Show time for New Frontiers Entrepreneurs at Synergy Centre Investor Day, this Thursday

Thirteen innovative entrepreneurs – who started the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers programme at Synergy Innovation Centre in IT Tallaght last May – are now targeting a total of over €2m in follow-on investment as they showcase their start-ups to business angels and investors at the Synergy Showcase, tomorrow Thursday, 24th November.

The businesses address significant problems and opportunities in a broad range of sectors from software to education, sports and tourism, among others. Specific product and service areas include Software as a Service (SaaS) for B2B & B2C markets, accommodation rental and hospitality review verification, market analysis for SMEs, messaging apps, professional services management, sports and event management, grooming products and spirits.

For some, the fundraising has already kicked off with nearly €200,000 brought in to date and a further €300,000 under negotiation. The companies collectively are targeting over €2m in investment and they plan initially to create up to 20 new jobs over the next 12-18 months, with more in the pipeline over the next 2-3 years, so every opportunity to get face time with an investor is important.

Thomas Stone, President of Institute of Technology, Tallaght said, “ITT and Synergy Centre are strengthening our position as the leading hub for knowledge-intensive innovation in South County Dublin. Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme has been a fantastic support for our participating companies where we aim to continue expanding our programmes. This includes plans to increase the numbers of contracts we have with industry for our research facilities and technology solutions, while also growing the engagement of our undergraduates and postgraduates in entrepreneurship development programmes’’

“New Frontiers participants also benefit from interaction with our extended Synergy start-up community on the ITT Campus and in our Synergy Global Centre in Citywest. This includes 34 start-ups who are further along in their business development and fundraising journey and who share their experiences with our most recent arrivals in what is a very vibrant Incubation and Research networking environment.”

The showcase on Thursday will also be addressed by entrepreneurs David McDonnell of Visual ID and Eamonn Hughes of uTrack.

Visual ID is a digital asset management company based at Synergy Global Citywest Dublin 24. Visual ID provides online products to allow client businesses manage their marketing materials independently. These materials can then be deployed to print, social media, digital screens & web, by their 4,000 active users.

uTrack was founded to bring the latest generation of cloud-based technology to transport groups, bus operators and local authorities, to grow passengers, loyalty and satisfaction with their services. Dublin based, they have created a market leading solution used by some of the largest and most respected transport organisations globally.

As well as seeking new investment start-ups taking part in the Synergy Centre showcase event will vie for two awards – the InvestStart Award, sponsored by Philip Lee Solicitors and the AIB Supporting Start Ups Award, sponsored by AIB Bank.

New Frontiers, Phase 2, May-Nov 2016. Showcase event, Nov 24th @ Synergy Centre, ITT Dublin.