12 start-ups complete the fourth Prep4Seed programme; Furthr client Omuu Pet named Best Pitch

The fourth edition of the Prep4Seed Programme, facilitated by the Irish Business Innovation Centres (BICs) - Furthr, AxisBIC, South East BIC, and WestBIC - alongside Enterprise Ireland, was successfully completed by twelve high-potential start-ups. This intensive 12-week programme is designed to equip start-ups with the necessary tools for securing seed investment. The culmination of this initiative was marked by an Investor Pitch Day, where each start-up presented pitches seeking €14.6M in total before a gathering of angel investors and Venture Capitalists. 

Legitify,  a remote online notarisation solution company, has partnered with Scrive,  an electronic signature and ID verification platform to offer electronic notarisation to Legitify's customers. Aida Lutaj, Co-Founder and CEO, said the partnership came at the right time as the regulatory landscape across the EU and the UK is undergoing increased digitalisation.

Irish medtech start-up founded by Dr. Dara Meldrum, Vertigenius, has raised €2.1m in a seed funding round to enable its expansion into the UK and the US markets. Vertigenius has developed a wearable head sensor and software aimed at improving the treatment of vertigo. Dr Meldrum said that the product enables better access by monitoring treatment at home and delivering faster care through technology.

Monaghan-based food tech firm SomaTech, founded by two biotechnologists Tony Callaghan and Alejandra Omarini in 2023, is looking to raise €750,000 to scale up their technology over the next 12 months. The company, revolutionising nutrition through fermentation, creates protein-rich ingredients from food-grade goods created as a by-product of other processes.

HoloToyz, an Irish toy-tech company founded by the couple duo Declan Fahy and Kate Scott, has signed an exclusive partnership deal with Abacus Brands in the US paving the brand's entry into the US markets. HoloToyz has already gained global recognition through partnerships with big names like Nickelodeon. Abacus Brands will oversee national distribution channels for HoloToyz's innovative range of products.

The Sandyford-based company Harley and Marley distinguishes itself from the competition by using fish instead of red meat in its pet food products for cats and dogs. Portia Quinn, who founded the company in 2021, said that Ireland is a great test market for fast-moving consumer goods, but scaling and growing can only be achieved through exports. The brand, which is already present in SuperValu stores, has Dunnes Stores to follow as a stockist. 

Dublin-based IT Security business, Binarii Labs, has launched its first product to protect data using a form of fragmentation, making it difficult for cyberattackers to access it. The idea was inspired by a puzzle in the Harry Potter books that involved seven pieces being hidden across the map.Founded in 2021 by Aidan Finn, Steven Garner, Nigel Carter, and Ciarán McNamee, Binarii Labs has raised €3 million in funding to date. 

Dublin-based fintech start-up STRATxAI raised €1.5 million as an investment from Furthr VC, Delta Partners, and a group of angel investors from the wealth and asset management industry. STRATxAI helps asset management and investment firms to rapidly launch AI investment portfolios “without the need for in-house quantitative research or machine learning skills”, according to the company.

Michael Phelan, CEO of GridBeyond, recently talked to Click2Houston by KPRC2, on how GridBeyond can help balance the grids during extreme temperatures in places such as Texas and safeguard people from going through related difficulties. He also discusses how Artificial Intelligence could help avoid energy crises through better prediction and planning.

The GEC and Furthr secures partnership with New York State to foster international innovation for start-ups

New York State's Governor, Kathy Hochul, has established a formal partnership with Empire State Development, Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC), and Furthr to nurture entrepreneurship and innovation opportunities between businesses in New York and Ireland. The partnership, which was finalised during Governor Hochul's recent Dublin visit, commits to collaborative efforts in key technology sectors while fostering innovative entrepreneurial opportunities in both regions. Commenting on the MOU signed between the respective parties, Martin Murray, CEO at Furthr said: "Today’s announcement really opens up a world of exciting opportunities for our Irish client companies to accelerate their growth directly into the US East Coast tech corridor while providing New York start-ups with a supportive landing location and ecosystem in Ireland.” 

Skillnet Ireland and Enterprise Ireland have come together to roll out a Sustainability Leaders Programme for Irish businesses. This fully subsidised industry-led programme, delivered by Skillnet Climate Ready Academy, aims to benefit almost 100 Irish businesses by the end of June. It will be a micro-credential programme that will run for 12 weeks. 

The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund has announced its first two investments from its €50m initiative to promote female-led investment firms. A total of €36m in investments, €15m to Blume Equity, and €21m to Norrsken Venture Capital, will target climate-tech and health-tech sectors. 

Call 7 of €500 million Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund launched 

The seventh call for the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund was announced early this month at Mullingar. The fund aims to encourage collaborations by industry and research sectors into the development and commercialisation of ground-breaking technologies. Call 7 is a rolling call and is open for submission of applications until 30 April 2025. Projects that can contribute towards priority enterprise policy on digital transformation and integrating decarbonisation and net zero commitments are welcomed.

Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet in collaboration with the Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC) and Furthr would like to invite Furthr client companies and GEC companies to a presentation by award winning film producer and educator David Puttnam, followed by some light refreshments in the Workshop Room (Third Floor) at the Guinness Enterprise Centre on Wednesday 5^th June from 11am-12.30pm.

Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet is organising 'Culture Crush+', an evening of discussion, conversation, and networking with leaders in VFX, Film, TV, and Media. The event will happen on the 5th of June at Smock Alley Theatre. There will be two panel discussions - The Burgeoning VFX Sector in Ireland – A Case Study of the VFX on ‘Bodkin' and The New Track? – Future Opportunities for Film, TV & Media.