Eight of Ireland’s most cutting-edge technology companies have been selected to compete for one placement in the KPMG Global Tech Innovator competition (GTI) 2022.

The competition, set to take place during November’s Web Summit in Lisbon, will pit one Irish company against top tech firms from 22 other countries for the title of KPMG Global Tech Innovator.

The eight shortlisted Irish companies will have a week to prepare before they pitch to a panel of judges, which includes Atlantic Bridge managing partner Elaine Coughlan, eShopWorld founder Tommy Kelly, Microsoft Ireland general manager Anne Sheehan, and Chris McClelland, founding partner at Broadstone. The final member of the judging panel is KPMG managing partner Seamus Hand.

The online broadcast event on June 2 will conclude with one company being sent through to the final in Lisbon.

The shortlisted companies come from six counties and are involved in several specialities within the tech sector.

Four of the companies are in the medtech and agtech space, while two companies are in the increasingly relevant data protection and online safety sector. The final two companies operate in spaces unique from their competitors.

According to KPMG, judges will favour the company with the most innovative, yet proven technology. Beyond the tech, they will also be looking for the most robust business model and the company with the highest upscaling potential to send to Lisbon in November.

The companies that have qualified for the Ireland final are:

Akara

Conor McGinn of Akara.

Led by Conor McGinn, Akara is a facilities management robotics company that develops data-driven automation to increase capacity in hospitals and other healthcare settings through improved efficiency.

BioSimulytics

Peter Doyle.

Co-founded by Peter Doyle, BioSimulytics has developed a patented breakthrough technology for molecular simulation in early-stage drug discovery and development. Their platform’s technology uses a combination of AI, machine learning, quantum simulation and cloud computing which enable biopharma companies to get new drug molecules to market much faster.

EquiTrace

Jennifer Corley.

Jennifer Corley’s Equitrace is behind a new software solution that traces horses, horse health, medication and welfare. Using the power of the microchip, EquiTrace allows the creation of live accurate databases required by the equine industry.

Kinzen

Mark Little and Aine Kerr.

Co-founded by Aine Kerr and Mark Little, Kinzen has developed a solution that empowers the people who keep online communities safe from harmful content, using both human experience and machine learning. Kinzen helps safety professionals, content moderators and public policy makers get ahead of threats such as dangerous misinformation and organised disinformation.

Provizio

Barry Lunn of Provizio.

Founded by the entrepreneur Barry Lunn, Provizio is developing a software-defined active safety platform that perceives, predicts, and prevents automotive accidents in real-time using proprietary long-range imaging sensors & AI on-the-edge.

ANGOKA

Yuri Andersson.

Yuri Andersson’s ANGOKA is an IoT security company focused on protecting machine-to-machine communications for smart cities and mobility. The company has its headquarters in Belfast and also has offices in London and The Hague.

Offr

Robert Hoban.

Offr, founded by Robert Hoban, is a proptech company that has developed a solution that provides a secure and transparent way for people to make offers to buy or rent real estate. Used by property agents in multiple countries, all buyers are financially qualified, and their offers are verified and published transparently in real time.

Zoan Biomed

Stephen Wann.

Stephen Wann’s Zoan Biomed is the developer of safe, naturally derived, osteogenic medical devices for cutting-edge solutions in orthopaedics. Zoan’s goal is to improve patients’ lifestyles and wellbeing while delivering from a uniquely sustainable business model.

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To find out more about the competition and register to watch the final, click here.

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