Companies kickstart year with move to The Digital Hub as Enterprise cluster builds on 2019 successes

The Digital Hub, Ireland’s largest cluster of digital media, technology and internet businesses has kicked off 2020 with the positive news that the charity ALONE’s Housing Division, organisers of the Body&Soul Festival, video training academy GoMotion, software developer Wattics and commodity trading company Greenspark Analytics are now taking up residency at the Dublin 8 based campus in The Liberties. The announcement builds on a successful 2019 year which saw a total of 15 companies welcomed to The Digital Hub during the course of the year.

The charity ALONE supports and empowers older people to age happily and securely at home. They work with all older people, including those who are lonely, isolated, homeless, living in poverty, or are experiencing other difficulties. ALONE provides direct support to thousands of older people every year through its services which include Support and Befriending, Coordinated Support, Age-friendly Housing, and support technology tools. Originally founded in Dublin 8, the ALONE charity Housing Division, who incorporate innovative technology into their work, is delighted to be supported by The Digital Hub in their local community.

The Body&Soul festival has also taken up residence in The Digital Hub. The immersive music, art and wellbeing festival is held over the Summer Solstice weekend each year at Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath. Now in its 11th year, the independent festival features live music, culinary feasts, 360° sustainability, open air workshops, hot tubs, wellbeing, electronic alcoves and art installations across 8 unique stages. The theme for 2020 is Purpose, inviting participants to dig deeper into the meaning behind seemingly small actions in these complex times.

Also taking up residency in The Digital Hub this year are GoMotion, who provides expert training in simple video for social media and digital marketing, Wattics, a customer-facing energy monitoring software for growing teams of energy consultants, utilities and managers and Greenspark Analytics, a dynamic commodity trading company specialising in the European energy market.

Commenting on The Digital Hub’s progress and plans for 2020, Fiach Mac Conghail, Chief Executive Officer said: “2019 was a great year for The Digital Hub, with the addition of 15 new companies, comprising of both international and indigenous Irish businesses. The growth and the successes of the various companies over the last year emphasise The Digital Hub as Ireland’s place to be. We are also very proud to welcome the charity ALONE’s Housing Division, Body&Soul, GoMotion, Wattics and Greenspark Analytics to our cluster this month. We have a great programme of activities and plans in place for 2020 to support our mission in developing a diverse and creative digital technology quarter in Dublin 8 that realises tangible social, economic and community benefits”.

2019 proved to be a successful year at The Digital Hub welcoming such companies as Campsited and Traction Guest. Campsited, a web service dedicated to helping people find the easiest way to book great holidays, who in 2019, saw revenues grow by 400% and is on track to close its next round of funding of €1.5m, which is being led by Motley Fool Ventures from the US. Traction Guest, a global leader in cloud-based solutions for enterprise visitor management, received a new round of funding, enjoyed a rapid increase in sales and employees, opened a Seattle office, and received numerous awards, including being named as one of Forbes Rising Stars in the Cloud 100 list.

The Digital Hub is also enhancing its reputation as a location that is attracting a specific sub-cluster of Connected Health businesses that are going from strength to strength. patientMpower, a digital healthcare company providing technology solutions for people living with long term lung and kidney disease illnesses, was announced winner of the Irish Government’s Disruptive Technologies Integration Fund alongside wearable technology innovators Sixty and leading research and academic institutions the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. The €2.1 million ($2.3m) funding will enable development and eventual commercialisation of an artificial intelligence medical device which will enable patients requiring dialysis to be better managed in their own home.

Another significant health company based at The Digital Hub is medical device business Neuromod, whose Lenire device, fitted by an audiologist, is helping sufferers of tinnitus.  Last year, the company successfully raised a further €8m, a mix of debt and equity, which will support the company’s international commercialisation plans.

The Digital Hub Development Agency is the Irish state agency that manages The Digital Hub. The Agency was established by the Irish Government under the Department of Communications, Climate Change and Environment and plays a key part in supporting the implementation of the National Digital Strategy.