Gigi Supplements, TrakPro and Cyber Cert Labs – Named Dublin Regional Winners in InterTradeIreland’s Seedcorn Competition

Gigi Supplements, TrakPro and Cyber Cert Labs have been named as Dublin regional winners at this year’s InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition.

The three categories included Business-to-Business, Business-to-Consumer and Deep Tech.

TrakPro won in the B2B category, Gigi Supplements won in the B2C category, while Cyber Cert Labs won in the Deep Tech category. Each company received €50,000 and will advance to the All-Island final in Dublin on November 13th.

The InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition is the largest business competition of its kind on the island of Ireland, offering a total prize fund of €800,000 to promising start-ups and early-stage businesses. The Seedcorn competition offers start-up businesses the chance to win big without giving away an equity stake.

B2B Category

TrakPro is a B2B SaaS platform that streamlines subcontractor payment claims and commercial account management for the construction industry. The platform provides a centralised solution that automates compliance with payment legislation, integrates with construction ERP systems, and increases commercial team efficiency by 25%.

Colm Brennan, CEO and Co-Founder of TrakPro, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to have won the B2B category in the Dublin regional final of the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn competition. While I had the privilege of pitching, this achievement is truly a reflection of the entire TrakPro team’s hard work, dedication and belief in our vision. The insights and guidance provided throughout the competition have been incredibly valuable as we prepare to embark on our pre-seed investment round.”

Pictured are Alison Currie, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at InterTradeIreland, with Colm Brennan, CEO of  Trak Pro

B2C Category

Gigi Supplements was founded by two registered Nutritional Therapists who specialise in female health. Together, they have a combined 12 years of experience working with clients in the nutrition space. They are passionate about empowering women to live happy and symptom-free at every stage of their reproductive lives and know just how impactful the right nutrients can be for female hormonal health.

Jennie Haire, Co-Founder & CEO of Gigi Supplements, said:

“Winning the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn regional finals means the world to us, and the incredible prize for the company is just the cherry on top. What started back in 2023 as a learning journey, where we reached the second round of the competition, to finally taking home the win today, is just the most incredible feeling. This has been the ultimate lesson in persistence. It’s a competition like no other, and we’ve learned so much from it. We’re proud and very grateful to have taken home this prize today. Third time lucky!”

Deep Tech Category

Cyber Cert Labs’ mission is to revolutionise the way organisations approach cybersecurity by addressing end-to-end supply chain vulnerabilities. They develop software for digital product manufacturers, enabling them to embed cybersecurity into their development lifecycle. Their solutions also support businesses that purchase these products (e.g., IoT, OT, and software), ensuring secure operation as defined by the manufacturer.

Patricia Shields, CEO & Co-Founder of Cyber Cert Labs, said:

“We are so proud to be winners of the Dublin regional final in the Deep Tech category of the Seedcorn competition. It has been a wonderful experience and genuinely great preparation for Cyber Cert Labs as we go forward.. A massive thank you to InterTradeIreland for hosting the competition.”

All companies emerged victorious from a group of six innovative start-ups and early-stage businesses representing Dublin. They also included Harcourt Building Technologies, Polliknow and A Slice of Life.

The regional final, held on October 22nd in Dublin, saw the finalists pitch their investment proposals to a panel of judges, including active investors. The Dublin regional winners will now compete for the overall prize of €130,000 at the final in Dublin next month.

Pictured are Lisa Hughes, COO Gigi Supplements; Oisin McGrath, Galenband, (Judge), and Jenni Haire CEO, Gigi Supplements

Shane O’Hanlon, Funding for Growth Manager at InterTradeIreland, said:

“Congratulations to all the finalists who participated in our Dublin Regional Finals. The competition is always strong, and the innovation we see continues to impress year after year. A big congratulations to TrakPro, Gigi Supplements and Cyber Cert Labs for securing their spots in the Dublin finals next month. It’s going to be one competitive final.”

For start-ups and early-stage businesses, the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor-Readiness Competition provides a platform to demonstrate why these companies believe they are ‘investor-ready’ and open to a funding injection.

As part of the regional finals, companies pitched their business plan to a panel of industry judges that included Alison Currie, Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, InterTradeIreland; Hal Wilson, Partner, Techstart Ventures; Julie Gormley, Spinout Manager, QUBIS Ltd; Stuart Gaffakin, Chartered Accountant and Senior Investment Manager, Clarendon Fund Managers; and Oisín McGrath, Healthtech entrepreneur.

The process mirrored a real-life investment process, and each finalist has received expert feedback on its business plan and pitch, as well as increased exposure to investors.

For information on Seedcorn, visit: www.intertradeireland.com/seedcorn.