Manna Wins Grand Prix Award at 2020 National Start-Up Awards
Manna, the world’s first aviation-grade B2B drone delivery ‘as-a-service’ company, has been named winner of the Grand Prix – Start-Up of the Year Award at the 2020 National Start-Up Awards.
The winners of this year’s Awards were announced virtually this year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The competition was open to Irish companies and organisations across all sectors that have been operational for up to five years. There were 10 award categories featuring a gold, silver and bronze award, plus one grand prize winner.
Manna, which was founded by Bobby Healy and with offices in NovaUCD and Wales, is currently trialling a drone delivery service in partnership with Tesco in Oranmore, Co. Galway. The trial involves the delivery of goods such as food and pharmaceuticals to the local community within a three-minute window.
On winning the Award Bobby Healy, CEO and Founder, Manna said, “I am happy to accept this honour on behalf of each and every one of my 38 amazing team members across Wales and Ireland. To see their hard work recognised in such a meaningful way means a lot to me personally.”
Manna also won the Gold prize in the Emerge Tech Startup Award category and the silver prize in the Covid Pivot or Response Startup Award category.
Stephen Dillon, Founder, Startups.ie, said, "Despite the dual challenges of Covid-19 and Brexit, we were amazed and inspired by the quality and passion of the Startups involved in this year’s awards. Our startup entrants have demonstrated incredible resilience and ingenuity and it is these companies that will help to create employment and help to rebuild our economy after these current challenges."
Last month Greenman, the market-leading food retail real estate investment manager, announced its participation in the latest funding round in Manna. In addition to Greenman other Manna investors include; Atlantic Bridge University Fund; Dynamo Ventures; Elkstone, FF Venture Capital and Frontline.
Click here for the complete list of this year’s Awards winners. is available.
ENDS
14 December 2020
For further information contact Micéal Whelan, Communications and Media Relations Manager, UCD Research and Innovation, NovaUCD, e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie, t: + 353 1 716 3712.