New Frontiers blog

At the end of March, a new cohort of founders graduated from Phase 2 of the New Frontiers programme in Limerick. The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders to engage directly with these ambitious early-stage entrepreneurs, creating space for meaningful conversations around collaboration, funding and growth.

The programme in the Midwest is delivered by Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) in collaboration with UL Nexus. As well as the live founder pitch competition, the Start-up Awards 2026 provided a focused opportunity to connect with investors, enterprise agencies, corporate partners, and experienced entrepreneurs.

The award-winners this year were:

• TUS Startup of the Year: Dr Rachel Power of Calm & Free (with €2,000 cash prize money, legal consultancy from Holmes, and mentoring from Averian and Resolve Partners)
• Best Innovation Award: Sarah Hayes of Fastwave (with €1,000 cash prize money and support from Holmes and Averian)
• One to Watch Award: Hugh McNally of CarPal (with €1,000 cash prize money and support from Holmes and Averian)

The keynote address was delivered by John Cleary, founder and CEO of Eventmaster. A graduate of the LEAP programme – the predecessor to New Frontiers – he has scaled Eventmaster into one of Ireland’s leading event technology platforms. He is also the founder and former Event Director of the Great Limerick Run, which he developed into Ireland’s largest mass-participation event outside Dublin. John shared insights from building and growing a business from early-stage concept through to investment-backed scale.

This year’s New Frontiers cohort reflects a diverse mix of ventures across digital, sustainability, health, consumer and industrial sectors. Each founder has identified and validated a real market need and is now working to translate that into a viable product, whether through technical development, prototyping, or early customer engagement.

Speaking after the event, Programme Manager Mary Casey commented, “The TUS Business Startup Awards is a celebration of 13 founders who have shown resilience, creativity, and determination throughout the New Frontiers programme. Over the past six months, they have embraced every opportunity – from intensive training to invaluable mentorship – making incredible strides in their ventures. Their progress shows what’s possible when founders are supported with the right skills, confidence, and networks. Though finishing the programme, they are only the start of their journey – I have no doubt they will go on to achieve great things.”

The New Frontiers cohort in Limerick

Some ventures are already gaining traction, securing initial customers and generating early revenue, while others are tackling more technically complex challenges as they progress toward commercialisation. The graduates from Limerick are:

Brendan Shinnors of Devyber

Devyber delivers an engineering-control solution that reduces hand-arm vibration at the source. The advanced vibration-dampening handle wrap fits power tools and gardening equipment, improving safety and comfort beyond traditional PPE. Durable, ergonomic, and easy to apply, it helps prevent long-term vibration injuries across industrial, professional, and domestic settings.

Brian Garvey of Tribal Drinks

Tribal Drinks is a natural food supplement company developing clinically informed functional nutrition products for GLP-1 users and pre-diabetic populations in ready-to-mix powdered sachet format, addressing micronutrient deficiencies and medication side effects.

Eimear Lynch of No Mum Told Me

No Mum Told Me is an online platform that supports new mothers who feel isolated, overwhelmed, and unsure postpartum by giving them credible expert advice and a rich community right when they need it. Unlike existing options, it combines credible, evidence-based support with real connection, giving mums a space they trust and a community they can lean on.

Eoin Keller of Lurra Bio

Lurra Bio develops bio-based, biodegradable fertiliser coatings for the professional turf market that improve nutrient efficiency, reduce runoff, and comply with EU regulations on biodegradability ahead of the 2028 ban on non-degradable coatings.

Gillian Shannon of HY-GEN-IST

HY-GEN-IST develops oral care products for customers seeking clean, chemical-free formulations with science-backed performance. Designed by a double award-winning dental hygienist, the products support the oral microbiome to help protect against tooth staining, acid wear, and oral dryness. Oral care for our people, our planet, and our future.

Greta Adomaviciute of Carbona

Carbona is a performance nutrition brand built specifically for female physiology, created to address the long-standing gap in sports nutrition for women. Through a structured fuelling system designed around how women actually train, Carbona supports more consistent energy, improved fuelling tolerance, and stronger training outcomes. By replacing generic, one-size-fits-all products with a female-specific approach, Carbona helps active women train with greater confidence and consistency.

Hugh McNally of CarPal

By reversing the traditional listing model, CarPal allows buyers to submit a single, structured request and receive personalised offers directly from verified dealers. The platform addresses a growing inefficiency in digital automotive retail: high advertising spend generating low-quality leads. CarPal is being developed by an experienced founding team with strong automotive data, dealer network, and SaaS delivery expertise.

Matthew Kelly of SAR Command

SAR Command, an AI search-and-rescue planning app, uses the incident location, weather, tides, and local terrain to suggest search areas, drift paths, and tasking plans for Coast Guard and mountain rescue teams. It will cut planning time, deploy teams faster with live tracking, and improve responder safety en route to the casualty.

Mykola Babiy of WinnerFlags

WinnerFlags is the data layer for the night-time economy. It transforms cultural engagement into decision-ready intelligence using collectible QR cards, opt-in audience signals, and live dashboards. Cities and night mayors gain real-time insight into attendance, sentiment, and behaviour. Proven in Limerick: 5,000+ data points, delivering 33× higher engagement than traditional research.

Rachel Power of Calm & Free

Founded by consultant paediatrician and mother Dr Rachel Power, Calm & Free delivers science-led skincare and nutritional supplements for babies and children. Built on clinical insight and real-world parenting, it offers calm, effective solutions for sensitive skin. Calm & Free is the trusted go-to solution for modern parents who want care without compromise.

Sam Sorensen of Cyberlynk

Cyberlynk streamlines the manufacturing industry’s path to production readiness through a novel, cybersecure integration IoT device. By enabling early system integration testing, Cyberlynk allows integration issues to be identified and resolved long before equipment arrives on-site. This results in de-risking both new production lines and upgrades; reduces costly delays; minimises travel and carbon emissions; and delivers greater project efficiency and project transparency.

Sarah Hayes of Fastwave

FastWave is a cloud-based sports tech software platform which automates the competition entry process for competitive swimming, including payment processing and eligibility criteria check. FastWave helps volunteers and NGBs alike to streamline how they operate, saving time and stress and improving financial governance and data collection, which in turn improves visibility at a national level, helping talent identification and increasing participation rates by simplifying how to get competing.

Sherin Sebastian of QuietSignals

Ecommerce brands lose 30% to 40% of customers in 60 days, with no idea why. Meanwhile, AI agents won’t recommend brands without authentic customer feedback. QuietSignals is an AI coworker that launches strategic, trigger-based voice feedback campaigns after purchase to capture insights. The AI analyses what customer say to help brands stop churn, improve products, and get recommended by AI agents.

Best of luck to these founders as they take the next steps with their businesses!

Calling startup founders in the Midwest

The New Frontiers programme in Limerick is delivered by Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) in collaboration with the University of Limerick, giving participants access to the expertise, facilities, and resources of both locations. Run by New Frontiers Programme Manager Mary Casey, the programme is co-located in the Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre on the TUS Limerick Campus and UL Nexus. Find out more about Mary and our Limerick location or see our upcoming application deadlines.

At the end of March, 11 startup founders, who have recently completed the six-month Phase 2 of the New Frontiers programme, were celebrated at a graduation showcase in the Learning and Innovation Centre (LINC) on TU Dublin’s Blanchardstown Campus.

In her opening remarks, Programme Manager Sarah Dunleavy congratulated the founders, saying, “Each of these entrepreneurs has embarked on a unique journey, overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities to make a difference in their respective fields. Their resilience has been truly inspiring — as you all know, the entrepreneurial journey is filled with ups and downs, and this group met every challenge with determination and optimism […] Seeing their growth, their commitment, and their support for each other has been incredibly rewarding. Thank you all for the positivity, energy, and curiosity you brought to the programme.”

The event showcased the progress of the participating founders through videos, speeches, certificate presentations, and prize‑giving. The audience also heard from Ciara Concannon, National New Frontiers Programme Manager at Enterprise Ireland; Niall Shanley, Senior Manager for Enterprise Engagement at TU Dublin, and Majella Murphy, Head of Acceleration at Furthr. Congratulations to the three award-winners:

• Fingal LEO Prize: Teri Kelly of Total Reputation (a €1,000 cash prize, presented by Rose McGahan)
• Philip Lee Prize: Cillian Griffith of Covy Watersport (a €10,000 in legal fees prize, presented by Hugo Grattiola)
• Best Showcase Stand Prize: Conor O’Keeffe of Altar Nutrition (three months of hotdesking space, presented by Rory O’Neil from the TU Dublin Incubation Team)

New Frontiers cohort in Blanchardstown

Over the past six months, these founders have demonstrated unwavering dedication, creativity, and resilience as they transformed their innovative ideas into impactful, scalable businesses.

Lauren Price of Little Mello’s

Little Mellos are multi-sensory toys designed to help children manage big emotions. Using gentle lights and vibrations, they teach simple, playful calming techniques children can use anytime. The goal is to build emotional confidence that children can carry with them for life.

Sandeep Kannirasan of Ordis Healthcare

Purpose-built, ambient AI infrastructure for long-term care.

Cillian Griffith of Covy Watersport

Covy designs elite, athlete-tested sailing gear built through innovation, collaboration, and an unrelenting commitment to excellence. Their products are used by the world’s top athletes, and Covy are the official kit suppliers to a number of national teams. They are Ireland’s first and only sailing brand.

Conor O’Keeffe of Altar Nutrition

Altar Nutrition develops high-quality sports nutrition for endurance athletes to consume prior to or during exercise.

Eniola Salami of Joyof

Joyof is a chef-led, innovative food brand on a mission to make bold, authentic West African flavours more accessible. They create high-quality, handcrafted products that honour tradition while embracing modern convenience, making it easy for anyone to enjoy the rich, cultural tastes without the time, stress, or compromise.

Soltan Abass of Intua

Intua helps B2B SaaS and cybersecurity companies automate the research and prioritisation of their sales pipelines to book more discovery calls. They track real-world triggers like new hires and technology changes and more to identify exactly which companies are ready for a conversation right now. By handling the prospecting and timing, they enable sales teams to book consistent monthly meetings and stay focused on closing deals rather than searching for leads.

Teri Kelly of Total Reputation

Total Reputation uses technology to show leaders how well their communications are working, identifies hidden reputation risks, and empowers smarter, evidence-based decisions.

Zachary Dair of Indralis

Indralis is a reusable intelligence layer for immersive VR training. They integrate wearable-derived signals with in-simulation telemetry to surface time-locked, actionable insight into trainee response (e.g., stress/overload/engagement) and enable state-aware training support over time. This helps VR training providers and enterprises evaluate scenarios at scale, improve outcomes, and produce defensible evidence of readiness and ROI.

Jennifer Sheahan of The HomePage

The HomePage is a SaaS platform that helps homeowners plan and manage renovations confidently. The platform gives you a personalised step-by-step plan, realistic costs, and AI-powered guidance based on proven renovation methodology plus local rules, grants, and best practices – so homeowners avoid costly mistakes and stay in control.

Haksing Zimik of Islandbridge Automation

Limited Islandbridge is an accounting automation platform that helps accountants save time by automatically checking documents and chasing missing information – so less time is spent on manual work and fixing mistakes.

Best of luck to these founders as they take the next steps with their businesses!

Calling startup founders near Blanchardstown

The New Frontiers programme in Blanchardstown is based in the Learning and Innovation Centre (LINC), TU Dublin’s tangible link to the business community in the Blanchardstown area. The New Frontiers Programme Manager in Blanchardstown is Sarah Dunleavy. Find out more about Sarah and our Blanchardstown location or see our upcoming application deadlines.

In March, ten founders graduated from Phase 2 of the New Frontiers programme in Kerry. The 2026 MTU Enterprise Showcase & Kerry Start-Up Challenge was held in the newly opened An Cuan building on Munster Technological University’s (MTU) Kerry Campus.

The high-energy event brought together emerging startups, regional enterprise stakeholders, and industry leaders for a day of pitching, networking, and celebration of entrepreneurial achievement.

The showcase offered attendees the chance to meet the founders and explore their innovative ventures first-hand. Speaking at the event, Niamh O’Kennedy, New Frontiers Programme Manager, said, “It’s inspiring to see such strong potential at this early stage – their drive and creativity will be key to shaping successful businesses.”

Also in attendance was Ciara Concannon, National New Frontiers Programme Manager at Enterprise Ireland, who highlighted the importance of continued engagement with organisations such as the Local Enterprise Offices and local BICs.

Three shortlisted companies pitched live to a judging panel composed of Matthew Collins of Sibly Food Company, Suzy Griffin Dunne of Hildun Beauty and Donagh Ó Buachalla of Ailtireach. The founders each had three minutes to present their business vision.

Best New Business Idea was awarded to Sean Field of DPPManager – a platform transforming how companies manage their digital product passports (DPP) and project workflows.

Best Pitch went to Oisín Flynn of Chess Ireland. Oisín impressed judges with a pitch focused on expanding chess education in schools and workplaces nationwide. Flynn and his co‑founder, Tomás Fitzpatrick, were recently featured in the Sunday Independent’s 30 Under 30.

The audience also heard from Tralee-based alumnus Shane Hassett of WAZP. Shane shared insights from his journey scaling an award‑winning 3D printing solutions company.

New Frontiers cohort in Kerry

The graduates from this latest cohort in Kerry are:

Markus Schmidberger of JuntoAI

JuntoAI is a next-generation business network that deploys autonomous AI agents to achieve professional goals. It addresses the problems of current networks, which are engineered for engagement instead of outcomes and trap user data in walled gardens. With JuntoAI, users set a goal, and AI agents work 24/7 to deliver tangible results like leads and booked meetings. The platform guarantees digital sovereignty, giving users full ownership of their identity, data, and social graph. The vision includes an open marketplace where third-party developers can create and monetise specialised AI agents.

Sean Morris of loopmo

loopmo is developing a VoC (Voice of Customer) feedback solution for physical retailers. Feedback surveys aim to track NPS (Net Promoter Score) and CSAT (Customer Satisfaction) and to gain insights so retailers can improve these metrics. Current solutions suffer from low response rates and engagement and a lack of actionable insights.

This is an issue, as with low and inconsistent response rates across a retail chain, NPS and other metrics measured are not decision-grade due to a large margin of error. In addition, surveys are controlled at the head office level, depriving store owners from getting feedback on local initiatives. It’s only on the ground at the store level that changes can be made to improve customer experience.

Marketta’s solution is transaction-linked QR codes printed on receipts which lead to surveys tailored to each individual customer and transaction. This results in a shorter, more engaging survey experience. Participation is incentivised by monthly draws for experiences such as weekends away, concert tickets, outdoor activities, etc. Together, these factors lift response rates and allow for more insightful questions designed to extract meaningful actionable insights that can be actioned at the store level to improve NPS and CSAT which are linked to better business outcomes: higher repeat-purchase propensity and share of wallet, greater customer lifetime value, and faster revenue growth.

Oisín Flynn of ChessIreland

ChessIreland is building Ireland’s first dedicated chess education and technology platform, designed to make chess accessible, engaging, and scalable. The company operates at the intersection of education and digital learning; the model combines offline programmes, including in-school workshops, after-school clubs, and regional tournaments, with a forthcoming digital learning app that will bring the experience online. This dual approach creates a unique pathway: children are introduced to chess in schools and clubs, then continue their learning at home through a gamified platform that aims to mirror the success of Duolingo in language learning.

ChessIreland’s value lies in its ecosystem approach. For schools, it provides ready-made, curriculum-aligned workshops that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and social skills. For families, it offers an affordable way to learn and progress through interactive lessons, puzzles, and tournaments in our chess clubs. For the wider chess community, it delivers tournaments and events that showcase the game and build long-term engagement.

Donna Nelan of BuddyBear

BuddyBear is an interactive emotional intelligence toy and app ecosystem designed to help children and parents develop healthy emotional awareness, connection, and resilience.

Created under the Interactive Therapies umbrella, BuddyBear combines a soft, sensor-enabled teddy bear that allows children to express emotions by pressing dedicated emotion buttons; a parent-facing app that provides real-time insights into a child’s emotional world, alongside CBT-informed scripts, activities, and coaching tips; and engaging stories and games that teach children how to understand, regulate, and communicate their feelings.

BuddyBear’s mission is to address the growing global need for child mental health support, offering families and schools a playful, science-based tool to nurture emotional well-being from the earliest years.

Sean Field of DPPManager

Very soon every company selling a physical product in the EU marketplace will be legally required to have a Digital Product Passport (DPP) for their product – a digital twin of a physical product. This means millions of companies in the EU, and worldwide, will have to comply with this legal requirement to be able to sell anything in one of the biggest marketplaces in the world.

DPPManager provides an easy and cost-effective way for companies to comply with this new regulation. The digital management tool easily creates and manages DPPs using Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain. The platform is cloud-based, so access is immediate, and with a simple registration process a company will be onboard within minutes. The tool uses AI and pre-existing templates so non-technical users can use it.

Paddy Lange of Resilium

Resilium is a specialised cybersecurity partner protecting the physical backbone of a business. From industrial machinery and building management systems to critical operational networks, it safeguards the physical assets that keep operations running on a daily basis. Their approach is simple: to treat each aspect of cybersecurity as an isolated module, selecting the best-in-class platforms for each, and integrating them into a custom, unified stack solution, tailored to each company’s environment.

Phillippa Christie of Equine Academy

Despite a global market value exceeding €300 billion, the equine industry is severely fragmented. Existing management and diagnostic tools operate in silos, forcing owners and professionals to manually bridge communication gaps through paper diaries and email. Equine Academy is solving this by developing EQUINE AI, a centralised vertical AI infrastructure that combines a clinical-grade vision engine with a specialised large language model (LLM).

Máire Griffin of Compliance Hub

Compliance Hub is a potential cloud-based compliance management platform that integrates multiple ISO frameworks into one centralised hub. Starting with ISO 9001, it will expand to ISO 27001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001, and ISO 42001, with future plans to launch ISO 13485 and ISO 22000 for the US market.

Their mission is to simplify compliance so organisations remain “audit ready every day”. The platform combines software, ready-to-use frameworks, automated task wizards, vendor management tools, and on-demand consultant support. It offers SMEs and larger enterprises an affordable, scalable solution tailored to Irish/EU regulatory needs, unlike generic global platforms or costly consultancy-only models.

Compliance Hub offers a single access point: consolidates compliance tasks, policies, incident reporting, and documentation across ISO, GDPR, ESG, HR, and H&S requirements; automated workflows: guides staff through complex compliance tasks, reducing errors and training needs; consultant integration: hybrid model blending self-service software with expert advisory support; and continuous audit readiness: ensures compliance is maintained year-round, not just during audits.

Dylan Dunne of Cora

Cora is an AI-powered onboarding and training assistant designed for companies with frontline workforces. The platform transforms static SOPs, training manuals, and safety documents into a dynamic, searchable knowledge base that staff can query in real time.

Frontline staff often struggle with slow onboarding, forgotten training, and difficulty finding the right procedure when they need it. Supervisors waste time with repetitive questions, while managers face pressure to prove compliance during audits. These inefficiencies cost companies time and money and create operational risk.

With Cora, managers can upload SOPs training and safety documents, tag them by role, and push updates to staff instantly. Employees can ask questions in plain language and get instant, accurate answers drawn directly from company-approved documentation. If the AI cannot answer, the query is escalated to a manager, whose response is added back into the system – creating a continuously improving knowledge base.

Cora also logs queries, answers, and document usage, providing managers with analytics on common knowledge gaps. The result is faster time-to-productivity, fewer mistakes, reduced supervisor workload, and improved safety.

Essino Madzhiani of Washell

Washell is a sustainable household products brand designed to combine eco-consciousness, effectiveness, and style. Founded on the belief that everyday cleaning should be safe for people and the planet, Washell develops natural, biodegradable, and non-toxic solutions for home care.

The product line includes multi-purpose cleaners, dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, and surface care products – all created with carefully selected natural ingredients. With a focus on minimalist design and eco-friendly packaging, Washell appeals to modern households looking for quality and sustainability without compromise.

Washell’s mission is to make green living accessible and practical, while also setting a new standard for how household brands approach health, aesthetics, and responsibility.

Best of luck to these founders as they take the next steps with their businesses!

Calling startup founders near Kerry

The New Frontiers programme in Kerry is based in the Tom Crean Business Centre on Munster Technological University’s Kerry Campus. The New Frontiers Programme Manager in Kerry is Niamh O’Kennedy. Find out more about Niamh and our Kerry location or see our upcoming application deadlines.

On 20th March, 10 ambitious new founders graduated from Phase 2 of the New Frontiers programme in Ireland’s northwest. The ceremony, held at Atlantic Technological University’s ATU Sligo Innovation Centre, brought together stakeholders from the local and national startup ecosystems and gave the entrepreneurs a chance to pitch for one of three awards.

The guest speaker this year was New Frontiers alumnus Kieran Supple, CEO and founder of Reap Interactive (trading as BovinePlus). The Roscommon-based agritech company won the prestigious ‘Start-Up Innovator of the Year’ award at the 2024 Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena Awards, held at the National Ploughing Championships. Their innovative product, BovinePlus, uses AI and image analysis for real-time livestock tracking and is steadily gaining traction in the market after significant private investment.

Speaking at the ceremony, Brendan Jennings, Chief Officer Research, Innovation & Engagement at ATU said, “Embedding Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers programme within ATU plays a vital role in supporting balanced regional development. Participants are making a meaningful contribution to the indigenous business community and helping to drive the region’s economic growth. 

“Many of you have already benefitted from engaging with the wider ATU community throughout your time on the programme—drawing on the expertise, insights, and support of academic staff and students as you progressed through your development phase. We hope you will continue to stay connected with the university and make use of its services long after you have completed the programme, helping to strengthen and accelerate the growth of your businesses.”

The pitch winners were announced after deliberation by the judges. Congratulations to:

• Most Investable Start-Up Award (sponsored by PGIM): Chris Cornwall of Arlo
• One to Watch Award (sponsored by ATU): Shania Taite of Saorla
• Best Pitch Award (sponsored by AIB): Connor Feehily of Qora EPOS

Speaking at the event, Programme Manager Geraldine Beirne congratulated the cohort, noting that they have worked extremely hard on their businesses and their commitment has been without question despite any bumps along the way. “I want to finish by saying to the participants, do remember that going forward there will always be help from all of us here in the extended team. Be it a desk, office space, or advice, the door is always open. If you need help looking for intern or graduate recruitment or a meeting room, if you need to host an investor or need to bounce something off us – we are here […] I personally have been honoured to support your businesses over the last six months, and we look forward to continuing to work with you in some shape or form in the future.” 

The New Frontiers cohort in the northwest

The founders from this latest cohort are based in Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Galway, and Kildare. They are:

Chris Cornwall of Arlo

Arlo generates medical notes, referral letters and patient summaries in real-time and seamlessly syncs these with existing patient management software.

Connor Feehily of Qora EPOS

Qora EPOS automates supplier order management using AI email parsing and inventory gap matching, eliminating manual data entry and reducing costly errors.

Donal McLynn of Trinity Drinks

Delivering a range of functional beverages infused with nature’s most powerful superfoods to aid in hydration, replenishment and nutrition.

Eoghan Matthews of CeolConnect

CeolConnect is a booking platform for venues to discover, connect and manage live musician bookings at the touch of a button.

Hannah Kelly of insigli

insigli helps marketing agencies who spend days pulling together data and reports from disconnected marketing tools have client-ready performance reports with ROI attribution and recommendations in line with their goals and targets in minutes.

Jennie Carr of Isle Skincare

A natural skincare brand developing innovative body care products using high-quality, Irish-made ingredients, starting with a targeted tallow-based balm.

Joanna Frivet of LegalMoov

Digital legal platform for client booking and onboarding for lawyers.

Mamta Bhardwaj of Insight Pulse

An AI-powered analytics tool that helps SMEs understand and improve their marketing performance through clear and actionable insights, no marketing expertise needed.

Shania Taite of Saorla

Saorla’s first product is LullaMED – a paediatric seating solution for 0-9-month-old babies, designed to support a calmer, safer, and more efficient treatment experience for clinicians, babies, and parents.

Swas Sahu of Stock Trading Studio

Cloud platform providing financial and economic data with built-in research and analysis tools for finance professionals, researchers, and analysts.

Best of luck to these founders as they take the next steps with their businesses!

Calling startup founders in the northwest

The New Frontiers programme in the northwest is based at two campuses of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) – the Donegal Letterkenny Campus and the Sligo Campus. The New Frontiers Programme Manager in the northwest is Geraldine Beirne. Find out more about Geraldine and the northwest’s dual-location programme or see our upcoming application deadlines.

Fiona Finucane spent over two decades at the sharp end of financial regulation, designing the kind of compliance infrastructure that keeps global institutions out of trouble. Now, she’s solving a similar problem for the small financial firms that are facing a significant step up in what compliance requires of them.

Fiona’s career in financial services began in 2001, more by accident than design. “That’s where things led,” she says simply. She joined PFPC (which later rebranded as PNC) and found that she loved fund administration. When the investment business was acquired by Bank of New York Mellon, she went with it and, at 28, was one of the youngest directors in the bank’s history and the first woman to hold that role in Europe.

From BNY, she was headhunted by Deutsche Bank. After a hybrid role between Dublin and California that involved auditing and then improving quality control, she made a sideways move into regulatory solutions that would involve less time away from family. “It sounds boring, but I loved it.” She designed Deutsche’s own regulatory solutions from the ground up, building a product the bank could rely on as compliance went from being a checkbox to a liability. When Deutsche’s fund services arm was sold to Apex Fund Services, she made the move and spent five years there.

In October 2023, Fiona was made redundant and found herself at the kind of career crossroads that a strong CV doesn’t automatically solve. She was too senior for the roles available in Ireland and the only real next steps were abroad. Not wanting to uproot her family – and dealing with some health matters that needed attention – she set up a facial therapy business from home while she figured out what came next.

Fiona Finucane and co-founder Richard Metcalfe

During a conversation with Richard Metcalfe, a technologist she had worked with at Deutsche Bank who is now her co-founder and CGO, he asked where Fiona thought the biggest gaps were in the market. She didn’t have to think for long – the regulatory landscape around anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) had been shifting for years, and the direction of travel was clear. Historically, the scrutiny fell on the banks and the large fund administrators. But a significant portion of financial risk moves through smaller firms – accountants, legal advisers, and wealth managers – and regulators had started paying attention.

New enforceable rules around client onboarding and AML controls are landing in 2026 and 2027. The smaller end of the market was, in Fiona’s view, badly exposed and underserved. They decided to explore whether a product could address it. After 150 interviews with people working inside the SMEs they were targeting, a pattern emerged. Data protection concerns, complexity, and the hassle of handing client information to a third party meant that nobody wanted a compliance service. What they wanted was software that was affordable, secure, and straightforward to implement. The enterprise-grade compliance platforms on the market come with enterprise price tags. For a firm of five or ten people facing a regulatory requirement that generates no revenue, they are unaffordable.

Fiona (left) at a birthday celebration with Richard Metcalfe (CGO) and Rachel Martin (Director)

With more research came another realisation. The majority of firms work with Microsoft products. Their data is already there; building within that ecosystem meant the product could sit inside a company’s own Microsoft tenancy, with no external data transfer and no integration headaches. The audit trail that the new regulations demand would be generated automatically inside tools people were already using. Fiona and Richard built a Power Apps prototype to test the concept. It went down well enough to justify going further.

With a small amount of personal investment, they got to work, including putting a website together. But building a scalable product needed a development team. Through some consultancy work she had taken on during her career break, Fiona had developed a relationship with a development company in India. She showed them the idea, offered equity in lieu of fees, and they agreed to come onboard.

“I have built products from the ground up. I’ve sold them. And they have been hugely successful. But I did it within the corporate environment – meaning I had a marketing department, an IT department… everything was at my fingertips. I just had to pick up the phone or send an email. Now there is no one to phone or email. It’s me. I needed to actually learn these skills myself – while balancing family life and making sure the lights stay on.”

No amount of corporate experience fully prepares you for the role of founder. Backed by her family, Fiona decided to go for it, securing her place on Phase 1 of New Frontiers. “I did wonder what I would learn but honestly, I learned so much. Every day was a school day. There were things you’d never have thought of. There were things you knew but they put a different perspective on it. I would encourage anyone to do it.”

New ventures need research. Not just feedback from people who are already in your corner, but critical insight too. Cold outreach is something that many founders struggle with – either the approach itself, or knowing what to ask, or the fact that they have nothing to offer in return. Fiona used every outreach approach she could think of. She researched people online and attended every in-person event she could, asking to pick people’s brains. The rejection rate was brutal and entirely normal; over time she developed the thick skin it requires.

“You might send 200 emails and only get one response. Celebrate that one victory instead of the emails that got ignored. We all get emails like that, and we ignore them ourselves. When you get that one response, look at their profile. Can you tailor your next search in that area and send out your next 200 requests? Maybe next time you’ll get two responses! You never know who you can get in front of if you ask, and sometimes those contacts might be potential collaborators or even future clients. When you do get to have a conversation, ask them if they can think of anyone else you could talk to, and often they will be happy to put you in touch with someone else.”

The programme also pushed Fiona to think seriously about factors such as threat substitutes, a concern that didn’t exist for her inside a top-tier bank. “Before, I got paid regardless. And I got my pension and healthcare regardless. Now, all of a sudden, it’s a one-way street. You keep putting money in but it’s not going to come back any time soon! On New Frontiers, or when you’re talking to Enterprise Ireland, the question isn’t ‘is the idea good?’, but ‘is it viable?’. ‘Is it defensible?’ If a major player decided to build the same solution tomorrow, how are you protected? They make you think and have a plan, even if you can’t protect your IP.”

Asked if she would do anything differently, Fiona says she would be more realistic about timelines. “When a developer says something will be ready on the first of July, bear in mind that might not be this year. People working for sweat equity have day jobs and lives. Things get derailed. The question I have learned to ask is whether something is a bump or an actual derail. If things get derailed, you need to be able to pivot and not consider that a failure. No matter how easy people make it look, no one had smooth sailing. Be kinder to yourself. I would go back and have that conversation with myself earlier on.”

Having come through all three phases of New Frontiers, Fiona’s advice to other new founders is to network. Who you surround yourself with is key, and you should never miss an opportunity to meet, learn from, and collaborate with others. “When you see a business that’s a bit further ahead of you, it’s natural to think they’re somehow more brilliant than you. But you’re not comparing like with like. Even if they’re in a completely different area, ask yourself ‘what are they doing that I could learn from?’. We’re always swapping ideas or offering tips in the group chat.

“You might think there’s nothing relevant at an event, but if you go, you’ll chat to people and you might come across someone with a crossover. Use your network. My family have never really understood what I do but they are supportive and I ask them for help with all kinds of things. You do have to step out of your comfort zone. You can’t think ‘I’ll just hire a salesperson’ (with what money?!) or ‘I’ll just use AI’ (yes, you along with half the rest of the world!).

“At the beginning, I had the idea, but I didn’t have the resources. I needed to become independently resourceful. Join every accelerator and programme you can. Sit down with your Local Enterprise Office and ask about what supports are out there; they’re nothing but helpful when you reach out, and there’s a lot out there. Network!”

The regulatory deadline is coming. From July 2026, the firms that Finperiti was built for will need to demonstrate they have the controls, the documentation, and the audit trail to satisfy inspectors. Where you used to just explain how your process works, now you have to show real examples. Finperiti sits inside the Microsoft environment, automating KYC and document collection with an evidence trail but without the enterprise-level complexity or price.

Fiona was a participant of the dual-location New Frontiers programme in Dundalk (DkIT) and Dublin (DCU) where our Programme Manager is April McCrave. Learn more about Fiona’s company at finperiti.com.

[featured image (l-r): Maria Johnston, Dara Duffy, Fiona Finucane, Garrett Duffy]

The latest cohort to graduate from the New Frontiers Phase 2 programme at South East Technological University – Carlow Campus was celebrated at a showcase event last week that included the opportunity to pitch for two different awards.

The showcase event marks the end of the six-month, full-time Phase 2, during which founders receive a number of supports that include mentoring and a tax-free allowance of €15,000 while they build a solid foundation for their business.

Nine founders pitched their ventures to members of the southeast startup ecosystem as well as the expert judging panel, which included Aidan Shine of Propeller BIC, Gillian Baker of Enterprise Ireland, and Alan Nolan of Netwatch. The awardees were:

• Best Pitch – Overall Winner: Gail Daniels of Bó Bar Soap, who secured a €1,000 cash prize sponsored by Netwatch and €1,000 worth of mentoring and business supports from Kilkenny Local Enterprise Office. Bó Bar soaps are handmade on the family-run Kilkenny dairy farm using fresh cow’s milk from grass-fed cows and formulated with 100% natural ingredients.
• Most Innovative Business Idea: Jack Honnen of MediTreats, who received a €1,000 prize sponsored by Unum. SETU graduate Jack first developed his concept through a New Product Innovation module while completing his Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Digital Marketing and Analytics and is creating a solution to simplify the administration of liquid medication to dogs.

Concluding the event, Programme Manager Gemma Purcell noted that “It was a tough decision for the judging panel. I am extremely proud of the progress this group has made over the past six months. New Frontiers offers second-to-none support for founders in growing their connections, confidence and capital.”

Guest speakers Kevin Barrett and Rob Brown, co-founders of Genotrial and New Frontiers alumni, shared insights into their entrepreneurial journey since completing the programme, including winning last year’s Most Innovative Business Award and being awarded PSSF funding from Enterprise Ireland.

Ciara Concannon, National New Frontiers Programme Manager at Enterprise Ireland, also addressed attendees and announced the participants who were successful in securing Phase 3 funding.

New Frontiers 2024 cohort in Carlow

The 2025 cohort is developing ventures across a range of sectors, including product innovation, digital services and wellness:

Briony Somers of Ori (healthcare)

Ori gives people the tools to navigate the healthcare system better than a doctor.

Cait Makey Maher of Yellow Deer Designs (retail)

Yellow Deer Designs is an Irish-owned illustration and stationery business specialising in hand-illustrated greeting cards and bespoke illustration for retailers and organisations. Alongside its core trading activity, the business is developing an assistive illustration workflow to increase creative capacity, improve efficiency, and support scalable growth while maintaining the integrity of hand-drawn design.

Gail Daniels of Bó Bar Soap (skincare)

Natural handmade soap made using cow’s milk.

Nora Norris of Sauna Wear (fashion/apparel)

Sustainable sauna wear built for contrast therapy, designed to withstand extreme heat and cold so practitioners stop wasting money on conventional gear that fails.

David McKeon of Via (B2C Saas)

Via is an ADHD-focused productivity ecosystem that plans for you, making staying organised effortless and adaptive through intelligent automation, empowering you to get more done with less stress.

Harry Dunne of DocuWill (consumer SaaS)

DocuWill enables anyone to prepare comprehensive end-of-life and incapacity plans independently from home. From Wills and Advance Healthcare Directives to digital assets and wishes, all critical information is securely organised and ready for when it’s needed.

Jack Honnen of MediTreats (pet care)

MediTreats is developing an innovative edible delivery system designed to make oral liquid medication easier to administer to dogs. MediTreats aims to improve compliance, dosing accuracy, and animal welfare, with an initial focus on the Irish veterinary and pet care market.

Mark Dunne of deline8 (enterprise software/regtech)

deline8 is an AI-powered SaaS platform providing objective, data-driven technology due diligence (TDD) for the M&A industry. It solves the multi-billion-dollar problem of unquantified technical risk by replacing slow, subjective assessments with quantifiable ground truth.

Darren Maher of ReCreo (healthcare/technology)

ReCreo is an AI-powered therapy platform that helps therapists plan, deliver, and track structured therapy in a secure, clinically grounded system.

Best of luck to these founders as they take the next steps with their businesses!

Calling startup founders near Carlow

The New Frontiers programme in Carlow is based in the Xcelerate Centre. The three SETU Xcelerate Centres are home to numerous initiatives and programmes to accelerate and nurture enterprise development in the South East region. The New Frontiers Programme Manager in Carlow is Gemma Purcell. Find out more about Gemma and our Carlow location or see our upcoming application deadlines.

[featured image (l-r): Gillian Baker, Brian Ogilvie, Eugene Crehan, Cait Mackey Maher, Briony Somers, Nora Norris, Harry Dunne, Lorraine Brennan, Jack Honnen, Gail Daniels, David McKeon, Mark Dunne, Gemma Purcell, and Ciara Concannon]