Five start-ups to compete for Cork Innovates €30k bursary

12 Nov 2013

Five companies have been selected by Cork Innovates to pitch to win this year’s bursary worth €30,000 in financial support and services.

Cork Innovates is focused on driving entrepreneurship in the region.

The five finalists include: The Dog Dunit (dog waste disposal manufacturer), Delta Streams (cloud-based software tool for business), IDME (identity wristbands), Vconnecta (political canvassing application and tool) and Walton Magazine (a national science news magazine).

They will now go forward to the live pitching session at the InBusiness InCork 2013 event on 14 November 2013 in City Hall, Cork.

“Innovation is a real driver of business success,” said Anthony O’Mara, chairman, Cork Innovates.  

“Each start-up on this year’s shortlist has either created a new business model or a highly innovative solution; the judges recognised this as giving their applications that edge for the Cork innovates bursary.”

Judges include Paul Healy (Rubicon CIT), Audrey Houlihan (AIB), Simon McAllister (EY) and Siobhan Finn (Cork Innovates).

“It was an exceptionally difficult task this year to get down to just five companies,” said Finn, on behalf of the judging panel. 

“The standard of entries was exceptionally high this year, as well as diverse. We had tech start-ups, healthcare, food and beverage companies, as well as new and disruptive business services and solutions that have real potential to create jobs in the region.”

The winner of the Cork Innovates bursary will receive a wide range of services, from advertising, marketing, financial advice, mentoring, legal services and membership.  

The value of the annual bursary increased this year to €30,000 from €12,500 in 2012.  

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com