Mayo Business Awards launch new competition with huge financial prize for the winner
The Mayo Business Awards are returning for their tenth year in 2025. This year, as part of the decennial celebrations, the awards have announced a special competition with a prize of €30,000.
The Mayo Emerging Business Pitch competition is a new initiative for this year, aiming to highlight and support innovative businesses that tackle real-world issues.
The new competition is open to business ventures across all sectors that aim to make a clear impact on the world, whether this is social, environmental, economic, or technological.
Start-ups and those in the early stages of their business, who could significantly benefit from the financial support the prize money offers, are invited to apply.
The business awards have noted a particular interest in businesses that demonstrate innovation in product, service, or delivery, and that address a pressing societal or environmental challenge with a clear plan for sustainable growth and measurable impact.
Depending on the number of entries to the competition, seven will be shortlisted and invited to pitch to a panel of judges.
Applicants will be asked to present a pitch that includes: a clear description of their business initiative, the challenge they are addressing, and the impacts they aim to achieve, along with a breakdown of how the prize money would be used to aid and boost their business.
The prize fund of €30,000 will likely be split between the top two or three businesses that convince the judges they have the greatest potential, and will use the money to further develop and grow their business.
The closing date for entries is Friday, September 26.
The Head of Enterprise at the Mayo Local Enterprise Office, John Magee, called the new competition “incredibly exciting.”
“Aside from the hugely valuable prize fund, the competition is also a chance for new businesses to practice the essential arts of communicating their business’ value and having their plans challenged by experts in the business world,
“All participating businesses will benefit from this process, especially those who are invited to pitch, and the generous prize fund represents a unique opportunity to support the growth of an early-stage business,” said Mr Magee.
The Mayo Business Award winners will be announced at a gala event at the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris on Friday, November 7.
The 2025 award categories include: Innovation for Impact Award, Best Start-up, Mayo Tourism Award, Green Game-Changer Award, Digital Excellence & Experience Award, Inclusive Impact Award, Excellence in Customer Experience Award, Excellence in the Hospitality Sector, Best Small / Medium Business, Neill O’Neill Award and the new Mayo Emerging Business Award.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.