Local Enterprise Week Events Embraced by Hundreds Across Fingal

Fingal’s business community came out in full force for this year’s Local Enterprise Week, organised by Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO). A diverse range of engaging, business-focused events took place both online and in person from 3rd to 7th March 2025 as part of this year's Local Enterprise Week (LEW). Across the country, hundreds of physical and virtual events were organised by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices. Within Fingal, business owners and managers seized the opportunity to network and explore new supports and opportunities for their ventures.

The week kicked off on Monday, 3rd March, with a dynamic in-person 'Start-Up Bootcamp' at the Riasc Centre in Kinsealy, where fifty individuals embarking on their entrepreneurial journey participated in group exercises and gained practical insights from Noel Davidson, Head of Training at Entrepreneurs Academy. This was followed by one-on-one mentoring sessions with Fingal LEO mentors. On the same day in Balbriggan, the "Networking Lunch with Balbriggan Chamber: Straight-Talking Entrepreneurship with Brian Lee" took place at The Lark. Brian Lee, Founder and former owner of Freshly Chopped, shared his expertise on scaling businesses, followed by a fireside chat facilitated by Sharon Rossignuolo.

On Tuesday, 4th March, the Breaking Boundaries: A Guide to Export Success event took place for businesses considering international expansion or those at an early stage of exporting. The session provided valuable insights into the steps to export success, including funding opportunities and practical advice. Later on Tuesday evening, the Fingal Enterprise Awards took place at County Hall, Swords. Six finalists competed for the coveted title of winner of the 2025 competition. The finalists from across Fingal were: Anyscor Ltd (Skerries, Co. Dublin), Cozmotec CG Consulting (Swords, Co. Dublin), Gigi Supplements Ltd. (Santry, Dublin 9), Mizz Rio (Ballyboughal, Co. Dublin), The Good Trading and Sourcing Co. Ltd T/A Jack Murphy Clothing (Skerries, Co. Dublin), and Vistona Ltd. (Rush, Co. Dublin).

Cozmotec, a business focused on providing innovative technology solutions to businesses, emerged as the overall winner, securing the top prize of €5,000. Founded by Cuty Gupta, an entrepreneur with a keen understanding of industry trends, Cozmotec doubled its turnover last year and aims for 50% growth in 2025. With early export success and more international contracts in the pipeline, the company is poised for further expansion and job creation. Cozmotec will now represent Fingal at the National Enterprise Awards in the Mansion House, Dublin, in May.

On Wednesday, 5th March, a variety of engaging events took place, starting with the Fingal Chamber: Speed Networking Event at the Carlton Hotel, Dublin Airport, where attendees had the chance to make valuable connections in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. This was followed by the Grow Your Business and Improve Your Productivity session, which focused on utilising Google AI tools to enhance business operations. Later in the day, the Fingal Digital Boost: LEO’s Digital Toolkit for Success session took place online, providing small business owners with essential insights into accessing digital supports. The day concluded with the Meet the Food Entrepreneurs who Beat the Odds event at Castleknock Hotel, where successful food producers Stephen Carr of Pizza Sorrento and Ciaran Fitzpatrick of Cookie Dó shared their experiences, along with insights from Laura Harper, Trading Director at Marks & Spencer Ireland.

Thursday’s events included a vibrant Fingal Enterprising Women Network celebration for International Women’s Day, held at Crowne Plaza (Santry), where over 130 inspiring women connected, learned, and shared experiences. Dr. Sabina Brennan, bestselling author and neuroscientist, delivered a powerful keynote on embracing a mindset for success. The event also included valuable networking opportunities, reinforcing the importance of community in business. In the afternoon, the How to Gain Competitive Advantage in Your Business workshop took place online, equipping businesses with strategies focused on Lean, Green, and Digital practices to stay ahead of the competition, featuring insights from industry experts.

Local Enterprise Week 2025 concluded on a high note with a packed business briefing at the Riasc Centre in Kinsealy, where over 140 attendees gathered to explore the various supports offered by the Local Enterprise Office.

Other notable events during Local Enterprise Week 2025 included the Pitch Perfect competition, a dynamic search for Dublin’s most innovative start-up. In partnership with TU Dublin and the four Dublin-area Local Enterprise Offices, LEO Fingal proudly co-sponsored the event. Following an exciting showcase of Ireland's top start-ups, Alexandra Harris from CogniStream AI was crowned Pitch Perfect 2025 Champion. Her pitch, highlighting the transformative potential of AI-driven voice technology to help businesses make smarter decisions, impressed the judges.

Another standout event was the Transform Your Business with Lean, Green & Digital workshop, held at Workday’s Kings Building in Dublin. Officially launched by Minister Alan Dillon, the event featured an interactive session with experts on Lean, Green, and Digital practices for business transformation. The session offered valuable insights to help businesses thrive in a fast-changing landscape, marking a fantastic end to a week filled with innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.