Irish Tech Entrepreneurs Flex Their Start-Up Creds at South by Southwest (SXSW) 2014

DUBLIN, IRELAND and AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwired - Mar 6, 2014) - At SXSW, the "incubator for cutting-edge technologies and digital creativity" starting this weekend in Austin, TX, visitors will get a flavor for why Ireland topped Forbes' latest "Best County for Business" list. A delegation of 17 Irish entrepreneurs will gather at the Enterprise Ireland stand to showcase products that enable fast-growing trends like the Internet of Things, the mobile revolution and the sharing economy. Collectively, they represent the diversity of Ireland's web-based start-ups, while exemplifying the global aspirations that drive the founder/entrepreneurs. In the mix this year are wearable wireless sensors, tools to optimize online reputations, new gaming platforms, sensors for mind and body fitness, solutions that enable developers to create social and community-based mobile apps, and much more.

The delegation includes these companies: Betapond, Design Partners, Egg Post Production, Evercam, Fragd, FuseAmi, Good Travel Software, Irish National Crest Store, Journ.ie, Lumafit, Shimmer, Tapastreet, TrakAx, The vStream Group, Trustev, Viddyad and VoxPro.

Trustev and Viddyad are each vying for a SXSW Accelerator Award. The coveted accolade draws applications from more than 500 web-based companies worldwide. Trustev is a finalist in the "Enterprise and Big Data Technologies" category. The company provides real-time online identity verification to eliminate fraud and increase revenue for retailers in a simple-to-integrate, low-cost platform. It was recently named top European Union (EU) startup by an EU Commission. Viddyad, fresh from a win at the 2013 Web Summit in Dublin, is a finalist in the "Innovative World Technologies" category. Its tools allow businesses to create professional video ads online, in minutes.

"This year's SXSW delegation is an exceptional reflection of Ireland's thriving start-up ecosystem," said Enterprise Ireland SVP Simone Boswell. "These entrepreneurs are building relevant and valuable technology solutions, closing customer deals, and drawing larger-than-ever funding rounds from local investors and international syndicates. In the last year alone, Betapond secured $2.5 million, Tapastreet raised $500,000, and Trustev scored a $3 million round. At SXSW, the work continues as they tap into the rich influencer networks known for sending promising start-ups on growth trajectories."

Highlights for the Irish delegation at the conference include:

• Saturday March 8 at 3:30pm: Marquee pitch event co-sponsored by NASDAQ and moderated by TechCrunch Editor-at-Large Mike Butcher. Location: Startup Village at the Hilton, Salon E. At the event, Irish entrepreneurs will pitch their company to a panel of executives from NASDAQ OMX, Paypal, Vision Capital, The Backplane, NASDAQ Private Market, The Concept Studio and Revlyst. The winning entrepreneur will ring the closing bell at the NASDAQ Marketsite in Times Square at a future date, along with Enterprise Ireland. Startup Village is the hot-spot where entrepreneurs connect with investors and digital influencers in meet-ups, pitch panels and mentoring/coaching sessions.
  
  
• Sunday March 9 at 5:30pm: Networking event at B.D. Rileys Irish Pub.

About Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland's mission is to work with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses and the research and investment communities to build our international trade, innovation, leadership and competitiveness within these cohorts. Our over-riding objective is to both sustain and grow jobs in Ireland through export-led growth. For more information, please visit www.enterprise-ireland.com.