,000. | 80% up to €5,000 for expert help with digital foundations. | Enterprise Ireland: Digital Discovery |
| Market Research Grant | Maximum grant €35,000. | Enterprise Ireland: market research up to €35,000. | Enterprise Ireland: Market Research Grant |
| Get Exporting | No funding amount stated. | An Enterprise Ireland skills programme with no money attached. | Enterprise Ireland: Get Exporting |
| NextWave: National Women Founders Accelerator | No funding amount stated. | The only women-specific support we found. | Enterprise Ireland: NextWave |
| New Frontiers | A support package valued at over €40,000 without giving away equity (a package value, not a grant amount). | A founder programme. The €40,000 is the value of the package, not cash. | Enterprise Ireland: New Frontiers |
The Dublin City LEO page for the Priming Grant says the maximum is 50% of the investment or €50,000, whichever is less. LocalGov.ie, on a page last updated in June 2024, says €80,000. We cannot tell which is current for your LEO, so ask before you plan around either figure.
The only women-specific support we found on the pages we read is Enterprise Ireland's NextWave, a 10-week hybrid accelerator for high-potential women founders seeking pre-seed to seed investment. It is a programme, and the page states no funding amount. The LEO site menus also list a Women in Business section, which we have not reviewed.
Microfinance Ireland offers loans of €2,000 to €25,000 over 1 to 5 years to businesses with fewer than 10 employees and turnover up to €2m, with a reduced rate of 5.5% APR through an LEO. It is a loan, so it has to be repaid.
The Priming Grant needs paying customers and a new full-time job, and the Digital supports need 6 months of trading. The Feasibility Grant is for researching an idea, and the programmes (New Frontiers, NextWave) are for founders at an earlier stage.
We found NextWave, an Enterprise Ireland accelerator for women founders. It is a programme, and the page gives no funding amount. Ask your LEO about its own supports.
The Priming Grant is for businesses in their first 18 months. After that, the Business Expansion Grant is the growth-stage equivalent.