MEW Student Enterprise Challenge

MEW Student Enterprise Challenge 2024

The MEW Student Enterprise Challenge is an annual competition currently open to students of all secondary schools in Meath where students compete for the awards of –

Best Startup / Established Business
Best New Business Idea / Concept

The purpose of the competition is to encourage and reward entrepreneurial creativity, innovation and participation amongst the youth of Meath while also providing a platform for aspiring young entrepreneurs to engage with and learn from leading entrepreneurs and businesses from across the region.

Now in its eleventh year, the MEW Student Enterprise Challenge is open to secondary school students of all years (individuals & teams). We have had some excellent entries over the last few years with several of our past winners going on to gain significant investment in their businesses from local entrepreneurs as a direct outcome of competing in this competition.

If you would like to ensure your school participates in this year’s MEW Student Enterprise Challenge then please email your expression of interest to studententerprise@meathenterprise.ie (along with the contact details of the teachers who will be involved) and a member of our team will contact you with further details.

#SEChallenge24

Categories / Prizes

The winning students / businesses will receive;

Best Startup Business Best New Business Idea
- 1st – €600 1st – €400
- 2nd – €300 2nd – €200
- 3rd – €150 3rd – €100

Best 5 Minute Pitch
- €250

The winning schools will also receive the following;

Best Startup Business Winner Best New Business Idea Winner
- €600 €400

Best 5 Minute Pitch
- €250

Other new categories and/or awards may be introduced in the coming months.

Entry Requirements

The MEW Student Enterprise Challenge is open to all students attending secondary school in Meath.
Applicants can be teams or individuals (5 max per team).
As there will be no in-person heats again this year, competitors will instead submit a 3 minute video presentation of their ‘new business idea’ or ‘startup business’ (before 25th October) for review and assessment by our panel of judges who will then decide who goes forward to the Semi-Finals which will take place on 19th and 20th November in Kells Tech Hub as part of Meath Enterprise Week #MEW2024
Applications / Expressions of interest (entries) from individual schools for participating in the this years Student Enterprise Challenge will open on 27th September 2024.
Schools should submit all applications / entries by emailing the following information to studententerprise@meathenterprise.ie
- The total number of entries / teams per school,
- The name(s) of each entry or team,
- The name(s) of the student(s) in each team,
- A brief synopsis of each idea or business (max 100 words)
The deadline for confirming Applications / Expressions of interest (entries) is Wednesday 9th October 2024.

Judging

All competing students / teams will be required to submit a 3 minute video presentation of their ‘new business idea’ or ‘startup business’ no later than Friday 25th October 2023.

These video presentations / submissions will be reviewed and assessed by our panel of judges before deciding who will progress on to the Semi-Finals in Kells Tech Hub on the mornings of the 19th and 20th November #MEW2024

Decisions will be made and based solely on the information supplied as part of the video presentation / submission.

No additional information will be considered before or after the video video presentation / submission.

The decision of the judges is final.

#SEChallenge24 #MEW2024 #GEW2024

This years MEW Student Enterprise Challenge GRAND FINAL will take place on Tuesday 3rd December at a venue to be confirmed. Semi-Final winners will be announced by email and via social media before the end of Meath Enterprise Week #MEW2024 which take places from 18-22 November.

Awards (Trophies & Medals) will be presented at the Grand Final on 3rd December. Prize money will be delivered in person, within 3-5 days of the Grand Final, directly to all winners / schools by the CEO of Meath Enterprise and other #SEChallenge 2024 team members / partners where additional photos and/or video interviews with the student winners, teachers or Principals will be collected for promotion purposes.

Finally, we will be hosting an interactive MEW Student Enterprise Challenge ‘KickStart’ virtual workshop on 11th September 2024 for all schools and teachers to engage with us directly and learn more about how this year’s competition will be supported and managed.

This will also provide a great opportunity for schools and teachers to present ideas and/or challenges so we can work and learn together to ensure the experience for the students is as memorable, enjoyable and productive as possible.

For more information please email studententerprise@meathenterprise.ie