Four New High-Tech Ventures Join NovaUCD’s Entrepreneurial Community

NovaUCD client companies have created a total of 30 new high-tech jobs since the start of the year. Four new start-ups, Cernam, LogScreen, SmartBuilder Software and Tethras, have also located at NovaUCD since January and joined NovaUCD’s growing community of entrepreneurs.

Tethras, established earlier this year by Brian Farrell and Brendan Clavin, is developing web-based localisation tools for Smartphone application developers, and already employs 7 people. Other NovaUCD companies which have taken on new staff include Aonta Technologies, BiancaMed and Enzolve Technologies.

Brian Farrell, co-founder, Tethras

A total of 28 high-tech and knowledge-intensive companies, occupying 39 incubation units, are now based at NovaUCD. These companies currently employ 170 individuals. An additional 8 entrepreneurs are also based in NovaUCD’s desk space facility available to individuals involved in the design of new ventures generally at the pre-incorporation stage of their development.

NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre, is the hub of knowledge transfer activities at UCD. Responsible for the commercialisation of intellectual property arising from UCD research, NovaUCD, as a purpose-built centre also nurtures new technology and knowledge-intensive enterprises.

According to Dr Pat Frain, Director, NovaUCD, "The creation of new jobs by these NovaUCD client companies is clearly important for the long term development of Ireland's Smart Economy. It is particularly satisfying for us at NovaUCD in that these new jobs are further evidence of the growing confidence that has been evident among our client companies in recent months."  He added, “We are also delighted to welcome our latest company recruits to NovaUCD. These companies are developing innovative products and services and they bring unique expertise and experience to NovaUCD which will make a significant contribution to our community of entrepreneurs.”

Cernam, established in 2008, is a specialist digital investigations company focusing on online investigations. Cernam, originally based in NovaUCD’s desk space before moving into an incubation unit, was founded by Owen O’Connor and is developing solutions for forensically-sound online evidence capture and analysis as well as providing training and consultancy services for a range of clients.

LogScreen, established in 2009 by Karl Schäckermann and Matthias Jacobs, is a managed security solutions provider providing event or activity log management services to small and medium-sized enterprises on the basis of business process outsourcing. The company’s core services comprise the integrated collection, processing, correlation, assessment, alerting and trending of security and risk information from IT systems and networks and it also provides log retention and digital forensic services.

SmartBuilder Software, established in 2009 by Richard Mulcahy and Peter Daly, is developing mobile software for use on building and engineering sites and will introduce its first product to market later this year.

Since officially opening in October 2003 over 50 companies have occupied incubation space at NovaUCD and availed of NovaUCD’s related innovation services.

ENDS

22 April 2010

For further information contact Micéal Whelan, NovaUCD, e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie, t: + 353 1 716 3712.

Editor’s Notes

NovaUCD is University College Dublin’s Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre.  NovaUCD is responsible for the commercialisation of intellectual property arising from UCD research and for the development of co-operation with industry and business. NovaUCD as a purpose-built centre also nurtures new technology and knowledge-intensive enterprises. NovaUCD has over 40 incubation units, including bio-incubation units, and provides innovators and entrepreneurs with the necessary support and knowledge to take their ideas from proof of principle to commercial success. Twenty-eight knowledge-intensive companies are currently located in NovaUCD. NovaUCD has been funded through a unique public-private partnership that includes AIB Bank, Arthur Cox, Deloitte, Enterprise Ireland, Ericsson, Goodbody Stockbrokers, UCD and Xilinx.