Affinity EV, Foodsight, and Sisterly amongst top 100 start-ups in Ireland
Businesses from across the island have been recognised in the Business Post Hot 100 start-ups, in association with Enterprise Ireland. The highest profile inclusion is Affinity EV, based in Ballinasloe, County Galway. The start-up, which provides a link between EV makers and energy companies, has secured a $40 million (€36 million) contract with Qmerit, a leading charging infrastructure provider.
Other high profile entries on the list include a Dublin-based business, Positive Carbon that uses high-tech sensors to track, trace and eliminate food waste. Last year the company, founded by Aisling and Mark Kirwan, raised €2.3 million in funding.
The Hot 100 list also includes Sisterly, another Dublin based business, which raised €2 million earlier this year. The business, founded by Aoife Matthews, Jennifer O’Connell and Louise O’Riordan, has developed a range of supplements specifically tailored to women.
Dublin has the most entries on the list amongst counties with 39, followed by Cork with 10 and Galway with 8.
Among the standouts from Cork are Lia Eyecare, which has developed a technology to treat dry eye disease, and MyGug, which has developed a device used to convert bio-waste into energy.
In total 19 counties are represented on the list with several, including Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Meath and Monaghan having multiple entries.
These entries include Acel Energy, from Monaghan town, which has developed a management software system to open up solar charging to a wider audience, and the Seriously Sound Food Co. from Tralee, Co. Kerry, which sells plant-based chicken pieces.
There were also several entries, such as Brightbeam, that are remote-first. Brightbeam helps businesses make better use of AI, finding ways to adapt it for use in their processes.
Speaking at the launch of the Hot 100, Minister for Business, Retail and Trade Emer Higgins TD said: “The Business Post Hot 100 Start-ups for 2024 is about celebrating success, recognising innovators and inspiring entrepreneurs. The start-up environment in Ireland is in a strong place and this government working with Enterprise Ireland is here to fortify that ecosystem, ensuring it is both connected and increasingly self-sufficient. My congratulations to the 100 companies for all your hard work and dedication to get your business to this point and the important part you’ve played in making the start-up ecosystem in Ireland so vibrant.”
Kevin Sherry, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland is delighted to partner with the Business Post to celebrate some of the most exciting young start-ups in the country. The companies profiled are spread across a range of sectors including Food, ICT, Lifesciences and Financial Services. The ‘Hot 100’ for 2024 demonstrates the strong pipeline of promising, innovative and export-focused entrepreneurs located throughout the country and Enterprise Ireland is proud to be behind many of these businesses on their start-up journey. Our goal is to help drive the success of the most forward-thinking Irish companies, enabling start-ups to thrive and influence the future of global business.”
