VRAI ARE DUBLIN CITY’S ENTERPRISE AWARD WINNERS FOR 2020

VRAI ARE DUBLIN CITY’S ENTERPRISE AWARD WINNERS FOR 2020

VRAI ARE DUBLIN CITY’S ENTERPRISE AWARD WINNERS FOR 2020

VRAI, a data driven virtual reality simulation company are this year’s winner of the Dublin City Enterprise Award for 2020 taking home the top prize of €5,000. They will go on to represent Local Enterprise Office Dublin City at the 22nd National Enterprise Awards on Thursday 28th May in the Mansion House in Dublin.

Founded in August 2017 by Niall Campion and Pat O’Connor they saw the opportunity to develop virtual reality training products for high hazard environments. VRAI combines Niall’s award winning experience of directing Film and VFX,  with Pat’s experience as a senior officer in the Irish Defence Forces, including operational deployments to Syria, Israel and Liberia. . VRAI’s offices are in Temple Bar where they are already employing 15 people in a gender balanced and diverse workplace.

VRAI created HEAT, allowing organisations whose activities are risky, remote or rare to train in a more authentic, memorable and measurable way.  HEAT creates authentic virtual training environments, with cutting edge data capture and analytics, to improve performance, safety and training outcomes. They provide services to the defence, security, energy, utilities, aviation and construction sectors.

Greg Swift Head of Enterprise & Economic Development with Local Enterprise Office Dublin City said: “For the last two decades, the National Enterprise Awards have celebrated home grown success stories from every corner of Ireland, putting their achievements into the national spotlight. And at the 2020 National Enterprise Awards, we are delighted to be represented by VRAI, yet another home grown success story. VRAI exemplify innovation. The judges were particularly impressed by the calibre of international corporate clients they have secured in less than 3 years of operations. We wish them continued success with their company expansion plans.”

VRAI will be competing against 30 other finalists from every local authority area for a share of the €40,000 prize fund. Categories this year include ‘Best Export Business’ ‘Best Future Focused’ and ‘Best Innovation’ in addition to eight regional awards. Among the special guests at the announcement were Lord Mayor Tom Brabazon, Owen Keegan Chief Executive Dublin City Council, Greg Swift, Head of Enterprise & Economic Development Dublin City and Aine Cronin, Senior Enterprise Development Officer Local Enterprise Office Dublin City. Photos will be circulated to picture desks by Damien Eagers Photography today. ENDS For further information contact: Dublin City Council Media Relations Office E. info@dublincity.ie  T. (01) 222 2170, M. 087 740 0277

https://twitter.com/DubCityCouncil        www.facebook.com/DublinCityCouncil

OR Dublin City Enterprise Awards / Local Enterprise Office Dublin City www.localenterprise.ie/DublinCity  T: (01)222 5611  E: info@leo.dublincity.ie

Notes to Editor:

About VRAI

Further Information: https://vrai.ie/ & www.heatvr.io Case Study: https://www.heatvr.io/iagcargo/

The platform has been used by the United Nations to raise awareness of threats caused by improvised explosive devices in Somaila, helping to eliminate threats to civilian life. 

  • VRAI create data driven VR simulation training for high hazard environments
  • VRAI have created HEAT, a Hazardous Environment Awareness Trainer which combines authentic virtual training environments with cutting edge data capture and analytics to improve performance, safety and training outcomes.
  • HEAT allows organisations whose activities are risky, remote or rare to train in a more authentic, memorable and measurable way.
  • VRAI’s aim is reduce workplace deaths and serious injuries to zero, immersion training, by improving the quality and safety of high-hazard training through personalised AI reporting and analytics.
  • The company has a number of international clients of noting such as Samsung, IAG, the United Nations, Pfizer and domestic clients ESB and Kingspan.
  • Founded in August 2017 Niall Campion and co-founder Pat O’Connor. Pat worked for 20 years in the Irish Defence Forces and Niall spent over 15 years working in the Film and TV industry. Combining these backgrounds and skills.
  • They raised €575,000 through the Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start Up Programme (HPSU

LEO Supports: Business Start UP/Priming Grant

“We received a grant from DCC LEO in 2018. This grant allowed us to move from being a sole trader business employing contract staff to employing our first 2 full-time staff members. These 2 staff members are now a core part of our team of 15. The LEO support allowed us to add full time staff, on a respectable salary, with reduced risk.” – Niall Campion

National Enterprise Awards 2020 Award Categories and Prize Fund

The 2020 National Enterprise Awards take place on May 28th in the Mansion House in Dublin and are organised by the Local Enterprise Offices

  • Overall Winner, National Enterprise Awards 2020 (Cash Prize for business: €10,000)
  • Best Export Business (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
  • Future Focused Award (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
  • Innovation Award (Cash Prize for business: €5,000)
  • Eight Regional Winners (Cash Prize for business: €2,000 each)

Regions:

Dublin City, Fingal, Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown and South Dublin

Kildare, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath

Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny

Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan

Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Longford

Galway, Mayo and Roscommon

Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Tipperary

Cork City, South Cork, Cork North & West and Waterford