New Frontiers Internet of Things (IOT) Summit packed to capacity

The New Frontiers ‘Internet of Things (IoT) Summit’ in GMIT proved to be a major success with hundreds of delegates from across the country in attendance to hear about internet-connected objects and opportunities for new businesses and new business applications.

GMIT New Frontiers start-up BriteBiz won ‘Best Emerging Business Award’ in the pitching competition which ran as part of the overall conference. Entrepreneur Eamon Crosby of BriteBiz was presented with a €10,000 prize fund from sponsor KPMG. BriteBiz provides an end to end SaaS Business Management Software Platform for companies in service based industries. It is designed to integrate and streamline processes from lead generation to sales and marketing automation, booking management to client and staff portals, and payment processing to business reporting.

Second place was awarded to New Frontiers start-up Tr3Dent, based in GMIT’s iHub, a 3D visualization software platform providing companies, cities and organisations with the ability to create, plan, visualize and manage IoT ecoysystems by using interactive and dynamic 3D models. Entrepreneur Kevin McCaffery was presented with a cheque for €3,000, sponsored by AIB.

Pure Glan Food Ltd, based in Mayo, supported through the GMIT Mayo iHub, won third place in the pitching competition for their Mariko product. Entrepreneur Christine McAndrew received €1,000 from AIB. Mariko is a new beverage brand created to give choice in the soft drinks sector, offering a zero calorie natural brewed Green tea that assists with weight management and general good health and wellbeing.

This year’s event was moderated by Today FM broadcaster Conall O Móráin, presenter of The Sunday Business Show, who paid tribute to the organisers saying the event was even better than the Web Summit and that it ranked in the top three trending subjects on Twitter on Friday (26 Feb), despite it being General Election day.

GMIT’s New Frontiers Manager, Tony O’Kelly, says:  “We have received incredible interest in this event. With major players in the field such as Dell, HP, Intel and IBM in attendance coupled with exhibitions from all leading national research institutes, it is not surprising the event booked out so quickly.” 

“Out of the 51 participants that have come through New Frontiers since 2012, 46 new companies have emerged and 25% of those have attracted considerable investment. This demonstrates that New Frontiers has achieved significant success in supporting the establishment of new business in our region.”

According to Business Insider, the Internet of Things (IoT) is the next Industrial Revolution - it will change the way all businesses, governments and consumers interact with the physical world. By 2020 it is predicted to be a $19 trillion industry with over 6 billion objects connected to the Internet. 

The GMIT IoT conference also saw the launch of VT Networks, a GMIT iHub client and member of the 2015 New Frontiers programme, along with IoT demonstrations and Ireland’s IoT network in action, information on practical applications, case studies, and opportunities to network and connect with key experts, opinion formers and IoT businesses.  Speakers included Mark Bannon of VT Networks; Fergal Barry, GMIT President, Ronan Furlong, MD of DCU Alpha, Kevin Maher of Sigfox, Fergal Concannon, Advantech B+B SmartWorx; and Professor Peter Corcoran IEEE fellow and Irish Patent hall of fame member.

New Frontiers is funded by Enterprise Ireland. The 2016 programme is open to new applicants. Visit www.gmit.ie/newfrontiers for application form and further information.