25 start-ups pitch at NovaUCD for chance to share €55m in funding
22 January 2025
Meg Brennan, Polliknow; Peter Doyle, Biosimulytics; Simon Factor, NovaUCD; Eóin Tuohy, Sports Impact Technologies and Fiona McGillicuddy, MetHealth at the at the 2025 NovaUCD Investor Day Credit: Vincent Hoban, UCD
Twenty-five start-ups, collectively aiming to raise over €55 million in funding, pitched to an audience of more than 70 venture capitalists and angel investors at NovaUCD’s annual Investor Day showcase.
NovaUCD is the university’s research and innovation hub, and has supported founders of UCD spin-out and spin-in companies and early-stage ventures since 2003.
The start-ups, seeking seed to scale investment, represented a range of sectors including AgTech, AI, cybersecurity, FinTech, MedTech, SportsTech and sustainability.
“As outlined in the University’s new strategy to 2030, UCD is committed to its key role in Ireland’s innovation and knowledge exchange,” said Professor Kate Robson Brown, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact.
“One way we support this commitment is through NovaUCD and its focus on the commercialisation of UCD’s research outputs, creating new ventures, supporting and scaling start-ups and established companies with global reach, and creating jobs.”
Among the start-ups pitching were Biosimulytics, MetHealth, Polliknow and Sports Impact Technologies.
Biosimulytics provides a predictive software platform that reduces the risk, time and cost in developing new medicines.
The company plans a €5 million seed round in 2025, for which the European Investment Bank is already committed to providing matching equity investment with the lead investors.
MetHealth is building technology that can identify people at risk of developing complications from obesity, to help ensure people are guided onto care pathways appropriate to their specific needs.
Following the completion of Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund funding, MetHealth will be seeking a seed round investment of €3 million.
Polliknow has developed devices that detect and identify insect pollinators, providing data for biodiversity monitoring. Having completed a Phase 2 New Frontiers Programme delivered by IADT Media Cube in partnership with NovaUCD, the company is seeking to raise a pre-seed round during 2025.
Sports Impact Technologies is developing a wearable sensor for sports players that detects all impacts to the head as they happen, helping to catch concussions early. The company hopes to raise €2.5 million of investment in Q3 as part of its strategy to break into the US sports market.
“NovaUCD’s Annual Investor Day has grown to become a pivotal gathering of innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic investment potential which connects visionary investors with exciting start-ups emerging from the NovaUCD ecosystem,” said Simon Factor, Head of New Ventures and Investments at NovaUCD.
“Together, we are transforming innovative ideas into global success stories.”
By: Rebecca Hastings, Digital Journalist, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.
