Affinity EV, a Ballinasloe-based company, has secured a $40 million (€36 million) contract with Qmerit, a leading charging infrastructure provider. This achievement places Affinity EV among the top 100 start-ups in Ireland, as recognized by the Business Post’s “Hot 100 Start-Ups” list. The list features companies from various locations across Ireland, including Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, and Monaghan, as well as some international entries.
Dublin leads with 39 companies, followed by Cork with 10 and Galway with eight. Other notable start-ups on the list include Positive Carbon, a Dublin-based company that uses high-tech sensors to manage and reduce food waste. Founded by Aisling and Mark Kirwan, Positive Carbon raised €2.3 million in funding last year.
Sisterly, another Dublin-based start-up, specializes in women’s supplements and was founded by Aoife Matthews, Jennifer O’Connell, and Louise O’Riordan. The company secured €2 million in funding earlier this year.
Affinity EV secures significant new contract
Cork-based companies on the list include Lia Eyecare, which has developed technology to treat dry eye disease, and MyGug, which offers a device to convert bio-waste into energy. The Business Post editor, Daniel McConnell, emphasized Ireland’s reputation for fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and bold thinking. He stated that the Hot 100 Start-Ups supplement celebrates the energy, creativity, and resilience of Ireland’s emerging businesses, which are shaping industries, fueling economic growth, creating jobs, and transforming local communities.
Minister for Business, Retail, and Trade Emer Higgins praised the efforts of the featured companies, highlighting their role in making Ireland’s start-up ecosystem vibrant. She assured that the government, in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland, is committed to fortifying the ecosystem. Kevin Sherry, executive director of Enterprise Ireland, expressed pride in partnering with the Business Post to celebrate promising young start-ups.
He noted that the Hot 100 Start-Ups for 2024 demonstrates the strong pipeline of innovative and export-focused entrepreneurs throughout the country. The list showcases companies across various sectors, including Food, ICT, Lifesciences, and Financial Services. The Business Post and Enterprise Ireland aim to support these start-ups as they pave the way for the future of the business landscape in Ireland.
