IADT NovaUCD New Frontiers 2024 Showcase
The founders of South Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown and Wicklow best start-ups in 2024 were honoured at the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design + Technology (IADT) and NovaUCD showcase for their entrepreneurial skill in developing innovative business solutions for international markets.
The New Frontiers class of 2024 showcase awards took place with members of the start-up eco-system in attendance to hear about the solutions they developed.
Among the concepts developed by this year’s cohort were:
- B2B platform designed to protect brands and communicate their sustainability efforts
- AI powered community-driven travel platform for solo travellers
- Data-driven platform revolutionising dairy farming
- Cross curriculum prompt generator to facilitate creative thinking in primary school education
- AI enabled automated method of tracking wild pollinators
- ERP software solution for solar and renewable energy installation companies
- Market intelligence company focusing on emerging markets and overlooked market data feeds
- PaaS – providing an online service for game studios and publishers
- AI B2B SaaS platform designed to revolutionize the way marketers create briefs for their agencies
- A platform for patients to support navigating complex diseases
- A platform for realistic software development tests, revolutionising technical interviews.
Key note speaker, Fergal Meegan CEO of Assiduous, the 2023 winner of the One to Watch award, advised the class of 2024: “New Frontiers is fantastic for giving an entrepreneur time and space to figure out exactly what they are trying to do, how, what, where and when. When you come in at the start of the programme you have some ideas you need to validate, when you leave at the end of the programme you have effectively had that opportunity to leave with a clear plan and direction as to where you are going.”
Entrepreneurial excellence took centre stage at the event, where achievements were recognised across a number of award categories:
- The Best Pitch award: Pierre Yimbog of SoloBook™ – an AI-powered, community driven travel platform for solo travelers to have reliable information to plan and book safe adventures.
- The One to Watch award: Andrew Moore of Evogen- an AI based Evolutionary Genetics platform.
- The Most Likely to Scale award: Sean Boyle, of UnitMode, whose SaaS platform gives brands an effective way to identify and prevent greenwashing.
- The Most Likely to Succeed: Meg Brennan of PolliKnow who are revolutionising pollinator monitoring.
Speaking to the award winners, Head of Entrepreneurship & HPSU Operations at Enterprise Ireland, Anna Maire Turley said, “Events like today’s showcase the value of New Frontiers and the benefit that it brings to all entrepreneurs going through the programme, so for us in Enterprise Ireland, it is the pipeline of companies coming through New Frontiers, who maybe used some supports from the Local Enterprise Office, and make their way to Enterprise Ireland, but equally companies can stay work with the Local Enterprise Office it is all a success.”
New Frontiers Programme Manager, Susanne L’Estrange commended the class of 2024 by saying, “These founders have successfully completed Phase 2 of the New Frontiers program, deepening their understanding of target markets. Through meaningful engagement with prospective customers, they have developed innovative product-market solutions that address key challenges. Today, they proudly join the esteemed New Frontiers community of founders who have completed the programme at the Institute of Art, Design + Technology.”
Michelle Doyle, Senior Manager, Strategic Innovation Partnerships, NovaUCD, said, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the four Awardees, and all the participants who have just completed our third New Frontiers Programme delivered in partnership with IADT Media Cube. The participating start-ups have the potential to grow, raise funding, create jobs and indeed scale internationally and I wish them all every success on the next steps of their entrepreneurial journeys.”
Lastly, Meg Brennan of PolliKnow said, “New Frontiers has been instrumental in developing Polliknow. The program has given us the time, space and expert support needed to take us to the next level on our journey.”
The New Frontiers programme at IADT is funded by Enterprise Ireland and is delivered twice annually in the south Dublin, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and Wicklow region by IADT in partnership with NovaUCD. Phase 2 of New Frontiers is an intensive six-month programme where participants learn how to establish and run a new high-growth potential company.
Applications for the next programme at IADT’s Dun Laoghaire campus are now open. Please email newfrontiers@IADT.ie for application details. The hybrid Phase 1 programme commences in November 2024 and the full-time Phase 2 starts in April 2025. For more information see the IADT New Frontier’s website.
