- Show me the Money is a free event for those starting or scaling a small business, taking place in NUI Galway on November 23rd, supported by BPFI and Ireland’s retail banks
- Experts on a range of funding solutions from retail banks and alternative lenders, to venture and angel investment specialists, will be available to speak directly with small business owners
- CSO figures indicate that the number of SMEs reached a new high of about 365,000 in 2021, employing almost 1.4 million people
- The European Commission’s Survey on Access to Finance 2022 found that nine of out ten SMEs said that debt financing was a relevant source of financing for their business
Tuesday 7th November 2023 – Galway start-up businesses are being invited to attend a unique ‘speed-funding’ event supported by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) and Ireland’s three retail banks, as well as the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), taking place in NUI Galway on November 23rd. ‘Show Me The Money’, hosted by Enterprise Nation, is part of a series of in-person events across Ireland aimed at anyone who wants to start or grow their business, and is interested in receiving support with funding.
The event offers entrepreneurs and small business owners the opportunity to gain insights to a range of financing options available and to meet directly with experts from the country’s three retail banks, AIB, Bank of Ireland and PSTB, as well as alternative lenders and venture and angel investment specialists.
Mags Fullen, Head of Mortgages and Business Banking with BPFI said: “BPFI and our member banks are delighted to support the ‘Show me the Money’ event in Galway on November 23rd. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in Irish society, accounting for around 60% of all employment in the economy. CSO figures indicate that the number of SMEs reached a new high of about 365,000 in 2021, employing almost 1.4 million people. However, most of these businesses, over 92%, are what we call micro enterprises, employing less than 10 people.”
“It is absolutely vital that we support these small businesses, not only at the start-up phase but also to support them to grow and thrive, and it’s clear that access to appropriate funding plays an important role in this regard. The European Commission’s Survey on Access to Finance 2022 found that nine of out ten SMEs said that debt financing, including loans and revolving credit, was a relevant source of financing for their business, although fewer than one in five (16%) said that equity was a relevant source of financing. Considering there are many different options available, we hope that this event will help business owners in Galway by providing a pathway to the information and support they need.”
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, added: “Our Show me the Money events help busy founders and business owners work out how to go about accessing the most appropriate finance by listening to experts from different areas. There is a wide array of routes to investment – venture capital investors, angel investors, crowdfunding, banks and alternative lenders. We are bringing them all together in one room so that small businesses can directly ask the questions they need answered and understand what the best route is for their business.”
‘Show me the Money’ is a free event and will take place from 16:00 – 18:30 on Thursday, 23 November 2023 at NUI Galway. Funders available at the events include Bank of Ireland, AIB, Permanent TSB, SBCI and Enterprise Ireland among many others.
Register here: www.enterprisenation.com/find-something/show-me-the-money-2/
/ENDS
Notes to editors
Funders available at the events include:
Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) represents the banking, payments and fintech sector in Ireland. Together with its affiliates, the Federation of International Banks in Ireland and the Fintech & Payments Association of Ireland, BPFI has over 125 member institutions and associates, including licensed domestic and foreign banks and institutions operating in the financial marketplace.
Enterprise Nation is a business support platform and provider delivering support to more than 800,000 small businesses a year in the UK and Ireland. Its aim is to help people turn their good ideas into great businesses – through expert advice (including a comprehensive resources library), events, acceleration support programmes and networking.
Contact:
Jillian Heffernan, Director of Communications, jillian.heffernan@bpfi.ie 087 9016880.
