10 Startups In Ireland To Watch

The number of new Irish startups hit its highest level in nearly two decades in 2016, and with plans underway for a state-of-the-art billion-euro technology and enterprise campus in Dublin, the country has no intention of losing its status as a European hub of creativity and innovation. Read on to discover 10 promising new businesses to come out of Ireland in recent years.

Access Earth

NUI Maynooth graduate Matt McCann created Access Earth with the aim of making travel ‘easy and equal’, something he was inspired to do after visiting a London hotel that claimed it was accessible for wheelchair users, but actually wasn’t. The site and app, which uses crowdsourced information from users to allow members across the world find places that fit their accessibility criteria, made the world finals of the Microsoft Imagine Cup in 2014.

Nuritas

Dr Nora Khaldi at The Netherlands Summit 2016

Fillit

Responding to the continuing trend of pop-up events and temporary businesses, Fillit is an online platform that connects creative people with short-term rental spaces. Although based in Dublin, the site lists properties for rent across the country, from hot dog stands to rural houses.

CleverBooks

Making it their mission to create ‘magic educative books’, CleverBooks was named a Silicon Republic Start Up of the Week in November 2016. Their personalised books come with 3D options, working with a free mobile app. They have also created an augmented reality geometry app designed for 7 to 11 year olds.

Izzy Wheels

The two sisters behind Galway start-up Izzy Wheels recently won the top prize at 2017 Accenture Leaders of Tomorrow Awards. They’ve teamed up with well-known artists to create a stylish collection of wheelchair spoke guards.

Cohort

A professional networking app, Cohort promises to ‘find the people you need, through the people you already know and trust’. No doubt aiming to dethrone LinkedIn as the primary business-oriented social network, Cohort claims to offer a more holistic and yet targeted service, analysing public data and online relationships to quickly find those most likely to fit the criteria you are looking for.

Corrata

Advanced data control for mobile devices may not sound like the sexiest of topics, but as the legitimate fear of hacking and data breaches grows, businesses are crying out for products like Corrata Mobility Control, gold winner in the tech category of this year’s Bank of Ireland Startup Awards. As well as managing data usage on company mobile phones, it protects against phishing.

BEUTiFi

Founded in 2014, Dublin-based BEUTiFi acquired its major rival SalonAddict last year. The popular hair and beauty booking and review website now has an office in London and one coming soon to San Francisco.

EnergyElephant

EnergyElephant users can quickly figure out where they could be more energy efficient by simply uploading their energy bills and data for analysis. The company claims its meter reading app is more than 75% faster than traditional meter reading systems.

EngageSmith

EngageSmith are a training firm specifically trying to help large companies hold on to the millennial workforce who, founder Lisa Smith feels, aren’t being served by outdated learning and development models. In early May 2017, the company created 20 jobs after receiving €400,000 in investment.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.