Business & Finance highlights some of the top movers and shakers in Ireland.
CG Business Consulting
CG Business Consulting is a consultancy firm with a distinctive approach to working with companies of all nature and size to achieve and sustain ISO Certification in quality, risk and environmental management.
The company understands the idiosyncrasies of assessments and what it takes to successfully achieve certification. ISO certification is guaranteed within 12 weeks. CGBC’s client base of over 300 clients includes the Guinness Storehouse, Croke Park, Glanbia, Mondalez, Toyota Ireland, UCC and Kilsaran.
Who’s behind it?
CG Business Consulting was founded by Caroline Geoghegan in 2009.. With a background in quality, organisation development, accounting, finance and general management, Geoghegan’s experience stretches across a number of industry sectors including consultancy, finance, banking, manufacturing, engineering and construction sectors.
“To me, it’s about implementing bespoke best practice management systems that add value, improve operational control and business performance,” Geoghegan explains. “Each of our clients is unique, which is why each client deserves a bespoke management system to fit their business.”
Future plans?
“Our immediate priority is to advise current and potential clients on the upcoming changes to ISO which are due to come into effect in September. We believe that up to 10,000 companies in Ireland could be affected by those changes,”she says.
ISO 9001:2015 changes will include greater involvement by senior management, a new structure, a risk-based focus, revised documentation requirements and a variety of other changes needed to meet standard conformance.
Chilly Moo
Chilly Moo Frozen Yogurt is a commercially unique product and the first of its kind to be sweetened just with fruit juice concentrate. Despite being made with full fat milk and yogurt. Chilly Moo is low in fat and contains nothing artificial. The taste and flavour has received many endorsements and accolades including winning a Great Taste Award.
Who’s behind it?
Clare Holman and Joanna Lovegrove are co-founders of Chilly Moo. Previously, they were both project managers in property and TV respectively. Three years ago they went looking for such a product to give to their own children and when they couldn’t find one, decided to make it themselves.
“It’s been quite a learning curve, “ Holman says, “however, we are now listed in selected Tesco, Dunnes and Supervalus and all the major independents as well as cafe chains such as Itsa.
How is it funded?
“We got to market quite quickly so sales are continually improving as we gain traction in the market. In addition, we have received a priming grant from the Dublin LEO and, earlier this year we received CSF funding from Enterprise Ireland which has given us a great boost. We are currently in the process of looking for outside investment.”
Future plans?
“Ireland is a great place for start-ups but our future plans are to really focus on exporting. We are on the Tesco Tastebud National programme where they nurture promising products and the next step is Tastebud Export, so that will be very beneficial to our export plans as the UK alone has a market more than 10 times the size of Ireland. As a unique product with, we believe Chilly Moo has unlimited potential and are looking forward to bringing it to the rest of the world.”
Cortechs
Cortechs is a brainwave sensing tech start-up making healthy games that can improve behaviours of focus and relaxation with your brainwaves.
Cortechs is revolutionising how serious solutions backed by neuroscience can be used to improve behaviours in a fun, engaging and educational way.
Zip and the Misty Mountain is its current Android game for 6-12 year olds that uses brain powered play as a tool to modify behaviour.
Who’s behind it?
Cortechs is a privately held company established in Dublin with offices in both Dublin and Cork and currently employs four staff. With a PhD in Neuroscience, Áine Behan is Cortechs CEO with over 10 years experience in academia spearheading neuroscience research partnerships plus commercialisation/patent opportunities industry.
How is it funded?
With founder investment and participation in the Bank Of Ireland accelerator programme in Cork plus an EI Feasibility Study, Cortechs was also recently awarded an Enterprise Ireland competitive start fund this Summer 2015. The company is currently fundraising and is working with private investors to close this round of investment for Cortechs in the next quarter.
Future plans?
“We are beyond the product/market fit stage and scaling our operations and service model for strong international demand already developed,” Behan explains. “Early validation studies on our first game will be made available next month. As sales numbers grow and investment closes, Cortechs will convert a full-time in-house team to develop a suite of games for children and extend that offering to brain fitness apps for adults.
Reep Rewards
Reep is Ireland’s fastest-growing consumer app with 85,000 downloads since launching in 2014. The Reep Rewards app helps shoppers to find updated retailer special offers and even allows them to earn cash back by taking photos of their shopping till receipts.
Reep uses the data on these receipts to help connect brands with their customers. The data generated offers unique market insights and real time sales opportunities for brands and retailers.
The new Reep Insights division now conducts speed surveys with shoppers on behalf of clients. By tracking real time purchases, they can find answers to difficult questions while the shopping experience is fresh in a shopper’s mind.
Who’s behind it?
Reep is the brainchild of James Lenehan, CEO of the business. Originally a qualified solicitor, he proved his entrepreneur pedigree in 2000 when he launched what is now Ireland’s leading corporate incentives business, WIN|WIN. Reep Rewards was a spin out of WIN | WIN and in 2014 he hired Paul Guy as chief marketing and product officer to guide the development and implementation of the Reep Rewards service.
How is it funded?
To help fund his new venture, Lenehan raised €900,000 in investment from two venture capital firms Frontline Ventures in Dublin and EC1 in London – as well as from a German high-net-worth investor who is involved in the data sector in Europe.
Future plans?
Reep Rewards is now rapidly signing up new clients in the FMCG sector. They plan to make a number of key appointments and also plan to look to the UK, US and other international markets, with a Series A funding planned for Q4 2015.
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