Fund set up to support design start-ups

Design-led start-up companies working in manufacturing or internationally traded services are to benefit from a €250,000 equity support fund set up by Enterprise Ireland.

The Competitive Start Fund-Design, announced on 2 July, is part of the overall Irish Design 2015 programme, a year-long initiative to promote Irish design.

The fund is targeted at high-potential start-up companies that are capable of employing 10 people and generate €1 million in export sales within three years. Many of these start-ups are technology-based.