Eleven participants of Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) – Sligo & Donegal Letterkenny Campuses – were showcased at a ceremony on 14th March.
The recent alumni pitched their businesses with the chance to win one of two cash prizes. The Most Investable StartUp award (sponsored by Growing Capital) went to Kostya Gorsky of hirehire and the One to Watch award (sponsored by ATU) went to Paul McGoldrick of Slíglas.
The guest speaker at the ceremony was New Frontiers alumna Clare Ryan, co-founder of ITUS Secure Technologies. Her startup – a cybersecurity solutions provider – helps small businesses to understand and mitigate their cyber risks, empowering them to stay safe online. A participant on the programme in 2018, Clare gave insights into the challenges she has faced, the funding landscape, building a tech product as a non-tech founder, and how to manage ‘founder fuel’ for the journey ahead.
The event was also attended by Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU; Paul Hannigan, Head of College ATU Donegal; and Meabh Conaghan, Regional Director of Enterprise Ireland.
In her speech, Dr Orla Flynn noted, “The embedding of Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme within ATU is critical to balanced regional development. Participants of the programme are playing a significant role in the indigenous business community – driving the region’s economy forward. We know that many of you have benefited from engaging with the wider ATU community during your time on the programme, accessing the knowledge and assistance from the academic staff and students to help you on your development phase. We hope that you will continue to link in with the services of the university after you leave the programme to help drive your businesses forward.”
Speaking after the event, Programme Manager Geraldine Beirne expressed pride in the outgoing cohort. “From the participants’ presentations today, the audience could clearly see the strength and ambition of the founders. Their internal drive and resilience as well as the peer-to-peer support they get from each other, bode well for their futures and for the region’s growth.”
New Frontiers 2024 cohort in the northwest
The graduates from the programme in Sligo and Letterkenny are:
Aoibheann Walsh of SashSó
A dual-purpose utility tool for hairdressers, make-up artists, and costume/set designers with a detachable brush cleaner.
Aoibhín O’Dea of Cácaí Aoibhín
A range of ready-to-bake from frozen home bakery items targeting both foodservice and retail channels.
Brian McGeehin of Blue Eye Highway
Specialising in the development of an advanced road safety device, the primary product is a patented black ice-detecting cat’s eye, a novel solution in the market aimed at preventing accidents due to icy conditions.
Emer Shovlin of Cassan
A marine planning applications platform.
Hannah Joyce of Flexera
Foldable reformer Pilates machines and an online app with classes.
John Duffy of Wild & Co
A minimally processed, high-protein (venison) meat-based food product for people on the go.
Karen Kearney of Soak
A wellness range that harnesses the healing power of the Atlantic Ocean and home-grown organic herbs to help with sleep, anxieties, mood, and stress.
Paul Dockery of BlackLayer
Manufacturing grass maintenance machinery for the worldwide sports turf industry.
Sarah-Jane Harte of Neula
A digital tool for people with ADHD to track symptoms, challenges, and treatments for personalised care.
Kostya Gorsky of hirehire
An AI co-pilot aimed at recruiters and designed to save them time and improve the quality of candidate interviews.
Paul McGoldrick of Slíglas
A biochar-focused carbon dioxide removal business using biomass residues from sawmills and forestry. Slíglas will sell carbon credits and biochar for use in farms and other sectors.
Calling startup founders in the northwest
The New Frontiers programme in the northwest is a joint initiative between the incubators at two campuses of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) – CoLab in Letterkenny and the Innovation Centre in Sligo. The New Frontiers Programme Manager in the northwest is Geraldine Beirne. Read more about Geraldine and the dual-location programme she runs in the northwest or see our upcoming application deadlines.
About the author
Scarlet Bierman
Scarlet BiermanScarlet Bierman is a content consultant, commissioned by Enterprise Ireland to fulfil the role of Editor of the New Frontiers website. She is an expert in designing and executing ethical marketing strategies and passionate about helping businesses to develop a quality online presence.
