By Business & Finance 
Business & Finance highlights some of the top movers and shakers in Ireland.
GroupLeader.com
What is it?
GroupLeader.com is a website dedicated to taking the hassle out of organising group travel. The platform is a fast, simple solution which delivers a ‘one-stop-shop’ for group travel organisers to book the best hotels, ground transport providers, tour guides and more.
The company is currently working with brands such as Radisson, Marriott, Hilton, Ibis, Ramada, The Doyle Collection, Maldron, Holiday Inn, Bewley’s and Jurys.
Who’s behind it?
GroupLeader.com is an Irish company co-founded by Bob Haugh, the founder and owner of Travel Department and Fergal O’Brien, who has worked extensively in media and marketing. The idea for GroupLeader.com was formed after Haugh’s own experience of trying to organise a golf trip for 20 people.
How is it funded?
GroupLeader.com is mostly privately funded.
Future plans?
The site is currently available for groups travelling to the UK and Ireland, but will be rolling out to destinations across Europe soon. The site will also include new partner types such as visitor attractions and ski resorts. The ultimate goal, according to Haugh and O’Brien is ‘to become the go-to brand for group organisers globally − to be the Expedia for groups’.
Wattics
What is it?
Wattics has developed innovative patented technology that revolutionises the way organisations manage energy consumption, identify energy wastage, implement actions and monitor energy savings.
Recently, Wattics joined an international consortium of eight leading European organisations aiming to implement a new platform through which associations of small producers of green energy will be given the opportunity to establish the smart energy networks of the future.
Who’s behind it?
Antonio Ruzzelli, Anthony Schoofs, Alex Sintoni, and Seamus Porter co-founded the company in 2011 following two years of research and design at NovaUCD.
How is it funded?
Initially, Wattics was self funded by the founders and then subsequently by Enterprise Ireland, and Irrus Investments, the largest business angel syndicate in Ireland.
Future plans?
Wattics has been working with partners in Europe, Africa and Asia helping them to offer an effective solution for electricity measurement and management to their industrial or commercial customers. The team continue to build the company nationally and internationally and are growing the business continuously.
climote
What is it?
Home technology company, climote which has been described as the European competitor to Nest, provides patented connected home technology solutions. The company’s lead product, a Remote Heating Control HUB, which is a replacement for existing heating controllers, allows homeowners to remotely control their home heating via laptop, smartphone, iPad or mobile phone.
climote also partners with larger energy and telecommunications retailers, as well as tradesmen and has already trained hundreds of electricians and plumbers to install climote products.
In September, climote was named National Champion at the European Business Awards 2014/2105.
Who’s behind it?
climote was co-founded by Derek Roddy and Eamon Conway. Previously, Conway was MD of Honeywell Ireland and Roddy was co-founder of home technology company Smarthomes, from which climote is a spin out.
How is it funded?
The company was set up in 2011 with investment from Swiss-based angel investors who specialise in investing in clean tech companies.
Future plans?
The team at climote plan to continue to work with climote’s utility and trade partners in Ireland, the UK and globally to deliver connected home technology to millions of users.
Nutriband
What is it?
Nutriband is an innovative nutritional company producing personal care, health and therapeutic products. The company products are based on the principle that nutrients and vitamins can not only be orally consumed by the body but can be used and absorbed by transdermal (through the skin) absorption.
Nutriband uses this technology to provide vitamins, nutrients and beneficial plant extracts in the form of a small patch which the user applies to their body, rather than in tablet form.
In recent months, Nutriband has developed a new proprietary formulation for its patches with US-based Nutranomics Inc. who have acquired a high-profile licence deal for North America.
Who’s behind it?
Nutriband was founded in April 2012 by, 24 year old, Gareth Sheridan, during his final studys in Business and Management at DIT.
How is it funded?
Nutriband is predominantly self-funded with further assistance from the South Dublin Local Enterprise Office.
Future plans?
On the back of the completion of the new proprietary delivery system, the new improved Nutriband range is set for official release in the US, UK, Philippines and is currently in negotiations for further deals in approximately a dozen more countries. The Nutriband product range is also set to double within the next six months
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