It was not an easy decision for Dr Alan Holland to quit his job as a research fellow and lecturer in artificial intelligence in University College Cork to spin-out his own business, Keelvar. “The biggest challenge was in accepting the risk that it presented to my family – failure was not an option with three young kids at home,” he says. “Tenacity and drive were absolutely essential.” Almost a decade on the ability to take a risk and keep going in business has paid off. This morning, the Cork-based company announced a $24 million series B funding round to help…