Local start-up claims big prize

North Fingal start-up claims JumpStart 2016 title and €10,000 prize

Vincent Riou, Paul and Elizabeth Canavan and Chris Monks of Invizbox who won the JumpStart competition

John Manning
© Fingal Independent

A north Fingal start-up has claimed the top prize in the JumpStart competition run by the Learning and Innovation Centre (LINC) at the Institute of Technology in Blanchardstown.

The LINC (Learning and Innovation Centre) at the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB) announced that north Fingal company, Invizbox is the winner of JumpStart 2016, their annual start-up competition.

JumpStart 2016 celebrated its seventh year today presenting Paul Canavan of Invizbox with a cheque for €10,000.

it was a tough competition between a very high calibre of businesses, with Invizbox and four other companies being shortlisted; Chimnery Spirits, Kickabout, PhysioLInked and Sproose. JumpStart 2016 is sponsored by the LINC, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Fingal Local Enterprise Office and AIB.

Winning company Invizbox was co-founded by husband and wife, Paul Canavan, Elizabeth Canavan from Skerries and Chris Monks from Rush,

InvizBox is the world leader in easy to use 'plug and play' devices which secure your communications and provide privacy.

All one needs to do is connect your phone, laptop, etc. over WiFi. Your communications are encrypted as they travel across the Internet, keeping them secure from prying eyes.

The judging panel for 2016 consisted of Ireland's best known and liked entrepreneurs, Bobby Kerr with other judges including Shane Doyle Vice President for Manufacturing Ireland, Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc, Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Local Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Fingal, Padraig Challoner, Business Manager at AIB and Declan Lyons, Commercialisation Manager, Enterprise Ireland.

Judge, Bobby Kerr said of the winning start up: 'I am highly impressed with the level of professionalism, experience and enthusiasm that was evident at the JumpStart final. Some of these individuals are going to be people you will be reading about in the business pages of the press in a few years time.'

Shane Doyle, Vice President for Manufacturing Ireland, Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. said the JumpStart programme is a fantastic experience to be part of with brilliant candidates. It clearly demonstrates that with the aid of the LINC at ITB, the aforementioned spirit is alive and well and generating excellent opportunities.'

Invizbox will get a prize of €10,000, an office space at the LINC and mentoring. They will also get access to a structured approach to the development of their business through the 'Create, Learn, Grow' programme. The winning business will receive mentoring on key aspects of business development and access to industry-specific seminars to support innovation and development for the companies as well as access to the academic expertise of the Institute and LINC's facilities and a cohort of students for placements and recruitment.