Hillsborough-based RotaPal and Omagh-based Waterworx Robotics Ltd have won the Northern Ireland regional stage of the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition.
The annual Seedcorn competition from InterTradeIreland is the largest all-island business competition of its kind, with €280,000 in prizes available for companies that can demonstrate a solid investment pitch to a panel of investment experts. The competition consists of a regional stage covering four major regions across the island of Ireland and an all-island final stage.
The Northern Ireland regional winners have now been announced, with Hillsborough-based RotaPal taking the prize for "Best New Start" and Omagh-based Waterworx Robotics Ltd taking the "Best Early Stage" award. Both companies walk away with €20,000 for their efforts.
RotaPal was recognised for its innovative mobile app and realtime online platform that helps hospitals organise rotas, swap shifts, and plan around leave to avoid work disruption. Waterworx Robotics Ltd has developed a new autonomous, multi-sensor drone that can safely carry out long-range inspections of water systems and can be used in the high-pressure environment of live water trunk mains.
Both companies will advance to the all-island finals to compete for a share of the remaining prize pool against companies from the Dublin, Connacht & Leinster, and Munster regionals. The finals will take place in Dublin on November 28th, with €50,000 up for grabs for each of the two final winners in the "Best New Start" and "Best Early Stage" categories and €100,000 for the overall winner.
Source: InterTradeIreland
