You are assigned the role of Project Manager and your first project is to develop an online shop “e-shop” based on the Java Servlet Technology. Start date is October 2017 and end Date is March 2018. The sponsor for the Project is Enterprise Ireland as they are providing funding. Stakeholders and personnel required for this task is at the Project Managers own discretion.

Your project is funded by Enterprise Ireland Competitive Start Fund of Eur50K and you are free to decide how this funding is allocated and what products or services you will sell, but you must justify your choice(s).

The purpose of the Competitive Start Fund is to accelerate the growth of start-up companies that have the capacity to succeed in global markets. The fund is designed to enable those companies to reach key technical and commercial milestones. Applications are considered on a competitive basis. Funding is provided to companies who rank highest in a two-phase evaluation process. The maximum level of support per successful application is €50,000, for 10% in ordinary shares in the start-up company, to be released in 2 equal tranches of €25k (5% in ordinary shares for each tranche).

Applicants to the fund should ideally be able to demonstrate the following:

• Be able to clearly demonstrate that product or service has reached Minimal Viable Product (MVP) stage, and that the product is, at a minimum, live in beta.
• That the product or service has demonstrable customer validation ideally with (trial and/or paying) customers.
• A fully articulated proposition addressing a clear gap in the market with market research conducted with customers/potential customers.
• Evidence of innovation, export potential and employment capacity. Clear export market opportunity for the proposed product or service. Clear knowledge of the competitive landscape.
• Clear execution plan outlined, identifying suitable channels to international markets.