Skerries Company InvizBox Wins National Innovation Award
Secure digital services company from Skerries, supported by Fingal Local Enterprise Office, wins Innovation Award at this year’s National Enterprise Awards
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D. has presented the Innovation Award to a Fingal –based secure digital services company, at this year’s National Enterprise Awards (on Thursday, June 9th 2016).
Set-up by Paul Canavan, Chris Monks and Elizabeth Canavan and supported by the Fingal Local Enterprise Office, the Skerries-based start-up only began trading in 2015. The company’s hardware devices, the InvizBox and the InvizBox Go, keep customers in more than 60 countries secure online and the company has already sold more than 2,500 units.
With a total prize fund of €40,000 on offer through the Local Enterprise Offices, thirteen awards were presented in total at the black-tie event at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin last night (Thursday, June 9th) and the other major winners were: Applied Concepts from Offaly (Overall Winner), CarveOn from Kildare (Best Exporter) and Global Sauces from Limerick (Best Start-Up).
Speaking at the awards, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O'Connor T.D. said: "I am delighted to be here to witness first-hand the innovative entrepreneurs that Ireland has. Through the National Enterprise Awards, the success stories of Ireland's small businesses are showcased nationally and internationally by the Local Enterprise Offices. Small businesses, like finalists here at the National Enterprise Awards, are the backbone of the Irish economy and I want to ensure that I can put in place the right conditions for more small businesses to grow. Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups and I want to encourage more people to start new businesses, with the help of their Local Enterprise Office. I want to congratulate all of this year's winners and I wish them the very best for the future, as they 'fly the flag' for Ireland's small businesses.”
The local company was nominated for the awards by the Fingal Local Enterprise Office, which has supported the company through a feasibility study grant and a ‘Start Your Own Business’ programme. Speaking at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the Head of Enterprise in Fingal, Oisin Geoghegan, was among the first to congratulate the Fingal winners, saying: “The team at Invizbox are wonderful ambassadors for the county and are truly a start-up success story. Although it only began trading last year, the company has already achieved impressive international growth, with customers in more than 60 countries across the globe. With three new products in the pipeline, the company is very well-placed for future growth and expansion from their Fingal base.”
Paul Reid, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council said: “For thousands of small companies like these winners and finalists at the National Enterprise Awards, the Local Enterprise Offices through the Local Authorities Network have become a first stop shop for business. The National Enterprise Awards help to celebrate these companies’ achievements. In Fingal we have a proud and successful track record at these Awards and I’m delighted that once again Fingal has triumphed with Invizbox securing the “Innovation” prize ”.
Further information on the supports available through the Local Enterprise Offices is available through www.localenterprise.ie