SETU Carlow campus hosts inaugural Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers Programme Showcase

South East Technological University (SETU) hosted the inaugural Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers Programme Showcase at its Carlow campus.

The showcase was an opportunity for graduating New Frontiers Phase 2 founders to pitch their innovative businesses to a wider audience that included potential investors for prizes that included cash and specialised training. It also gave stakeholders of the region an occasion to network, build connections, and find common ground with new members of the South-East’s business community.  

New Frontiers is the national entrepreneurial development programme funded by Enterprise Ireland for individuals with business ideas which have the potential to scale and provide employment. It is delivered throughout the year by SETU at its campuses in Carlow and Waterford. The university has a strong track record of successfully providing a business incubation environment that supports entrepreneurial development and company growth.

Speaking at the showcase, Professor Veronica Campbell, President of SETU, said programmes such as New Frontiers that champion new talent and ideas are fundamental to SETU’s strategic goals.

"Our centres in Carlow and Waterford offer a live entrepreneurial learning environment for start-ups that gives participants the opportunity for full immersion in a commercial eco-system here in the South-East," she said.

"I’d like to thank our sponsors, META, UNUM, Netwatch, and Carlow Local Enterprise Office for their continued support. The mix of public and private sponsorship is a great indication of the support for entrepreneurial development and innovation in the region. I wish to congratulate our ten New Frontiers entrepreneurs who showcased their businesses today. It is a strong reminder of the range of talent we have in the south east, and that our strength lies in our unity and our ability to collaborate.”

New Frontiers Programme Manager at SETU in Carlow, Gemma Purcell congratulated winners of ‘Best Pitch’ Audrey Vance from Activity Time Ireland, and ‘Most Innovative Business’ Rakesh Rayapurreddi from Egrow Agritech.

“It was a tough decision for the judging panel to make. I am very proud all the groups’ achievements and the progress they have made over the past six months. New Frontiers offers a second-to-none support for founders in growing their connections, confidence, and capital. The support package valued at €40,000 is an integral part of this support, allowing them to fully focus on their business," she said.

The entrepreneurs and start-ups featuring on the 2023 New Frontiers include: Alex Kelly, Flower Child; Niall Quirke, Suspage Limited; Audrey Vance, Activity Time Ireland; Amit Sharma, D41 Technologies; Isabelle Kidney, Zing; Diarmuid O’Donovan, Bloodstock; Olive Maher, Preen Digital; Rakesh Rayapurreddi, Egrow Agritech; Hollianne Phelan, Cotone Collection; and Donnchadh Kelly, Truck I/O. 

For more information on the New Frontiers programme at SETU and how to apply please contact New Frontiers Programme Manager, Gemma Purcell, gemma.purcell@setu.ie or apply at newfrontiers.ie/register. Applications are now open for the part time New Frontiers Phase 1 at SETU 's Carlow campus, which will start April 17, 2024.