LEO Fingal funded company INVIZBOX announced as JumpStart 2016 Winners

INVIZBOX Announced as JumpStart 2016 Winners

The LINC (Learning and Innovation Centre) at the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB) are delighted to announce Invizbox as 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 consists 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 and 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 cash prize of €10,000, an office space at the LINC and mentoring supports. They will also get access to:

• A structured approach to the development of their business through the “Create, Learn, Grow” programme
• Mentoring on key aspects of business development
• Industry specific seminars to support innovation and development for the companies
• Access to the academic expertise of the Institute
• Access to a cohort of students for placements and possible recruitment
• Access to the facilities in the LINC including; meeting rooms, training rooms and computer labs. 

Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Local Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Fingal said, “Invizbox have demonstrated a very impressive level of innovation in every aspect of this company’s development. The product is superb and the company is well placed to adapt in this fast moving sector. 

PhsyoLinked came in second and will receive an office for six months at the LINC.