Fifteen Cork start-up founders have completed Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers Programme in MTU’s Rubicon centre. Starting last September, the group participated in a 6-month, full-time acceleration programme, benefitting from seed funding of €15,000, individual professional mentoring, expert-led workshops, access to MTU’s research expertise and free office space for their start-up.
The start-ups have moved from concept to investor readiness, pitching in front of investors in Ireland and the USA. In addition to the support from the Rubicon team, mentors and trainers, the founders benefited from the wide range of supports available for start-ups across the Southwest region and the wide network of New Frontiers alumni.
Nine of the start-ups have already launched their products on the market, with customers in Ireland and abroad. Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices are continuing to provide assistance and many of the start-ups are working with MTU’s Technology Gateways, which are providing technical supports to help them implement their product road maps.
Elvis Seporaitis of Volta Robotics received The Best Business Opportunity Award at the end of programme – his start-up provides technology to extract battery cells from EV batteries, repackaging them into residential or utility energy storage, giving them a second life. While Paula McGovern of Wizard and Grace Candles received the award for Best Pitch – her company creates sustainable essential oil candles inspired by Irish language, landscape and life.
“New Frontiers provided me with new skills and networks to accelerate my start-up business, in a dynamic entrepreneurial environment,” Elvis Seporaitis said on receiving his award. “I look forward to growing my business using the networks and support available, in the years ahead.”
This year’s other participants and companies are: Ostomy Cube – Carolyn Houlihan; The Blume Method App – Rory O’Neill; The Feed Ducks Initiative – Matthew Knight; GlishArabic – Amel Sami; Origin Xero – Eoin O’Riordan; The Mind Mechanic – Emily Murphy; Gabro Games – Kevin Beirne; LA Edit – John O’Flynn and Clearsight Decision Support Systems – Donal Moynihan.
Alumni of the New Frontiers programme in Cork include LegitFit, BladeBridge, HaPPE Earth, Swyft Energy, Spéire and Kuul Play.
Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme equips ambitious founders with the right connections, the right skills, and the right route to capital. It empowers them to take an idea or early-stage business through the initial development phases and prepare for their first phases of fundraising and growth. Delivered nationally, New Frontiers is the right way to build a successful and sustainable start-up.
For more information and applications please visit www.rubiconcentre.ie or www.newfrontiers.ie. Application deadline is June 7th.
