2013 Press Releases
Businesses of the future honoured
Eight businesses of the future were recognised this week at the IGNITE Graduate Business Innovation Programme Awards and Showcase held in a packed Aula Maxima, UCC.
The top award, the Bank of Ireland/IGNITE Business of the Year Award 2013, was presented to Dr Sinead Doherty of AnaBio Technologies Ltd by Joe O’Brien, Regional Business Manager, Bank of Ireland.
With little between the top contenders, the judges determined that AnaBio Technologies Ltd best demonstrated the potential to build a business that can achieve growth and create sustainable employment. Dr. Doherty completed her PhD at Teagasc/UCC and has developed a patented encapsulation technique designed for targeted and controlled release of sensitive ingredients. The judges were particularly impressed with the portfolio of multinational clients that AnaBio has secured to date.
Two further awards were made in recognition of business planning and innovation.
The Ernst & Young/IGNITE Business Plan Award was presented to Brendan Finucane of VConnecta Ltd by Damian Riordan, Director of Ernst & Young. A BSc (Business Information Systems) Graduate of UCC, Finucane has developed ECanvasser, a mobile application for political canvassing following earlier work carried out as part of his final year project. He has recently secured private investment to fund further development of the product.
Gillian Keating, Partner, JW O’Donovan and President of Cork Chamber of Commerce presented the JW O’Donovan Solicitors/IGNITE Innovation Award to Declan Gordon of Mohago Ltd. Mohago is working on providing data management solutions for scientific and industrial R&D centres.
“The calibre of the business presentations was very high. It is incredible how far each of the business has progressed in such a short time on the IGNITE programme”, said Joe O’Brien, Regional Business Manager, Bank of Ireland, Chair of the Adjudication Panel. “All presenters demonstrated that they have the ability to develop successful businesses”.
Declan Gordon also received the IGNITE 2013 Peer Award in recognition of the spirit of cooperation, leadership and entrepreneurial ability he demonstrated throughout the IGNITE programme. This Award has particular significance as it is determined by the IGNITE 2013 peer group.
The IGNITE Showcase Award was won by Ottera, who presented the most effective showcase display on the Award evening.
The Awards were presented in front of an invited audience including representatives of Cork City Council, Cork County Council, local business leaders, UCC staff, friends and family.
“The IGNITE Programme is going from strength to strength,” said Eamon Curtin, Programme Director. “This year there were nearly 100 expressions of interest, almost twice the number of applicants from last year, and the quality of the applicants is higher than ever”.
Past winners of IGNITE Awards have gone on to further business success, including Eoin O’Carroll and Kevin Bambury of Portable Medical Technology Ltd (www.portablemedicaltechnology.com) and Mike McGrath of Supply.ie (www.supply.ie).
IGNITE Graduate Business Innovation Programme is funded by Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Cork County and City Enterprise Boards and Bank of Ireland.