Three Start-Ups Join ESA BIC Ireland, Securing €150,000 in Funding

UPDATE: Three innovative start-ups have joined the European Space Agency (ESA) Business & Innovation Centre (BIC) Ireland at NovaUCD in Dublin, a move that promises to reshape the landscape of space-related entrepreneurship in Ireland. The companies, Better Futures, Polliknow, and Restore Blue, will benefit from a two-year incubation program, gaining access to €50,000 in seed funding each.

This urgent development is part of ESA BIC Ireland’s initiative to support Irish start-ups connected to space technology. The trio aims to collectively raise €3.3 million over the next two years to bolster their growth and strategic plans.

Better Futures, led by Anthony McLoughlin, focuses on automating engineering tasks through its innovative platform, EVA (Engineering Verified Assistants). McLoughlin emphasized the pressing need to alleviate the burden of paperwork on aerospace engineers, stating,

“Space engineers spend up to half their day on low-level repetitive documentation tasks… we now have the opportunity to change that.”

The start-up has already garnered recognition, winning the 2024 Irish Times Innovation Awards for design and manufacturing.

Meanwhile, Polliknow, founded by Meg Brennan, employs AI to enhance biodiversity monitoring, generating data from insect pollinator diversity that is up to 20 times more effective than traditional methods. Brennan stated,

“ESA BIC Ireland connects you with an extensive network of technical experts… we plan to improve the geolocation features of our device.”

The company is currently collaborating with various sectors, including airports and renewable energy sites.

Finally, Restore Blue, led by Dr. Sarah Cosgrove, is committed to promoting environmentally sustainable practices in the offshore construction sector. Their innovative software identifies opportunities for Nature-Inclusive Design (NID), minimizing environmental impacts. Dr. Cosgrove stated,

“Our next priority… is to enhance its capabilities with a focus on using satellite-derived data.”

This new cohort of companies brings fresh energy to the ESA BIC Ireland network, which is managed by the ESA Space Solutions Centre Ireland in partnership with several academic institutions, including University College Dublin and Atlantic Technological University.

Peter Finnegan, manager of the ESA Space Solutions Centre Ireland, highlighted the significance of this expansion, saying,

“It is testament to the growing level of space-related activity in Ireland that we welcome another three companies… engaged in innovative activity that address global problems.”

As these start-ups embark on their journey, the eyes of the tech community will be on their progress, showcasing Ireland’s commitment to innovation in the space sector.

Stay tuned for further updates on these promising companies as they strive to make significant contributions to the industry and tackle pressing global challenges.