KPMG is looking for a tech company to represent Ireland at the Global Tech Innovator final in Lisbon later this year. And it has now announced the five members of the judging panel that will select the Irish entrant.

The Irish winner of the Global Tech Innovator competition will get the opportunity to compete against 22 other countries and jurisdictions across the world in Lisbon during the Web Summit in November.

The competition, now in its second year, is open to applications from tech start-ups in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The closing date for applications is May 16, 2022.

The judging panel includes the general manager of Microsoft Ireland Anne Sheehan, who leads the the sales, marketing and services business of the multinational in Ireland.

Tommy Kelly, the founder and chief executive the e-commerce firm eShopWorld, is also a member of the panel. Kelly founded eShopWorld in 2010 and has grown the business to a valuation of more than €1 billion.

The third judge is Elaine Coughlan, a co-founder and managing partner of Atlantic Bridge, a global technology fund. Atlantic Bridge has a portfolio of more than 80 technology companies that focus on unlocking value in the next wave of computing in cutting-edge areas like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, digital health and robotics.

Coughlan was previously a co-founder of Glonav, a GPS software and semiconductor company that was acquired by NXP Semiconductors in 2007 for $110 million. She is a board member of Enterprise Ireland and a member of the investment committee of British Patient Capital. Coughlan has been named one of Europe’s Top 50 Inspiring Women in Technology.

The fourth member of the judging panel is Chris McClelland, a founding partner at Broadstone, Ireland’s first dedicated pre-seed fund. McClelland was previously chief executive of Belfast-based Ecliptic Labs which worked on about 80 mobile applications for start-ups through to global companies reaching 11 million users.

In 2013 he founded Brewbot, a robot which brews beer, before becoming managing director at IgniteNI, a company that supports founders from inception through to seed-stage in Northern Ireland.

The final member of the judging panel is Seamus Hand, the managing director of KPMG Ireland. Hand is a member of KPMG’s Global and EMS boards. He was elected managing partner in 2019 and was recently re-elected for a second term. He led the professional services firm to record growth in 2021.

“We’re excited to have secured such a fantastic panel of judges” Anna Scally, Partner, Head of Technology & Media and Fintech Lead at KPMG Ireland said. “With significant expertise across the technology space, from investors, to founders, leaders and advisors, we’re well positioned to select Ireland’s leading tech innovator of 2022, who will go on to compete against their global peers in what is sure to be an exciting final in Lisbon in November”.

Shortlisted competition entrants will be invited to pitch their innovations and present their growth ambitions to the judging panel. The competition is open to Irish tech entrepreneurs and start-ups businesses which are pure technology, tech-enabled, tech-led, or tech-driven.

The competition is open to all technology and tech enabled companies which have operated for 5 years or less, have generated revenue between USD $1 million and $10 million or have raised at least $500,000 in equity financing. They must also be registered and based in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

According to KPMG, applicants must have innovative, proven technologies, robust business models, the ability to demonstrate traction in their activities and the potential to scale up. Applications must be submitted by May 16, 2022.

To find out more about the competition and how to enter click here.

The Currency is a supporter of KPMG in Ireland’s Global Tech Innovator competition.