The Daily Star Ireland
Nine Irish start-ups recently showcased their innovative solutions at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 event in San Francisco. This marked the second year that Enterprise Ireland (EI) attended this influential global tech conference, which gathers 10,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and tech experts over three days to highlight emerging technologies, explore new trends, and foster networking.
The EI-supported start-ups presented a diverse range of cutting-edge products aimed at capturing the interest of Silicon Valley investors, potential partners, and customers. Among these were eAltra and Meta-Flux, both making strides in cancer care and drug development, as well as Sulu and Glitch, which are pioneering an API monetization platform and a digital marketing optimization engine, respectively.
Numra introduced an AI virtual assistant named Mary, designed to streamline finance departments. Coso AI showcased its social media copilot, which helps brands create high-quality content without needing in-house social media teams. VisionR’s Scout Camera offered in-store computer vision analytics to help brick-and-mortar retailers make better decisions.
Two Irish start-ups, DevAlly and Marker Video, were selected for the prestigious Start-up Battlefield Program, TechCrunch’s signature pitch competition. DevAlly has developed an AI copilot for software development that ensures digital accessibility through real-time code remediation and testing. Marker Video created a platform for video content that allows creators to market products they endorse, providing authentic branded content for brands and agencies.
Founders Cormac Chisholm of DevAlly and Greta Dunne of Marker Video delivered two-minute pitches followed by Q&A sessions in front of an audience of tech enthusiasts and a panel of judges. Enterprise Ireland’s involvement extended beyond the conference, with a dedicated booth where each start-up could present their innovations to a global audience. Additionally, a pitch night at Ireland House in San Francisco allowed the start-ups to pitch their ideas to Silicon Valley venture capitalists, angel investors, and senior tech executives.
The Bay Area remains a key destination for early-stage Irish companies seeking to scale, thanks to its robust venture capital networks, entrepreneurial ecosystem, tech infrastructure, and risk-taking culture. Many Irish tech firms have achieved global success with the support of this region, and the nine Irish start-ups at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 are looking to follow in their footsteps.
