BMW Ireland, in collaboration with entrepreneur and Friend of the BMW Brand Peigín Crowley, is proud to launch BMW Ireland’s Future Entrepreneur Competition, a new initiative designed to find and support Ireland’s next generation of innovative business leaders.
The campaign aims to empower early-stage entrepreneurs by providing brand visibility, expert mentoring and access to one of the world’s most iconic automotive brands. The programme invites founders of start-up businesses from across Ireland to apply for a unique opportunity to partner with BMW Ireland, showcasing ventures that align with the core values of innovation and sustainability.
Helen Westby, Managing Director of BMW Ireland said: “Ireland has always been a country of incredible ideas and bold ambition. Through this programme, we’re proud to support the next generation of Irish entrepreneurs and help them accelerate their business with support and alignment from our brand. BMW Group’s global strategy is to focus on sustainable development, aiming to integrate business, environmental, and social considerations together, so we are proud to support this mission in Ireland.”
“This programme is about more than mobility, it’s about momentum,” added Peigín Crowley, founder of GROUND and Friend of the Brand with BMW. “It gave our business an incredible boost in visibility, confidence and credibility. Now it’s time to pay that forward and support the next founder ready to make their mark.”
All applications will be reviewed by a panel of experts, including Enterprise Ireland, who are seeking entrepreneurs with a compelling vision, a clear sense of purpose and a genuine passion for BMW’s values. Submissions will be assessed on the strength of the content and the candidate’s ability to communicate their story with clarity, creativity and ambition.
Applicants are asked to submit a three-minute elevator-style video pitch, along with a completed entry form, showcasing not only what they do but how they do it differently.
The selected winners will receive:
- Exclusive use of a fully electric BMW iX1 or BMW iX2, complete with company branding for a three-month period in 2025
- A one-to-one mentoring session with Peigín Crowley
- Networking support and mentoring from the BMW Group during the period
- A professional photo and video shoot and features on discoverbmw.ie and BMW Ireland’s social media channels
Applications open on 19 May 2025 midnight and close on 22 June 2025 midnight on www.DiscoverBMW.ie. Shortlisted finalists will be invited to a networking lunch on 16 July, where the winner will be announced.
Find out more about entering your start-up business visit: https://discover.bmw.ie/driving-innovation-and-sustainability-bmw-irelands-future-entrepreneur-competition/
This initiative reaffirms BMW Ireland’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and supporting the future of Irish enterprise. With a strong history in supporting start-up ventures this year, The BMW Start Up Garage is celebrating its tenth anniversary. This venture client unit seeks out innovations that deliver real benefits for the BMW Group’s products, services, systems and processes.
The aim of the programme is to evaluate startups and enable them as long-term partners for the BMW Group, as a way of strengthening the company’s innovation leadership. Its achievements so far: 4,700 startups assessed, joint projects with more than 220 fledgling companies from 26 countries, and a total of 30 startups now established as suppliers, service providers and an integral part of the BMW Group network. For more information, please visit HERE.
In addition to supporting Start-Up businesses, BMW Group also supports Catena-X, the first globally trusted and collaborative data ecosystem for the automotive industry. From large corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises, this data ecosystem is open to all players in the automotive industry. The platform aims to leverage its transparent and cooperative thinking as a basis to address future challenges such as CO2 reduction, supply chain security and the circular economy. Above all, Catena-X is intended to improve the quality of the vehicles. Because fewer recalls also mean fewer resources and lower costs. Catena-X
