NDRC CEO Ben Hurley and Russell Banks, founder of Conker, winner of the NDRC Lift Off competition
Conker, a new digital venture that has developed a platform to help freemium game developers track and analyse the behaviour of players, has won the Lift Off competition at the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) in Dublin.
The start-up, which has just finished the latest LaunchPad programme at the NDRC, won out over 14 other start-ups in today’s pitching competition.
Conker, formerly known as Prescience AI, is led by Russell Banks, Jeff Harte and Daniel Kersten. The start-up will now have access to a €40,000 investment fund.
Tempity, an online platform that matches recruitment agencies with available temps, took second prize in today’s contest. It will now have access to a €20,000 investment fund.
Balls.ie, which is developing a platform called Balls.net to help social engagement during live sporting events, came third and will have access to €3,000 in supports.
Meanwhile, Prowlster, which has developed a personalised online lifestyle magazine, won the marketing award of a place on the Irish Internet Association’s diploma in e-commerce.
The 15 start-ups had to pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors and mentors for follow-on investment before today’s winners were chosen.
Shay Garvey from Frontline Ventures commended the NDRC’s LaunchPad model and said it had a track record in delivering high quality de-risked investment opportunities.
He said he expected many of the start-ups that had just finished the current LaunchPad programme would secure follow-on investment and continue to grow their ventures.
NDRC CEO Ben Hurley said the centre will be accepting applications for the next LaunchPad programme until tomorrow.
During their three-month stint on LaunchPad, start-up projects get up to €20,000 in pre-seed investment from the NDRC.
