Spark of Genius competition to offer Irish tech start-up €40k prize


2 Jun 2011

The Dublin Web Summit and ESB Electric Ireland are teaming up for the third Spark of Genius competition, offering a support package worth €40,000 to a top Irish tech start-up.

“We’re delighted that ESB Electric Ireland has come on board to offer support to Irish tech start-ups, particularly those in their infancy,” said Paddy Cosgrave, Dublin Web Summit founder.

“We need to reward entrepreneurship in this country and ESB Electric Ireland’s support of the Spark competition will give Irish start-ups a serious leg up.”

The competition’s judges will include Brian Caulfield from the venture capital firm DFJ Esprit, Shay Garvey of Delta Partners and Mark Roden of Ezetop.

The process will feature a day of mentoring for shortlisted start-ups before they pitch in front of a Dublin Web Summit audience on 27 October. Applications for the competition will open from 10 June.

DataHug

The Spark of Genius competition has previously mentored and aided start-ups, such as last year’s winner DataHug, whose technology maps digital relationships between people in business.

“Winning the Spark of Genius Award changed everything for DataHug,” said DataHug’s co-founder Connor Murphy.

“The award gave us a dream platform to introduce DataHug to a global audience of potential customers, media and technology investors. Within a few weeks, we had hundreds of registered companies, coverage on TechCrunch, and several meetings with leading international venture capital firms. We cannot thank the organisers, judges and sponsors enough.”

Photo: Edel McCarthy of ESB Electric Ireland with Dublin Web Summit founder and organiser Paddy Cosgrave at the launch of the ESB Electric Ireland Spark Of Genius Competition