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RTÉ News
22-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Monaghan company wins top prize at National Enterprise Awards
A Co Monaghan-based digital healthcare company has won the top prize at the National Enterprise Awards. SPRYT aims to simplify medical appointment bookings for patients while increasing appointment attendance for healthcare providers through the use of artificial intelligence. The company was founded by Daragh Donohoe and Neill Dunwoody in 2022 and is based in Monaghan Town. SPRYT enables patients to book, change and pay for appointments via instant message. Patients can also interact with its AI receptionist named Asa similarly to like they would with a human receptionist. The software also allows healthcare providers to predict which patients are least likely to attend an appointment based on a patient's responses and language, as well as external factors such as the weather, with the aim of reducing no-shows and missed appointments. SPRYT has already been adopted by a number of GPs and clinics across Ireland and its AI receptionist tool has been piloted with the NHS in the UK. The med-tech company, which has been supported by the Local Enterprise Office in Monaghan, is now preparing for expansion into the UK, US and wider EU markets. SPRYT was announced as the overall winner at this year's National Enterprise Awards during a ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin tonight. This year's winners share a €50,000 investment fund. The awards, which are an initiative of the Local Enterprise Office and now in their 25th year, aim to celebrate the best small businesses in Ireland. Several other category winners were also announced tonight, including the Innovation Award which went to MoneySherpa. Supported by Local Enterprise Office Louth, the company aims to streamline the home buying process. Kieran Comerford, Chair of the Local Enterprise Offices, said tonight's awards highlight companies that are ready to take the next step and scale up into international markets. He said: "We will no doubt see the winners here go on to do great things over the coming years but for every business that has made it to this point, it is validation that they have created an outstanding business. Entrepreneurship is the road less taken but we have to encourage more people to take that leap, and show them the benefits it can bring. "We have some amazing people across the country and many have started businesses that are taking on the world. Look at some of our previous winners like Pestle & Mortar, Bevcraft and Advanced Cosmetics. As the Local Enterprise Offices, we will continue to encourage and support great ideas and new businesses because we have the entrepreneurs to make amazing global companies," Mr Comerford added.
Agriland
13-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Food businesses among finalists for National Enterprise Awards
A number of food and agri-businesses are among the 31 finalists from across the country in the National Enterprise Awards. This is the 25th year of the Local Enterprise Office event, which was won last year by DreamDev Technologies, the Kildare-based company which developed an AI augmented platform. This year there is a wide variety of finalists competing for the title of National Enterprise of the Year at a ceremony on May 22. There is a selection of food businesses in the running this year including Naked Bakes from south Dublin, SOS Cookies from Limerick, Fused by Fiona Uyema from Kildare, jam maker Mór Taste from Wexford, and WONDR Jellies from Mayo, the world's first high-protein, low-sugar jellies. Other agri-related businesses which have been shortlisted are online auction platform, MartEye based in Galway and Kerry Woolen Mills. The finalists compete for a prize fund of €50,000 and, along with an overall National Enterprise of the Year winner, there are categories for Best Start-Up, Best Export Business, an Innovation Award, a One-to-Watch Award, and a Sustainability Award. National Enterprise Awards There will also be an Outstanding Achievement Award presented on the night to an Irish business who started with the support of their Local Enterprise Office and has gone on to achieve international success. This year's Outstanding Achievement Award will go to Keoghs Farm. In 2011 Tom Keogh created the Keoghs Crisp brand and from what was a 200-year-old potato farm, they export to 22 countries and employ 150 people at their base in north Dublin. Chair of the Local Enterprise Offices, Kieran Comerford said; 'This is the 25th year of the National Enterprise Awards and one thing we see year on year is amazing diversity of businesses from across the country, all excelling in their sectors. 'The 31 finalists have made it to this point and that in itself is validation that these are companies are primed for growth. 'We are excited to see who takes home the prizes in the final but we're also excited to see the next steps that these companies make in their areas as they all have the potential to become significant Irish businesses both here and internationally over the coming years.' The National Enterprise Awards are one of a number of events that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country.
