Mettacomms and Capella have been named ‘Best New Start’ and ‘Best Early Stage’ company respectively at the Dublin regional final of the 2022 InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition.
Both companies presented their investment proposal to a panel of judges that included active investors. The winners fought off tough competition to walk away with €20,000 each and a place in the overall Seedcorn final later this month.
Seedcorn is the biggest investor readiness competition on the island of Ireland for innovative new start and early stage businesses, with an overall prize fund of €300,000. The winners from each of the four regions will go head-to-head in Belfast on the 24th of November.
Mettacomms picked up the ‘Best New Start’ Dublin regional trophy. Established in 2019 by experienced PR consultant Ellen Gunning, Mettacomms is a cloud-based platform that provides brands with rich insights on issues of concern to consumers and thought leaders, using a combination of AI, machine learning and natural language processing to identify key future issues and trends for consumers.
Ellen Gunning, founder and CEO at Mettacomms said:
We are thrilled to win Best New Start in the Dublin final. The recognition of our innovative technology is a great validation of the team and the product. We all share in this win and are looking forward to the final in Belfast later this month.
Capella, who deliver workplace solutions, was named ‘Best Early Stage’ business and will now also make its way to the all-island 2022 InterTradeIreland Seedcorn final. It provides companies with a wide range of supports such as hot desking software, working from home risk assessments and technology that assists hybrid working. The company has offices in New York and Dublin and a roster of clients across Ireland, the UK, Europe and the US.
Criona Turley, CEO and co-founder of Capella said;
Just two years after our incorporation as a business, we are delighted to have secured this funding from InterTradeIreland and a spot in the coveted awards final. Capella is right on the cusp of scaling internationally, and thanks to the host of networking opportunities, mentorship support and advice brought to us by the competition, we look forward to achieving this ambition.
Established in 2003, the Seedcorn Competition has helped in excess of 6,900 companies, giving entrants the opportunity to become investor ready, with expert feedback on business plans and pitches, and exposure to real life investors.
Congratulating Mettacomms and Capella Workplace Solutions, Shane O’Hanlon, Funding for Growth Manager at InterTradeIreland said:
It was a tough regional final; both categories had very strong entrants. The Seedcorn competition always attracts innovative and ambitious companies but Mettacomms and Capella Workplace Solutions really impressed the judges with their entrepreneurial spirit and vision. On behalf of all of us at InterTradeIreland, I wish both companies the best of luck at the overall final on the 24th of November.
