RegenoMac has won the IDEATE Ireland third-level start-up competition, claiming a €10,000 prize.
Led by Dr Cormac Flynn of the University of Galway, RegenoMac is developing an innovative gel injection for patients with macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy who experience significant vision loss.
The first runner-up was Neuropause Medical, led by Dr Maria Galve Villa of University College Galway, which won a prize of €7,000.
Joint second runners-up were NutraTreat, founded by Dr Ronan Bergin and Dr John Stephens of Maynooth University and Lion’s Reign a team from University College Cork (Sean O’Sullivan and Giana Nuncia) who share a €3,000 prize.
The ten best submissions to IDEATE Ireland participated in a ten-week mentoring and support programme.
Since its foundation in 2011, 358 people from academic institutions across the island of Ireland have participated in the initiative.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of participating teams have formed viable businesses, creating over 350 jobs and raising €45.5m in follow-on funding.
“The competition’s notable success underscores the significance of consistently providing aspiring entrepreneurs from Ireland and Northern Ireland with invaluable educational resources, mentorship, and a thriving business network,” said David Moffitt, IDEATE Ireland chair.
The ten IDEATE Ireland participants for this year were:
- AgriNaviTech (Ulster University), a GPS-enabled livestock management system designed to address the challenges of tracking and managing livestock.
- Clean Kicks (Ulster University), which specialises in creating hand-painted footwear to express customers’ unique styles.
- Lion’s Reign (UCC) is Europe’s only producer of mushroom-based jerky, uniquely crafted from Lion’s Mane mushrooms.
- Neuropause Medical (University of Galway/UCD) makes revolutionary ultrasound-based device offers a non-invasive, medication-free solution for severe hot flushes and night sweats, designed for menopause healthcare professionals to transform symptom management safely and effectively.
- NutraTreat (Maynooth University) offers a non-pharmaceutical solution for alleviating arthritis symptoms in dogs through a nutritious treat made with innovative, science-backed ingredients.
- RegenoMac (University of Galway), an innovative gel injection designed for patients with macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy who experience significant vision loss.
- Renovate Pharma (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) develops various repurposed drugs in novel nebulised formulations for inhalable antifibrotic treatments.
- Shergard (University of Galway), a digital platform for horse racing training businesses, enhancing organizational efficiency and professional standards.
- VioFeel‘s (Queen’s University Belfast) augmented vestibular assistant helps individuals with vestibular disorders by using wrist vibrations to transmit orientation data from movement sensors.
- Wild Thinkers (UCC), a digital product providing sustainability education and consultancy through a unique blend of design thinking, storytelling, play, and creativity.
Photo: (l-r) David Moffitt, chair, IDEATE Ireland, with Dr Sean Doyle and Dr Cormac Flynn from University of Galway. (Pic: Supplied)