13 Founders Graduate From Phase 2 Of The New Frontiers Programme In Limerick

On 1st April, 13 founders from Phase 2 of the New Frontiers programme in the Midwest region were celebrated at the TUS Startup Awards, hosted by TUS Hartnett Enterprise Accelelaration Centre in collaboration with University of Limerick’s Nexus Innovation Centre.

The awards event is an important milestone for founders as they finish up the six-month, full-time programme which helps entrepreneurs develop their capacities as founders while they validate their business proposition and move towards generating revenue.

With an attendee list that included members of the local and regional startup ecosystem (including key colleagues from TUS and UL, Local Enterprise Offices, BICs, etc.), this was a day to champion innovation in counties Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary.

Ciara Concannon, National New Frontiers Programme Manager at Enterprise Ireland, praised the new alumni. “I warmly congratulate the entrepreneurs that have completed this year’s programme at TUS and wish them every success in achieving their ambitions to grow the success stories of the future […] Many of the entrepreneurs we support through New Frontiers have gone on to start and grow valuable businesses that have created employment and have made a significant contribution to regional and national prosperity.”

Award winners at New Frontiers in Limerick

This year’s event recognised four standout founders from the cohort of 13:

• (Joint winners) Best Innovation: David O’Keeffe of SeeGap and Stephen O’Sullivan of I Left You A Note.
• One to Watch: Jon Harrison of StatrDraft
• Overall Startup of the Year: Cathal D’Arcy of Bergo

Professor Vincent Cunnane, President of TUS, highlighted the broader importance of the startups celebrated, saying, “Today’s event showcases the strength of entrepreneurial ambition in our region, and the value of supporting that ambition through New Frontiers […] It’s particularly encouraging to see innovation emerging in areas of national importance, such as housing and energy — areas where fresh thinking and practical tools can help support broader societal goals.”

The New Frontiers Programme Manager in Limerick is Mary Casey. Speaking at the event, she note that, “New Frontiers is a demanding programme – but that’s exactly why it delivers. The programme gives them the structure, accountability, and network to move faster and further than they could on their own. They’re developing business models, piloting with customers, validating their markets, and in many cases, preparing for or actively raising investment.” Learn more about Mary Casey and our Limerick location or see our upcoming application deadlines.

New Frontiers 2024 cohort in Limerick

New Frontiers accepts applications from a wide range of sectors. These founders had business ideas that spanned sectors ranging from climate tech to digital health to consumer insights. The alumni of the 2024 cohort are:

Cathal D’Arcy of Bergo (specialist BER assessment software)

The platform equips Building Energy Rating (BER) assessors with digital tools to create digital floor plans, automate calculations, improve accuracy, and streamline compliance – addressing a critical step in how homes and buildings are evaluated for energy performance (used for home sales, rentals, public grants, national energy reporting, and discounted mortgage rates).

Dave Gilligan of Reminisce (digital platform)

Reminisce helps families preserve and share the heartfelt stories of their loved ones, creating a lasting legacy through a beautifully designed digital platform and artisan-crafted memorial products. Unlike traditional memorial services, Reminisce is an interactive experience which aids in story creation and enables collaborative storytelling, allowing families to contribute memories, reflect on their shared history, and keep their connections alive across generations.

David O’Keeffe of SeeGap

SeeGap helps consumer brands build a more loyal and profitable customer base, by optimising their packaging using QR codes.

Ger Tobin of SparkSeeds (edtech platform)

Sparkseeds helps parents and teachers of neurodivergent children aged 12 and under. The platform helps develop social and emotional skills, literacy, speech, and language through nature-based activities using gamified storytelling.

Jon Harrison of StatrDraft (sports platform)

StatrDraft is a next-generation fantasy football platform that redefines how fans engage with the sport. Unlike traditional fantasy games, StatrDraft introduces exclusive draft-style gameplay (turn-based), ensuring every team is unique, and every player’s performance matters. The platform integrates both the English Premier League (EPL) and Women’s Super League (WSL), making fantasy football more inclusive, engaging, and strategic. It also eliminates the hassle of manual cash collection by providing seamless in-platform payment processing for private leagues.

Keith O’Leary of ScanSafe (digital platform)

Scan Safe is a comprehensive digital solution for the construction industry, designed to elevate safety and streamline operations. Their goal is to transform traditional safety management by replacing cumbersome paperwork with an intuitive digital system, thereby reducing workload and enhancing compliance.

Kevin Mounsey of FarmFlow Solutions (agritech)

FarmFlow Solutions is transforming the animal feed supply chain through a comprehensive platform that connects farmers, feed mills, co-ops, and delivery drivers, enabling real-time feed ordering, inventory tracking, and delivery coordination. It provides co-ops and farmers with advanced forecasting solutions for bulk deliveries, such as meal and fertiliser, through tailored mobile applications.

Michael Maul of Subtimize (management platform)

Subtimize is a SaaS license management platform that helps businesses reduce software waste, optimize costs, and prevent renewal issues by providing automated tracking, usage insights, and centralized control over subscriptions – cutting unnecessary SaaS costs by up to 30%. Unlike complex enterprise tools or manual spreadsheets, Subtimize is simple, efficient, and built with the needs of growing SMEs in mind.

Stephen O’Sullivan of I Left You A Note (SaaS platform)

I Left You A Note works with hotels to protect their reputation and revenue through guest feedback and guest communications. With more private feedback from guests during their stay, issues can be identified and resolved in real-time, leading to better satisfaction, better loyalty, better public reviews, and better revenue.

Tania O’Halloran of Abstrakta (digital platform)

A compliance and knowledge management platform for universities, Abstrakta unlocks unpublished cancer research, ensuring failed experiments and hidden findings are structured, compliant, and actionable. The AI-driven platform prevents redundant studies and accelerates breakthroughs.

Annemarie Gillman of Totpots (food)

Healthy snacking for little ones just got an upgrade! Totpots offers nutrient-packed jellies designed for busy parents and growing kids. With pre-biotic fiber, essential vitamins, and a fun, mess-free format, Totpots makes healthy eating effortless.

Andra Lupea of Planex360 (management platform)

Planex360 is puting an end to scheduling nightmares – transforming employee and fleet management with a unified platform designed to streamline operations, reduce staff dependency, and cut costs.

Sean Dzokesayi of Abbantu (gaming)

Abbantu is transforming gaming accessories with modular controllers that allow players to replace buttons and joysticks instead of the whole controller – saving money and reducing waste.

Calling new founders in the Midwest!

Do you have an innovative business idea? Are you thinking of founding a startup in the Midwest? Discover what you can expect from the New Frontiers programme in Limerick in our interview with New Frontiers Programme Manager Mary Casey and Gillian Barry, TUS Head of Innovation & Enterprise.