Winners Announced of 2024 New Frontiers Programme Delivered by NovaUCD and IADT Media Cube

The Award winners of the 2024 New Frontiers (Phase 2) Programme delivered by IADT Media Cube in partnership with NovaUCD were announced today.

Eleven (11) early-stage start-ups, based in the greater South Dublin area, incorporating South Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and North Wicklow, took part in the Enterprise Ireland funded programme over the last 6-months.

Following final pitches to a judging panel during a showcase event held in Dún Laoghaire, four (4) of the participating start-ups, Evogen, PolliKnow, SoloBook, and UnitMode were announced as Award winners.

Thirty-six (36) start-ups have now completed the three IADT Media Cube/NovaUCD New Frontiers Programmes (Phase 2) delivered to date.

Michelle Doyle, Senior Manager, Strategic Innovation Partnerships, NovaUCD, said, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the four Awardees, and all the participants who have just completed our third New Frontiers Programme delivered in partnership with IADT Media Cube. The participating start-ups have the potential to grow, raise funding, create jobs and indeed scale internationally and I wish them all every success on the next steps of their entrepreneurial journeys.”

The New Frontiers programme provides participating entrepreneurs with access to a comprehensive package of supports including mentorship from some of Ireland’s leading business-people, funding support from Enterprise Ireland, and access to resources including desk space facilities from IADT Media Cube and NovaUCD.

Susanne L’Estrange, New Frontiers Programme Manager, IADT Media Cube, said, “These founders have successfully completed Phase 2 of the New Frontiers programme, deepening their understanding of target markets. Through meaningful engagement with prospective customers, they have developed innovative product-market solutions that address key challenges. Today, they proudly join the esteemed New Frontiers community of founders who have completed the programme at the Institute of Art, Design + Technology.”

Anna Maire Turley, Head of Entrepreneurship and HPSU Operations at Enterprise Ireland, said, “Events like today’s showcase the value of New Frontiers and the benefit that it brings to all entrepreneurs going through the programme.”

Evogen, which is developing a cutting-edge, data-driven platform designed to revolutionise genetic selection in dairy farming, was named winner of the One to Watch Award, sponsored by NovaUCD.

Andrew Moore, co-founder, Evogen said, “Having grown up on a farm I am passionate about transforming the genetic selection process to help dairy farmers thrive. I am delighted to have received the NovaUCD One to Watch Award at the end of this New Frontiers Programme. It’s just the beginning as Evogen focuses on aligning genetics with farm environments driving greater performance and profitability for dairy farms.”

PolliKnow has developed a device using advanced sensors and computer vision to measure the presence of wild insect pollinators in their natural habitats, and was named winner of the Most Likely to Succeed Award, sponsored by DLR Local Enterprise Office.

Meg Brennan, co-founder, PolliKnow said, “New Frontiers has been instrumental in developing PolliKnow. The programme has given us the time, space and expert support needed to take us to the next level on our journey.”

SoloBook which is developing an AI-powered, community driven travel platform for solo travellers to have reliable information to plan and have safe adventures, was named winner of the Best Pitch Award sponsored by IADT Media Cube.

Pierre Yimbog, co-founder, SoloBook said, “I am delighted to have won the Best Pitch Award at the 2024 IADT Media Cube and NovaUCD New Frontiers Programme Showcase event.

The Showcase was an opportunity to show all the work we’ve put in during the past 6 months and to celebrate the conclusion of this Enterprise Ireland funded programme. Thank you to everyone that supported us along the way, including the staff, mentors, facilitators and co-participants. This is a milestone on a journey to building a safer travel community, and SoloBook invites you to celebrate this achievement with us.”

UnitMode, which is developing a marketing SaaS that eliminates greenwashing risks, empowering brands to build consumer trust through responsible, compliant advertising, was named winner of the Most Likely to Scale Award, sponsored by Flynn O’Driscoll.

Seán Boyle, co-founder, UnitMode, said, “The New Frontiers programme has been a transformative experience for UnitMode. It provided a very invaluable ecosystem where we had access to Enterprise Ireland, IADT and NovaUCD, which opened up a lot of valuable conversations really helping us advance in our business. I would recommend New Frontiers it has been a fantastic experience.”

Fergal Meegan, CEO, Assiduous, winner of last year’s One to Watch Award was the guest speaker at the showcase event.

The capital markets technology pioneer headquartered at NovaUCD recently announced that it has been selected by EIT Digital to join the Open Innovation Factory 2024. With the financial commitment from EIT Digital together with an investment from Enterprise Ireland, through the Pre-Seed Start Fund, the company has secured a €500k funding package to commercialise the Assiduous’ AI native advisory engine.

Speaking at the showcase event, Fergal Meegan, Assiduous, said, “New Frontiers is fantastic for giving an entrepreneur time and space to figure out exactly what they are trying to do, how, what, where and when. When you come in at the start of the programme you have some ideas you need to validate, when you leave at the end of the programme you have effectively had that opportunity to leave with a clear plan and direction as to where you are going.”

The members of the judging panel were Anna Marie Turley, Enterprise Ireland; Rachel Gallagher, IADT Media Cube; Michelle Doyle, NovaUCD; Jonathan Beirne, Flynn O’Driscoll; and Lisa Brown, DLR Local Enterprise Office.

The next Phase 2 New Frontiers Programme to be delivered by IADT Media Cube/NovaUCD begins in April 2025 and for further details visit https://mediacube.ie/services/new-frontiers-programme/phase-2/.