Glisstr named '˜most investible company'

A specialist software firm that helps event organisers maximise revenues is one of several targeted for praise at Northern Ireland's only private equity based start-up accelerator programme.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Mar 2016, 22:26 BST
Updated 7th Mar 2016, 22:31 BST
Matthew Large of Glistrr with, from left, Bill Liao, lead mentor StartPlanetNI, Invest NI CEO Alastair Hamilton and Diane Roberts from Xcell PartnersMatthew Large of Glistrr with, from left, Bill Liao, lead mentor StartPlanetNI, Invest NI CEO Alastair Hamilton and Diane Roberts from Xcell Partners
Matthew Large of Glistrr with, from left, Bill Liao, lead mentor StartPlanetNI, Invest NI CEO Alastair Hamilton and Diane Roberts from Xcell Partners

Glistrr was one of the firms taking part in the inaugural StartPlanetNI event and who pitched their businesses to an impressive investor audience in the Throne Room of Hillsborough Castle at a ‘Demo Day’ marking the end of the programme’s first phase.

Businesses including Orca Money, an online peer to peer lending comparison platform, Chill, a textless and voiceless wearable tech messaging app, Clinishare, which uses technologies to facilitates the application of medical services and Pavanu, which uses incredible sensory technology to measure the quality of the built environment each made their pitch.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Three awards were presented at the end of the Demo Day. Overall ‘Most Investible’ company, chosen by all Demo Day attendees was Glistrr, while the ‘One to Watch’ award went to Chill. Profit Bees CEO Mark Elliot was voted by his StartPlanetNI peers as best overall contributor throughout the Accelerator programme.

The successful teams emerged from a highly competitive application process where over 300 companies from across the province and 44 countries vied for the places and have since used the intensive three month programme to fast-track their technology based ideas for global markets.

“Having just completed an intensive three month work-out including expert mentoring and some ‘tough love,’ the companies have today impressed the investor audience with their refined and tested business ideas,” said Accelerator founder Bill Liao.

“They are all seeking to attract the crucial funding that will enable them to take their ideas to global markets and we expect that most if not all will be successful in doing so in the weeks and months ahead.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Encouraging the next set of entrepreneurs to apply for year two of the programme, Invest NI CEO Alastair Hamilton said: “Following the success of the first programme we are very confident that we will receive even stronger interest from both local and international start-up companies to join the next intake which officially opens for applications today.

“With this type of programme we can help make Belfast a strong European business start-up hub and build an entrepreneurial ecosystem which delivers long-term positive economic impact for Northern Ireland.”

Related topics:Northern Ireland