Asimil8, the NovaUCD-based e-learning venture was declared the overall winner of the Bank of Ireland ‘Bright Idea’s Challenge', Dublin final. Asimil8 received a cash prize of €5,000, along with a mentoring and training package from the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Enterprise Board valued at €5,000. Asimil8 will now also go forward to the national final of the ‘Bright Ideas Challenge’ which will be held in early 2010 with the opportunity to win an attractive investment package.
Paul Groarke and Garrett Hussey with Gavin Duffy, Entrepreneur and a 'Dragon' from RTE1's "Dragons' Den" TV Programme (centre)
The ‘Bright Ideas Challenge’ sponsored by Bank of Ireland and the City and County Enterprise Boards, aims to encourage and support both innovation and enterprise in business start-ups, SMEs, and individuals in the early launch stages of their business development.
The Dublin final of the 'Bright Ideas Challenge' was held as part of the Bank of Ireland Business Advice Show, held in conjunction with the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Enterprise Week.
This is the second time in as many years that Paul Groarke and Garrett Hussey co-founders of Asimil8 have taken their e-learning venture to the winning podium, having been declared the overall winner of the 2008 NovaUCD Campus Company Development Programme.
ASimil8 pipped the other finalists at the post with their next generation learning platform which provides immersive education for languages and other subjects using virtual world and gaming technologies. The use of virtual world and gaming technology is designed to engage students in the same way that video games grab and keep their attention. By ‘immersing’ students in real-life settings where they must use their knowledge, ASimil8 aims to give students a deeper and more dynamic understanding of their subjects.
Paul Groarke, Gavin Duffy, Michael Johnson, CEO, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Enterprise Board and Garrett Hussey
Paul Groarke, co-founder and CEO, ASimil8, has spent the last 5-years working in the e-learning industry. In the past he has held senior management positions in Baltimore Technologies and other companies. He has managed over 100 product releases and helped to build a number of start-up companies. Garrett Hussey, co-founder and CTO, ASimil8 has 18 years industry experience. He has been chief architect for a number of companies including Baltimore Technologies. He is an expert on the technology and standards in the e-learning industry.
Damian Young Head of Small Business, Bank of Ireland Business Banking said "The Business Advice Show was a huge success providing substantial tangible support for the SME sector in Dublin. We are very pleased for Asimil8, who won our competition and wish them the very best in their future, and we wish all our finalists success in their future endeavours. We are looking forward to bringing our Business Advice Show to Galway in May, and hope it is the same great success as we witnessed here today."
Podcast of the Bankl of Ireland Dublin Advice Show, including an interview with Gavin Duffy of Dragons' Den and the winners Asimil8.
ENDS
2 April 2009
For further information contact Micéal Whelan, NovaUCD, e-mail: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie, tel: (01) 716 3712
