Name: Rory McGuigan.

Company: Utilize.ie

www.utilize.ie

Job: founder.

Age: 28.

Background: Began degree in construction economics in Kingston-Upon-Thames and completed it at DIT Bolton Street in 2003.

Began working as a site clerk with McInerney Construction in 2000, before graduating to junior surveyor in 2002 and quantity surveyor in 2003.

As the construction industry collapsed, he brought the idea for a utility gift card to MasterCard in early 2009. The Utilize card was launched in Ireland in December.

MasterCard plans to roll out Utilize in other markets and McGuigan has plans for up to 10 prepaid cards over the next five years.

Challenges: “Getting the funding to build up the company. My instinct is to build it up myself on a shoestring rather than look for venture capital funding. I’d rather do the hard work myself rather than lose my say in the running of things. If that happens, I may as well work for someone else.”

Inspired by: “I’d say there are three people: Arthur Ryan, who built up Primark; Michael O’Leary, who built up Ryanair, and Seán Quinn, who built up the Quinn Group.”

Most important thing learned so far: “Without a doubt it’s to keep overheads under control. That is something I was aware of as a quantity surveyor, but when you’re running your own business, it really is crucial. You’ll never turn a profit unless you keep costs under control.”