Taoiseach Micheál Martin Attends The New Frontiers Phase 2 Showcase In Cork

On Monday 7th of April, 15 founders graduated from Phase 2 of the New Frontiers programme in Cork. Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined invitees including staff from the Rubicon Centre, MTU faculty heads, and representatives of Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices, and Axis BIC for a showcase event at Munster Technological University (MTU).

New Frontiers is a critically important element of Enterprise Ireland’s regional economic development strategy. The programme supports over 500 participants every year, promoting entrepreneurship and startups across 18 locations nationwide.

Highlighting the crucial role of innovative startups in driving Ireland’s economic growth, the Taoiseach stated that, “The New Frontiers programme plays a pivotal role in equipping business founders with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.”

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. This year’s cohort of 15 founders includes seven women founders.

This milestone event allows founders to present their businesses to an audience of around 100 attendees, discussing their vision for the future as well as their journey so far. The ceremony also rewards two standout participants – in this case Dr Sinéad Mellett, who received the Best Business Opportunity Award from An Taoiseach, and Marc O’Donovan Wyatt, who received the Peer Excellence Award from Professor Maggie Cussack, President of MTU.

New Frontiers 2024 cohort in Cork

Several of the startups have already won significant contracts and/or sales. The graduates from Cork are:

Aoife Goulding of Kookease (FMCG)

Kookease is a range of single serve cookie dough bites tailor-made to cook from frozen in the air fryer. This brings the idea of a sweet treat to the home and widely available even when the going gets tough.

Diarmuid Duggan of Triple Edge Energy (energy and sustainability)

Triple Edge Energy helps you earn money by adjusting energy use when the grid system needs it most.

Iarla Crewe and Diego Navarro of Quartz Pay (financial services)

Quartz Pay enables cryptocurrency holders to spend their crypto without selling the crypto assets and creating multiple tax events. The transactions take place through bank transfers and a self-custody credit card ensuring the security of the crypto asset.

Lavanya Bhandari of EcoRoots (packaging)

EcoRoots provides innovative, sustainable packaging and insulation solutions made from mycelium, the root structure of fungi. Products are designed to replace traditional, environmentally harmful materials like polystyrene and plastics.

Mairead Maher of Boots2Base (software for market intelligence)

80% of frontline intelligence is lost every year. Boots2Base captures and curates real-time market insights from employees on the ground, so your business can make faster, data-backed decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

Marc O’Donovan Wyatt of Genni (software for hospitality)

Genni enables owners/managers of FMCG businesses to directly convert and retain customers who want a similar good or service in their area. Genni also connects people together and to offers based on shared availability, location, and preference, whilst allowing their employers to automate their expense process for what they purchase.

Michael Noonan of Noonan’s Control Method (software for manufacturing)

Noonan’s Control Method has higher accuracy, lower vibration, and is less susceptible to inertial problems than the existing PID system used in CNC milling, thus increasing speed and accuracy and reducing waste.

Paul Murphy of Mindful Maker (consumer goods)

Mindful Maker designs and makes sustainably handcrafted heritage-led furniture, homeware, and gifts from storm-felled native timbers such as Irish oak, ash, and elm, as well as spalted beech.

Reece Hogan of A.Chara (software for dementia care)

A.Chara enables family members caring for loved ones with dementia to monitor, document, and share key behavioural and health insights to reduce the guess work and support.

Lucy Lehane of Allyouknead.ie (sustainability and edtech)

Allyouknead.ie is a food delivery service that offers locally sourced, pre-weighed ingredients delivered to schools for practical lessons, enhancing the cookery practical experience. It promotes food literacy by making nutritious cooking accessible and enjoyable, with each delivery including resources for hands-on learning.

Robin Thomas of Tower Watch (energy)

Tower Watch is an automated ESG & sustainability tracking platform with real time building management system data. It provides one-click regulatory compliance reports aligned with GRI, SASB, and TCFD standards and enables businesses to monetise sustainability efforts

Sadhbh Cosgrave of The Alternative Christmas Pudding (food)

The Alternative Christmas Pudding provides the home chef with a luxury chocolate biscuit alternative to the traditional Christmas pudding. The company has expanded to offer Easter eggs and is working on product extensions in a number of categories.

Sam O’Neill of RowTeic (sports tech)

RowTeic democratises high-performance sport by relaying rowing boat performance to the athlete and coaching team to increase training efficiency and improve results.

Dr Sinead Mellett of The Natural Vet Co. (FMCG/holistic veterinary medicine)

The Natural Vet Co. combines veterinary medicinal with western herbal remedies to treat the whole animal patient.

Zuhri Ajibola of Zhy Biotechnologies (biotech)

Zhy Biotechnologies produces algae-derived bioactive peptides to enable cosmeceutical and personal care brands to create effective, high-quality, and sustainable skincare solutions.

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

Calling startup founders near Cork

The New Frontiers programme in Cork is based in the Rubicon Centre, Munster Technological University’s on-campus incubator in Cork supporting entrepreneurs and startups with innovative product, service or technology ideas. The Rubicon Centre has been funded under the Enterprise Ireland campus incubation programme and provides a range of supports to help companies start, accelerate, and grow their businesses. The New Frontiers Programme Manager in Cork at is Aoife McInerney. Find out more about Aoife and our Cork location or see our upcoming application deadlines.