Olly Sewell of Facebook on stage at FutureScope last year. Image: Dara Munnis
The four finalists competing for a €2,000 price at One2Watch have been revealed, with drones, biotech and insurtech in focus.
WeSavvy, ProVerum Medical, Skytango and Hexafly are in contention for the top prize at FutureScope’s start-up competition this May.
Called One2Watch, the event wants to find Ireland’s most scalable business idea and give the winning company a platform that will support its growth strategies.
Prizes
The victorious start-up will receive €2,000 and a desk for three months at the Guinness Enterprise Centre as well as consultancy services from Dublin Business Innovation Centre (BIC).
Michael Culligan, CEO of Dublin BIC, said that the chosen four prove Ireland’s entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well.
“Ireland is buzzing with start-up activity at the moment, but companies need the right support structures in place if they plan to stay ahead of the competition,” he said.
“FutureScope is all about connecting start-ups with multinationals, investors and business supports – and that is exactly what this competition does.
“The winner will be given the unique opportunity to pitch to a highly influential – and potentially game-changing – audience of more than 1,200 people. That alone is an invaluable opportunity that businesses don’t normally get.”
Heard the name?
The four finalists are hardly unknowns. For example, Skytango has been featuring in (and winning) various competitions in the past few years.
The ‘aerial marketplace’ won a 12-week programme in NDRC in 2015, securing €30,000 in follow-on investment. It had already received up to €20,000 in pre-seed investment to get to this stage.
It was subsequently included in Google’s 30-strong Adopt a Startup programme last year.
Skytango was set up by film and television producers, directors, editors and drone operators, planning to offer tools to make skies more commercial.
The other three finalists are:
WeSavvy
A cloud-based digital insurance platform that captures and aggregates data from customer platforms, apps and wearables. The app gives users the ability to gain cash points and benefits on their policy when they take part in physical activities.
ProVerum Medical
A developer of a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition affecting urethra function. Existing treatments are associated with many side effects and require general anaesthetic, invasive procedures and lengthy hospital stays.
Hexafly
Biotech company Hexafly takes low-value vegetative waste and converts it into sustainable, natural commodities. The company claims its method ensures the maximum extraction of high-value protein and oil products.
