PayPal hosts hackathon to help make a real impact for 10 startups in Ireland

PayPal has announced the outcome of its ‘HACK for IMPACT’ initiative hosted in Dunboyne Castle in County Meath. The hackathon for startups saw PayPal support local entrepreneurship and collaborate with 10 local startups over a 24-hour period.

With the help of InnerCity Enterprise, the startups talked through their business plans and challenges, with ideas proposed by more than 30 PayPal mentors from teams across Ireland and Europe. The digital solutions workshopped during the event included website design, app creation and marketing strategies.

Having assessed the projects based on innovation, collaboration, impact, completion and presentation, the judging panel selected three winners. Treats by Sylvia, an award-winning mini cheesecake business enabled by an ecommerce website, took first place.

Mic Drop, a mobile application developed to enable networking and digital tipping for musicians in Ireland, came in second place and Vets Near Home, a home call out veterinarian services provider underpinned by an ecommerce platform with payment functionality, placed third. Eve Brassil, owner of Vets Near Home, commented: “The team have been incredible. They haven’t just developed a website but helped me future-proof my business.”

The other startups and concepts involved at the hackathon were:

• Createnesz Virtual Solutions – A virtual assistance business hoping to develop a website booking system with paymentfunctionality and membership area.
• Oliverita – An olive oil business built on an ecommerce and inventory management platform with blockchain capabilities.
• Perfect Fit Nutrition – A nutrition and wellness website and blog to offer advisory-based subscriptions.
• Print Paper Press – A company specialising in creating vintage-style newspaper prints, empowered by an ecommerce platform with enhanced functionality.
• Reflektor Coaching – An online booking and e-learning platform to facilitate wellness coaching.
• The Mushroom Butcher – A farm-to-fork organic mushroom business supported by an ecommerce and inventory management platform.
• Hug & Hold Doula support – A doula and post-partum/early childhood services provider seeking a mobile application and online booking and e-learning solution.

Speaking about the hackathon, Paul Ryan, Global Head of Risk Specialised Servicing and Ireland Site Lead, PayPal, said: “This hackathon is all about having an impact. As well as having an impact for the startups involved, in turn, they can have an impact on the wider community. From digital payments to online booking systems, this event shows the vital role that technology plays in how organisations originate and operate – and, perhaps more importantly, innovate. Through collaboration and expertise, PayPal takes pride in turning such great ideas into real outcomes.”

Evanne Kilmurray, CEO of Inner City Enterprise, added: “PayPal’s Hack for Impact is an incredible opportunity for our clients, who would gain access to professional mentorship and cutting-edge, tailored technical help designed specifically for their unique start-up business needs. I am both happy and impressed to see the innovations and collaborations that emerged from this event and how they made a meaningful difference for our community.”

The judging panel consisted of Evanne Kilmurray, CEO Inner City Enterprise; Neil McDonnel, CEO of the Irish SME Association (ISME); Luigi De Curtis, Senior Director of SMB Europe, PayPal; Paul Ryan, Global Head of Risk Specialised Servicing and Ireland Site Lead, PayPal; and Ciaran Maceochaidh, Senior Director of Global Professional Services, PayPal.

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