Business & Finance highlights some of the top movers and shakers in Ireland.
TenderScout
TenderScout is an online platform that helps SMEs win public sector contracts. The company applies competitive intelligence to predict the outcome of procurement competitions for individual companies, making it easier to participate and be more successful in the tendering process.
Since it’s establishment in 2012, TenderScout has garnered both national and international praise, most recently the company was a finalist for the ESB Spark of Genius Award at the 2014 Web Summit.
Previously, TenderScout was named one of the 50 most investable ICT companies in Europe in 2014 and received the Business Choice Award at the eircom Spider Awards in December 2013.
Who’s behind it?
Tony Corrigan is founder and CEO of TenderScout and has 20+ years’ experience in IT, having previously worked with leading multinational companies, public sector organisations and SMEs worldwide including Intel.
How is it funded?
The company is both self-funded and supported by Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme.
Future plans?
TenderScout’s main goal is to increase the strength of the SME ecosystem collaboration amongst companies to win tenders over the coming years.
4Impacts
Established in January 2013 and headquartered in Little Island, Cork, 4Impacts merges real-time digital out of home (DOOH) audience data with data from connected mobile devices – which are expected to reach 50 billion globally by 2020. The data is then enriched by publically available social media and open-data sources.
4Impacts has also deployed its own network of public and private DOOH media via 50 digital retail advertising totems and a Health Service Network which provides a digital communication channel for pharma and healthcare companies and currently has a nationwide footprint of 250 screens in doctors’ surgeries and health centres.
Who’s behind it?
The company is founded by Ireland and Munster rugby player Donncha O’Callaghan – who serves as CEO – and Pat O’Flynn, a former finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008 and current CEO of Solvotrin Therapeutics.
How is it funded?
4Impacts is supported by its founding members and Enterprise Ireland. The start-up is also currently working on attracting investors under the Employment Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS).
Future plans?
4Impacts hopes to raise €500,000 by year end to facilitate further growth and job opportunities in 2015.
Embo Medical
Embo Medical is an early stage medical device company based in NUI Galway’s Business Innovation Centre.
Embo is developing the first true one-shot vascular embolisation device. The product is aimed at the peripheral vascular embolisation market, a market where physicians perform about 180,000 procedures per year worldwide.
The Embo platform technology is intended to provide a superior solution in shorter procedural times; resulting in safe, cost-effective embolisation.
Who’s behind it?
Embo Medical was founded by Wayne Allen, Colin Forde and Liam Mullins after the trio undertook the BioInnovate Ireland Fellowship in 2011 and noticed a gap in the market.
How is it funded?
Embo recently secured €3m in seed-funding from an investment syndicate which included the AIB Seed Capital Fund (managed by Enterprise Equity), Irrus Investments, HBAN’s Medtech Business Angel Syndicate, Western Development Commission, Enterprise Ireland and the AIB Start-Up Accelerator Fund (managed by ACT Venture Capital).
Future plans?
Embo expects to create 10 new jobs over the next two years as a result of the recent investment.
Neuromod Devices
Founded in 2010, Neuromod Devices is an innovative medical device company which was established to develop non-surgical neurostimulation technologies for the treatment of unaddressed neurological conditions.
The company recently announced that it had successfully secured regulatory approval, CE Mark, for the sale of its innovative treatment for tinnitus, called mutebutton™. The mutebutton™ system combines synchronous audio and lingual (tongue) stimulation to drive real improvement in a patient’s condition after use. mutebutton™ has previously received recognition in the form of the Enterprise Ireland One to Watch Award for 2010.
Who’s behind it?
Neuromod Devices was founded by Dr Ross O’Neill as a spin-out from NUI Maynooth and has been headquartered at NovaUCD since 2011.
How is it funded?
Neuromod has successfully completed three rounds of investment to date. In 2011, the company secured a €200,000 investment from Enterprise Ireland to accelerate large-scale clinical trials of mutebutton™, and grow its staff numbers.
Future plans?
With the launch of mutebutton™ in the Irish market this month, the company anticipates a rapid period of growth over the coming five years.
Would you like to be one of our Ones to Watch’?
If you would like to be profiled in Business & Finance as a one to watch, please email info@businessandfinance.com with ‘Ones to Watch’ in the subject line.
