Riverside Spa owner is Cavan Young Entrepreneur of the year

Three young Cavan entrepreneurs have been chosen to compete in the regional finals of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year (IBYE) competition. The winners were announced at the Cavan finals of the nationwide competition, which attracts in excess of 1,600 entries annually.
The winner of the overall title for the county is Caroline Thompson of Riverside Spa. In addition to the overall title, Caroline was also named as ‘Best Established Business’ with an investment fund of €15,000.
Riverside spa is a growing brand with two locations and a third premises coming in 2020 in Oldcastle. They currently employee 25 staff and plan to double this over the next two years. They also plan to open a training academy in hair and beauty this September in Stradone.
The ‘Best New Idea’ category, with a €7,000 investment fund, was won by John Hyland, founder of OTT Software Solutions in Lough Gowna. This is an end-to-end management software platform for volunteer run sports and social clubs. This product aims to reduce the workload placed on volunteers within clubs and provide clubs with additional revenue streams.
The winner of the ‘Best Start-Up Business’ and the €15,000 investment fund was Michael Hatton, founder of Oosch in Butlersbridge. Ooosch is an online crowdfunding platform that groups people together to crowdfund giveaways via pledges.
The runner-up for ‘Best New Idea’ category was Edel McConnell, founder of Modern Mind Matter in Belturbet. She received a €3,000 investment fund. Modern Mind Matters is a life coaching business that aims to help people develop their self-esteem, self-confidence, positive body image, well-being and overall happiness. Cian Donohoe, founder of Cian’s Tech World in Moynehall Retail park took the runner-up spot in the ‘Best start up business’ category with a €5,000 investment fund and the runner-up in the ‘Best established business’ section was John Hurt, of John Hurt Environmental Ltd in Kingscourt.
Hunt Environmental provides drainage and environmental services to both domestic and commercial customers. He received an investment fund prize of €5000.
Marcella Rudden, head of enterprise with Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Cavan said: “As our winners clearly demonstrate, youth entrepreneurship is thriving here in Cavan.
“IBYE is about discovering local potential and nurturing that talent through financial supports, mentoring, training and networking opportunities.”
In 2019, Local Enterprise Office Cavan supported 42 young entrepreneurs through the IBYE competition.
“We want to build on that success by supporting Cavan’s young entrepreneurs today and into the future,” said Ms Rudden.
The three Cavan county finalists will now compete in the regional finals on June 12.
In all, 24 finalists from the 32-county enterprise boards will then compete in the national finals with a prize fund of €100,000.