Tag: Start Up

Better Logistics For Startups: The Software Edge

Building a new company is an exciting journey full of big ideas and hard work. Many founders focus on marketing or product design but forget the physical movement of goods. 

Moving items from a warehouse to a customer’s front door is a complex dance. Success depends on how well you manage that flow of products from day 1.

Early growth brings a lot of joy but it also brings new problems to solve. You might find that your old ways of doing things are not fast enough for your new goals. Scaling up requires a solid plan for your supply chain and the right tools to back it up.

Navigating Initial Supply Chain Challenges

A small team can usually track everything with a simple list when they first start out. This manual process works fine for a few orders every week. 

Problems start to happen when your brand gets popular and the volume of sales jumps. Those hand-written notes and basic sheets are not enough to keep things moving.

Mistakes in shipping cost money and hurt your reputation with new customers. A single wrong item sent to a buyer can lead to a bad review that lasts a long time. 

Small businesses have to find ways to keep their records accurate without spending all day on paperwork. Digital tools help bridge that gap by doing the heavy lifting for you.

Managing these steps by hand takes a lot of time and energy. You might spend more hours counting boxes than you do talking to your buyers. 

Using modern systems helps you reclaim that time for bigger projects. It allows your team to focus on growth instead of just trying to keep up.

Finding The Right Tools For Your Team

Picking the best technology is one of the most significant decisions a new founder will make. Growing brands find that using something like inFlow Inventory Management Software and other similar ones provides the clarity needed to scale operations without losing track of stock. These digital solutions allow businesses to monitor every item from the moment it arrives until it reaches the buyer.

Using a dedicated system means you can stop guessing about your stock levels. You can see exactly what you have in the back room with just a few clicks. 

This visibility is key to making smart choices about your future orders. It keeps your business agile and ready for any sudden changes in the market.

Investing in software early on sets a professional tone for your entire operation. It shows your team and your partners that you are serious about long-term success. 

Removing Barriers Between Different Departments

Fragmented information creates a lot of confusion when a company starts to grow at a fast pace. One recent article on logistics software for startups highlighted how modern platforms integrate data across many different areas. These systems help finance, sales, and operations teams stay in sync with real-time updates that everyone can see.

When everyone looks at the same data, there are fewer arguments about numbers. The marketing team knows exactly what is in stock before they start a big sale. 

They can plan their ads around products that are actually ready to ship. This keeps your customers happy and prevents the frustration of backorders.

The finance team can track spending on supplies without waiting for a monthly report. Working together on one platform keeps the whole business running in the same direction. 

Gaining Better Awareness Of Stock Trends

Understanding what sells and what sits on the shelf helps you keep your cash flow healthy. A popular industry guide on inventory benefits explained that the right software gives a business a clear view of which items are performing well. This awareness helps leaders decide what to stock up on and what to stop ordering for the next season.

Startups often have limited cash to spend on inventory, so every dollar must count. Buying too much of a slow-moving item can tie up funds that you need for marketing. 

On the other side, running out of a hot item means you lose out on potential profit. Having a clear record of sales trends lets you predict what your customers will want next.

Data-driven choices are always better than gut feelings in the world of logistics. You can spot a trend before it becomes a problem or a missed opportunity. 

Accurate records help you manage $1,000 or $1,000,000 in inventory with the same level of care. It is the best way to make sure your investment in products actually turns into profit.

Improving Reliability For Every Shipment

Reliability is what builds long-term trust with customers who expect their packages to arrive on time. Recent data shows that 63% of manufacturers report on-time delivery improvement above 95% when they use better management tools. Strengthening those bonds with suppliers can even lead to a 20% decrease in unexpected disruptions.

Late shipments often stem from poor communication with your supply partners. Software allows you to send orders to suppliers quickly and track their progress in real time. 

If a delay happens, you will know about it sooner and can tell your customers before they get upset. Better communication makes the entire supply chain feel like a team effort.

Stronger relationships with vendors also lead to better pricing over time. Suppliers like working with businesses that are organized and easy to talk to. 

When you have your data in order, you can negotiate better terms and faster shipping speeds. This gives you a competitive edge that larger companies often take for granted.

Managing Growth Without The Stress

Scaling a startup is hard enough without worrying about lost packages or incorrect stock counts. Automation takes the repetitive tasks off your plate so you can focus on bigger goals. Small teams can do the work of a much larger staff by letting a program handle the math.

  • Faster order processing for every customer
  • Better shipping accuracy across all channels
  • Lower storage costs in your warehouse
  • Clearer financial records for your tax team

Using these automated tools means you spend less time fixing errors. Your team stays happy since they are not stuck doing boring data entry all day long. 

Customer satisfaction stays high when they get exactly what they ordered every single time. It creates a positive cycle that helps your brand grow even faster.

Automation also reduces the risk of human error during the busiest times of the year. During a holiday rush, a simple typo can lead to dozens of angry calls. 

Growing a brand is much easier when you have the right technology supporting every move you make. The right tools help you stay organized and ready for anything. 

Your startup deserves a chance to shine without being held back by manual mistakes. Focus on the future and let the software handle the details.

HomeBot Ireland secures nationwide retail deal with Euronics

Irish smart home robotics start-up HomeBot Ireland has secured a retail partnership with Euronics Ireland, bringing its range of smart home cleaning robots and robot lawn mowers to more than 60 stores across Ireland for the first time.
The deal marks a major milestone for the West Cork-based company, founded by Clara Mulligan and husband Alan O’Neill, which has grown rapidly since launching its first product in 2024, having expanded its product range to include robot vacuum and mops, making everyday household tasks easier through smart, accessible technology. The partnership will cover the full range of HomeBot Ireland products, giving customers across the country the opportunity to see the technology in-store, ahead of the gardening season. The move is supported by locally based customer care and after-sales service in West Cork, including diagnostics and repairs, typically completed within 48 hours.
Stephen O’Loughlin, National Sales Manager at Euronics Ireland said:
“We’re delighted to partner with HomeBot Ireland, showcasing the strength of independent Irish retailers and our commitment to supporting Irish businesses. This collaboration combines Euronics’ extensive network with HomeBot Irelands’ innovative tech solutions, enhancing our offering to customers across Ireland. We’re excited to work together and drive growth for our Euronics retail stores.”
The new partnership coincides with the launch of Nozzie 4-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop. Designed to deliver a deeper clean with minimal effort, Nozzie combines powerful suction, intelligent navigation and a detachable base with a flexible cleaning nozzle, allowing users to easily reach areas such as stairs, sofas and corners.
Clara Mulligan, founder HomeBot Ireland said:
“The partnership with Euronics is a huge step in our brand’s growth in Ireland, which, until now, has mostly been through direct online sales and events. Being available in Euronics stores will allow more people across Ireland to see our products in person, and discover how smart home robots can make their everyday life easier, knowing that support, repairs and real help, from a real person, are available right here locally when they need it.”
HomeBot Ireland products are designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind, and have the Guaranteed Irish badge.
The company plans to continue expanding its product range over the next year with additional smart home robotics products currently in development. Customers also benefit from hassle-free support options, including DPD click-and-collect returns and servicing, accessible nationwide.
For more information visit www.homebotireland.ie

Guinness Enterprise Centre welcomes its 1,500th resident start-up

Guinness Enterprise Centre, the not-for-profit entrepreneurial superhub, today announces that it has surpassed the 1,500 resident companies mark as it welcomes QuizWizards to its five-storey start-up campus in The Liberties, Dublin 8. QuizWizards is now one of the Guinness Enterprise Centre’s 160 resident companies as four start-ups graduate.

The Guinness Enterprise Centre has been supporting start-ups and helping them grow for 25 years. Companies graduate when their staff requirements exceed the space they occupy in the Guinness Enterprise Centre. Urban Fox, Mobility Mojo, Move Ahead and Singular Artists are now all graduating from the superhub, which is Ireland’s largest start-up campus. Each company has grown from initial team sizes of between three to eight people while in the Guinness Enterprise Centre. Upon graduating, Urban Fox now plans to grow from a team of eight to 15, while Mobility Mojo expects to grow from eight to 20 – both by year-end 2026, in Ireland and overseas.

As resident companies grow and look to expand their operations, new start-ups take their place. They can avail of the Guinness Enterprise Centre’s space, ecosystem and supports, which include a Sustainability Cluster, led by Techies Go Green, which helps sustainability-focused companies to scale.

The latest graduates will be replaced by The Safer Plug Company and Archetype, along with the 1,500th resident, QuizWizards. Founded by Rory McEvoy, QuizWizards is a gamified sports technology company specialising in quizzes that promote fan engagement and help businesses and organisations to learn more about their customers. It recently signed a deal with Leinster Rugby to provide unique fan engagement solutions at matches and via social media.

The Safer Plug Company develops pipeline isolation technology, which creates safe zones for workers to perform maintenance on pipes, while Archetype is an events and experiences agency producing events with a focus on communities and culture.

Resident start-ups contribute €2M per year to the Guinness Enterprise Centres revenues. As a not-for-profit organisation, the Guinness Enterprise Centre reinvests revenues back into its operations. Recent investments have included a major IT project, along with upgrades to the Guinness Enterprise Centre’s conference rooms and event space to support collaboration and networking.

Niamh Collins, Centre Director, Guinness Enterprise Centre, said: “Our goal is for resident companies to outgrow us and this milestone reflects the significant impact that the Guinness Enterprise Centre is having on Ireland’s start-up ecosystem and wider economy. By giving innovative businesses a home where they can succeed, grow – and outgrow – we are nurturing the unicorns of tomorrow.

“QuizWizards exemplifies the innovation and energy that we see in the Guinness Enterprise Centre every day. Our world-class campus is the ideal foundation for QuizWizards, along with The Safer Plug Company and Archetype, to scale their businesses. At the same time, our graduating companies will have grown their teams significantly by the end of next year. As a nonprofit, our success is our start-ups’ success and this milestone is a reminder of our combined efforts.”

Rory McEvoy, CEO and Founder of QuizWizards, added: “We are immensely proud to be the 1,500th company through the Guinness Enterprise Centre’s doors. The energy, support, and network here have given QuizWizards a real boost as we expand our team. What stood out was the warmth and genuine interest the staff showed from day one — you’re never just a number here.

“The flexibility to grow our office space has been hugely valuable as we ramp up, having raised €750k to date, including recent investment from Enterprise Ireland. We are now making waves in global fan engagement, working with Leinster Rugby, AIG, the NCAA, Phoenix Suns, HaytersTV, and appearing on NBC, ESPN, and FOX — and being based at the Guinness Enterprise Centre is a big part of that journey.”

Irish Start-Up, Luxury Exchange, Bags Profit with Community Building & Circular Fashion

Luxury Exchange, an Irish start-up owned by Caitriona McGettigan and Cillian Moloney, recorded €1M in turnover last year and is on track to achieve €4M in turnover in 2025. Luxury Exchange is a curated collection of pre-loved designer handbags, clothing, and accessories; all at incredible value. The business started when Caitriona, an avid fashion lover, saw a gap in the market for the resale of luxury items in a more affordable way.

The community focused strategy that has been employed by the young couple and business partners has seen the business build a hugely loyal online customer base. To date Luxury Exchange has maximised the Instagram broadcast channel to sell to customers with a fresh, community focused approach.

The owners of Luxury Exchange saw an opportunity to disrupt the luxury resale market in Ireland. The online, socially driven model has allowed the business to sell preloved items for between 10-20% less than the market average, attracting a slew of loyal customers.

For the first time ever, and as a natural step in growth and business progression, Luxury Exchange will be holding its first in-person pop-up. The Cork based business will pop-up in the capital from May 22nd to May 25th 2025. A curated collection will be on offer for new and loyal customers alike at Studio 10 on Dublin’s Wicklow Street for four days, as demand is expected to be high.

Luxury Exchange resells luxury designer goods from well-known brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior and more. All the preloved items are authenticated with leading software, Entrupy. In the past year alone, Luxury Exchange has substantially grown. For example in March 2024, they brand secured approximately 30,000 impressions on Instagram vs 3M in 2025. Customer satisfaction and quality of offering is evident by the business’s repeat customer rate of 88%.

Caitriona McGettigan, Founder of Luxury Exchange, says “I started Luxury Exchange having noticed a growing appetite from customers to resell luxury goods. I’ve always had a love for luxury fashion, especially when it came at a great deal. The concept of resale always appealed to me. I noticed a pattern during my time as a visual merchandiser for Zadig & Voltaire. So many customers would tell me they felt guilty buying something new when they already had beautiful pieces at home they hadn’t worn or had only worn once, but felt they were too valuable to simply give away. I remember thinking that I’d love to buy those pieces from them. In many ways, I was my own first customer.

Our approach has given us the opportunity to create friendly luxury, in every sense. Our items are more affordable and we sell to our community of customers directly, often through live broadcasts on social platforms. Everything about Luxury Exchange is personal. We are building lasting relationships with customers and that is a testament to the growth we have experienced.”

Cillian Moloney, Co-Founder & Director of Luxury Exchange, says “My background is in business development and sales leadership, which has been beneficial to the growth of Luxury Exchange. The business started as a hobby for Caitriona during the pandemic, but it was clear to see early on that demand was high. Our consummate customer service is a huge part of the success to date as we have built up a community of shoppers that appreciate the offering and our approach to convenient, trusted commerce. The Luxury Exchange edit is carefully curated to meet the needs of our customers.

Taking something that started as a lockdown hobby and growing it to a business with global appeal has been incredible. To date we have sold to customers in over 30 countries. We’re excited to meet our customers  in person for the first time at the pop-up and maintain the growth trajectory of Luxury Exchange by continuing to maximise digital tools and offering unparalleled value and service.”

MixRift launches exciting free Mixed Reality ‘arcade shooter’ game: Crit Attack

MixRift, a mixed reality (MR) gaming start-up announces the launch of its third title, Crit Attack: a new MR arcade wave shooter game, developed to satisfy the need of three generations of gamers* for immersive and engaging MR experiences.
Just in time for the holiday season, the game is easy and free to play, and is compatible with Meta Quest 3, 3S, Pro and 2. In-app purchases like upgrades and extra ‘lives’ are available to make the most out of the playing session, but players can also win these by playing the game for longer. With Cyber Monday just behind us, you can leverage Meta Quest’s deals and play Crit Attack with the family to defend your living room from a wave of monsters.
The combination of the game mechanic (arcade wave shooter), the graphics and the ease of picking it up make Crit Attack unique in the Meta Store, where the emphasis is on the more story driven, multiplayer, longer sessions. Powered by that growing market feedback for more ‘family-friendly’, less intense or graphic violence games, and a nostalgia for 80s and 90s games and entertainment brought to today, Crit Attack is a simple and casual game that anyone can intuitively understand how to use and play.
Bobby Voicu, MixRift’s CEO, commented: “By listening to our audience we noticed a nostalgia trend, driven by TV series like “Strange Things” or games like “Stardew Valley” and “Minecraft” with pixelated graphics. This enables the entire family to enjoy our games – the generation that first played games in arcades, the generation that played the early consoles and, finally, Gen Z and Alpha that can use their MR devices for a competitive and fun game.
The launch of Crit Attack underscores our vision to drive mass MR adoption and make gaming accessible to everyone by developing games that are easy for anyone to play, and deeply immersive. It’s the perfect gift for the whole family to enjoy – what better way to spend Christmas than uniting to fight a wave of monsters?”.
 Key features that differentiate it from existing MR experiences:
  • ‘Friendlier’ look and feel: The only MR game where arcade wave shooters are combined with the kind of graphics offered, for the entire family to play. The monsters are cute and annoying rather than scary, appearing in waves – making it a very fun experience for everyone.
  • Accessible, simple and easy user experience: Easy to pick up and play – simply pick up a controller and point the in-game guns at the monsters that come and try to invade your living room; even the “Play” button is a button you can shoot. Though simple to understand, the game can be a truly tactical experience.
  • “One more time” experience: The wave arcade shooter mechanic makes it the ideal game for short gaming sessions that players want to experience “one more time” according to user feedback, as with each time they understand what to do to get more monster waves destroyed.
  • Low time commitment required to play – a more casual experience, where you can play for a half an hour or less session.
  • Hall of Fame leaderboard: Global leaderboard to track performance against the best players in the world, and be part of a vibrant gaming community.
MixRift’s unique approach is centred on game mechanics, developing and releasing games that resonate with audiences, quickly rather than investing years in a single title.
Voicu added: “While the demand for MR experiences continues to grow, largely driven by tech giants like Meta and Apple, there’s a clear lack of high-quality MR games out there. We’re in the perfect position to tackle this because our flexibility lets us dive into unique game mechanics built specifically for MR. We’re not just making games—we’re pushing boundaries to create new kinds of interactive experiences, changing the way we engage with this technology in our daily lives.”
MixRift has been at the forefront of the MR/XR revolution since its inception, pushing the boundaries of seamless integration between physical and digital realms to create ‘wow’ moments for gamers. In August, MixRift raised £1.6M, primarily directed towards accelerating its game development efforts. The company’s additional games Hell Horde (MR Survival) and Fractured (MR 3D puzzle) are available on Apple Vision Pro and the Meta Quest. MixRift has an ambitious roadmap ahead, including a new, exciting gaming title in Q1 2025.

Taking a Look at Ireland’s Thriving Tech Industry

Whilst Ireland is already known for its gorgeous nature, Paddy’s Day, and the creation of one of the best beverages out there – there’s still so much more it has to offer the world. Chiefly, it has a surprisingly innovative tech sector that has been growing steadily in recent years. But let’s take a deeper look at this below.

The Rise of Dublin as a Tech Hub

Thanks to its strategic location in Europe, Ireland quickly became a base for many tech companies, especially when it comes to US tech giants. Some examples include Google, which has made Dublin its European headquarters and Apple, with a major campus in Cork. Even Uber holds an office in Limerick, while Amazon followed Google’s choice of Dublin for its fulfilment centre.

However, this isn’t simply limited to foreign businesses opting to open a location in Ireland. The region is also home to its own successful companies. One such company is Paddy Power, founded in 1988 in Dublin, Ireland and part of the iGaming sector. The iGaming sector provides uses with access to several online gambling options. For instance, users can play bingo for free at Paddy’s, rather than being limited to physical bingo halls. The sector has welcomed several technological advancements, such as mobile gaming, that ensure the prosperity and longevity of their services. 

These factors have led multiple startups to pick Ireland as their hub, acknowledging the fact that it provides a prime location in Europe. Moreover, strong government incentives and support have further made it the ideal area for such ventures. Some of the best startups in Ireland to watch are Wayflyer, Everseen, and NomuPay.

The Impact of Ireland’s Tech Industry on the Economy

The booming tech sector has positively impacted the economy of Ireland in multiple significant ways. For starters, the revenue of tech businesses tends to be a major contributor to Ireland’s tax revenue, reaching 17% as advised by the Irish Revenue Department. 

The developments have also greatly improved employment rates, with over 120,000 workers in ICT, as per the Central Statistics Office. This number is poised to continue rising as the sector continues growing, creating thousands more job opportunities. This has also led professional talent from all over the world to flock to Ireland, further contributing to increased consumer spending.

In terms of investment, many investors are looking to invest in the flourishing tech ecosystem, making Ireland a great option for investors. Also, since Ireland has been put on the map as a tech hub, it has ensured that other sectors outside of technology choose this place to make their home, further boosting the economy. 

Ireland is poised to become one of the leading countries when it comes to tech, and this will continue to have a far-reaching impact on the economy, employment and investment. As such, whether you’re a professional, business owner, or investor, we’d suggest keeping a keen eye out on anything and everything the Irish tech sector has to offer.

Irish start-up Imvizar raises €1.5M to put augmented reality storytelling into the hands of millions of creators

An Irish start-up has raised a total of €1.5 million, including a significant investment from Delta Partners VC, to fuel the launch of new technology which has the power to put augmented reality (AR) storytelling into the hands of millions of worldwide creators.

The capital injection will fuel the launch and expansion of Imvizar’s groundbreaking no-code AR creation tool, Lureo, and support the company’s plans to broaden its operations into the United States, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets.

Lureo represents a significant leap forward in the digital storytelling landscape. Traditionally, creating AR content has been a complex process, requiring specialised skills in coding and development.

Imvizar’s new technology disrupts this paradigm by offering an intuitive, user-friendly interface that allows anyone, regardless of technical expertise, to craft high-quality AR experiences. The tool is poised to empower a diverse range of creators, from filmmakers and educators to marketers and brand strategists, to bring their stories to life in augmented reality.

Michael Guerin, CEO and Founder of Imvizar said: “Our mission is to make spatial storytelling as mainstream and accessible as possible.

“With Lureo, we’re breaking down the barriers to AR content creation, enabling anyone, anywhere, to produce immersive experiences. Just as the introduction of 4G and video streaming drove innovation and made content creation more accessible, Lureo will do the same for AR as we usher in a new era of spatial computing.

“We’re not just changing how stories are told, with Lureo, we are redefining the relationship between narrative, space, and audience engagement.

“The launch of Lureo and the expansion into the US market are key steps in our journey, positioning Imvizar as a driving force in the next wave of AR innovation.”

The investment includes continued support from prominent investors, Gareth Lambe, former Head of Meta (Ireland), Michael Dywer, founder of Pigsback and Nigel Byrne, former Group CTO of Ooredoo, as well as Enterprise Ireland.

The company has rapidly gained traction since founding in 2021, attracting high-profile clients such as Salesforce, Grant Thornton, and North Carolina State University.

Imvizar has been at the forefront of transforming real-world environments into immersive, interactive storytelling experiences, hosting over 80 AR experiences across eight countries. Now the highly innovative company has secured the support of one of Ireland’s leading VC investment companies.

Dermot Berkery, Partner at Delta Partners VC said: “Delta Partners VC is thrilled to support Imvizar as they continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the AR space.

“Lureo is an exciting innovation that offers a truly accessible platform, with the potential to transform how we create and engage with AR content. We believe in its enormous potential to open new avenues for creators and brands alike, and we’re excited to see how Imvizar will continue to evolve.”

Imvizar has successfully developed and launched a range of experiences that have captivated audiences across various sectors, including tourism, employee engagement, and sustainability.

These experiences have not only enhanced the way people interact with their surroundings but have also demonstrated the powerful potential of AR as a tool for storytelling and engagement.

One notable project includes the AR experience created for Salesforce at their Dublin Tower, which integrated immersive storytelling into the workplace, enriching the experience for employees and visitors alike.

Similarly, the ‘Planet vs. Plastics’ initiative for Grant Thornton highlighted the environmental impact of single-use coffee cups through a vivid, interactive AR display, engaging hundreds of employees and sparking meaningful conversations about sustainability.

For more information about Imvizar and Lureo, visit www.imvizar.com.

Coillte and HiiKER Unveil Innovative Pilot Programme to Enhance Visitor Experience at Seven Coillte Forests

Coillte, Ireland’s semi-state forestry company and leading provider of outdoor recreation, has announced an exciting new pilot programme in partnership with Irish start-up HiiKER, creators of an innovative hiking app. This initiative will offer a new and innovative way for local and visiting outdoor enthusiasts to experience Coillte forests by offering walkers and hikers real-time forest and walking trail insights before and during their visits.

Launching this summer, the pilot programme will introduce advanced features to HiiKER’s “Parks and Recreation” functionality. New enhancements include trail distances, accessibility reports and difficulty levels. Users will also benefit from real-time updates on trail busyness, parking availability, food options and toilet facilities. The HiiKer app will, for the first time, give visitors a real sense of the various activities available in Coillte’s forests and improve the overall visitor experience.

This new technology will be piloted in seven Coillte forests across the country including: Cruagh Woods, Ticknock, and Tibradden Woods in Dublin, as well as Donadea Forest Park in Kildare, Portumna Forest Park in Galway, Farran Forest Park in Cork and Dromore Forest in Kerry. Visitors to these forests will be the first to experience the enhanced capabilities offered by HiiKER.

HiiKER, is an Irish start up founded by Paul Finlay in Co. Meath. The app has helped over 1 million hikers to plan and navigate their hiking adventures all around the world. The app curates the best hikes on the planet, along with important points of interest to help users to plan the perfect hike. Most importantly, it works with the most notable map developers and cartographers to bring a wealth of verified route information to the public.

HiiKER on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 – techbuzzireland

Coillte and HiiKER will pilot the technology over a six-month period, utilising Coillte’s extensive expertise. The collaboration will yield valuable insights into forest and trail usage, allowing Coillte to make data-driven decisions to further enhance the visitor experience for all.

Daithi de Forge, Head of Recreation at Coillte said “Coillte forests attract an average of 18 million visits annually and we are delighted to partner with HiiKER on this pilot which aims to enhance the walking and hiking experience across several of our beautiful forests. This innovative programme supports our commitment to enhancing the recreational, social and wellbeing benefits from our forests and to making them more accessible and enjoyable for all. 

“By integrating Coillte’s extensive knowledge of the natural environment with HiiKER’s cutting-edge technology, we aim to provide visitors with an enriched, informed and seamless experience when they visit our forests.

Paul Finlay, HiiKER CEO added, “We are excited to join forces with Coillte to launch this innovative pilot programme that will transform the way people explore Ireland’s forests. Our new HiiKER Parks and Recreation functionality and Coillte’s extensive database of recreational maps and data, enables the public to explore Coillte forests like never before. We’re encouraging everyone to download the app for free and start exploring these forests today.”

Download HiiKER from the Appstore or Google Playstore and search for one of the pilot forests.

Furthr Foundry Accelerator News – Safely scoops the ‘Most Investable Start-Up’ award

Ten of the country’s most promising tech entrepreneurs have completed the first Furthr Foundry Accelerator Programme, Ireland’s latest Pre-Seed Accelerator. The intensive 12-week programme concluded this week at the Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC). On the final day, the participating start-ups took part in investor pitches and had one-on-one meetings with leading Irish VCs and Angel Investors. During these meetings, each start-up engaged in detailed discussions about their business plans, received valuable feedback, and sought investor perspectives.

The ten high-potential start-ups who completed the Pre-Seed Accelerator Programme will now be seeking to raise a combined pre-seed capital investment of up to €4m.

Winner of the ‘Most Investable Start-Up’ award announced on the Finale Day as voted for by the panel of investors, was Safely, founded by Jack Manning.

Safely serves commercial vehicle fleets in the US, UK, and Ireland by offering a driver safety solution that has been estimated to reduce claims by over 50 per cent. In addition to being recognised as the ‘Most Investable Start-Up’, Safely also received a cash prize of €3k, sponsored by Growing Capital, the leading provider of pre-seed private investment in Ireland.

Commenting on the Furthr Foundry Accelerator Programme and what the “Most Investable Start-Up’ award recognition means for his company, Jack Manning, founder of Safely, said: “It’s great to have won! It’s validation that all the hard work to date is worth it. And it really does make me believe that I can grow this business, get the investment I need to really scale it to the level I want to scale it to. So, it’s unbelievable validation, great to have won it. But the job’s only really starting I suppose.”

Commenting on the programme and the engagement with the participating start-ups, Gianni Matera, founder of Growing Capital, said: “If the aim of this pre-seed accelerator is to prepare start-ups for their pre-seed round, then I believe it has been successful. Many start-ups are now ready to apply for a PSSF, and some are even poised for an HPSU round.”

The panel of investors attending the finale event included representatives from some of Ireland’s most active Venture Capitalists and Angel Investors, including Sure Valley Ventures, Elkstone Private Partners, Growing Capital, Furthr VC, Delta Partners, Enterprise Ireland, Seedrs, ACT Venture Capital and Furthr Investor Network.

Speaking to the Start-Ups on the Finale Day for the Furthr Foundry Accelerator Programme,  Martin Murray, CEO at Furthr, said: “Today’s final part of the Foundry Accelerator Programme culminating in the finale day, is hopefully only the beginning of our journey in supporting your growth and in realising your ambitions for your respective businesses. Our success will be measured by supporting our clients to become ‘investor ready’ to take on their first institutional investment and myself, along with our business and investor mentorship teams, look forward to working closely with you to make this happen.”

Devised by Furthr, the country’s leading business innovation centre, in conjunction with the programme’s key partners including Growing Capital, Microsoft’s Founder Platform and the Guinness Enterprise Centre, the Furthr Foundry Accelerator Programme sets out to support, prepare and deliver 10 investor ready high potential start-ups who will take on pre-seed investment following their successful completion of the programme.

Companies participating in the inaugural Furthr Foundry Accelerator programme included a wide range of diverse tech empowered businesses and industry sectors, leveraging some of the fast emerging technologies to enable digital transformation for many businesses, including artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, EdTech and biotech.

The ten companies who successfully completed the first Furthr Foundry Accelerator Programme were, Allocator Training Institute, Biovit Technologies, Co-Swipe, Decision Analytics, Safely, Teddlo, Hiremate, PassionFruit, Simple Probate and Workstuff.ai.  

Furthr is now planning for the next cycle of the Furthr Foundry Accelerator Programme, expected to kick off in September 2024.  Tech entrepreneurs with aspirations to establish and scale their Start-Up enterprises for investment are encouraged to contact Furthr or go online for more information on the Furthr Foundry Accelerator.