The Prestart Story of Virtual Vet
Entrepreneur: Sinead Quealy
Local Enterprise Office Supports: Feasibility, Priming, TAME, Mentoring, Training
Maybe it’s the knowledge that a much-needed industry solution has been developed, maybe it’s the positive customer feedback and the great customer relationships that are being forged or maybe it’s winning a Regional title at the National Enterprise Awards. Whatever the catalyst, Virtual Vet is a young dynamic company forcing a rethink in the agri-food sector.
VirtualVet is a data management company which tracks drug usage in animals in the food chain reducing the risk of misuse and overuse of animal remedies in food production. The company records dosages for farmers, reports to the agri-food and animal health industries and monitors for agencies such as Bord Bia and the Food Safety Authority.
Sinead Quealy, Managing Director of VirtualVet explains where the idea for the business came from. “I was frustrated by the way animal medicines were monitored in Ireland. While EU policy is clear, the implementation falls far short of what is possible to make a positive contribution to farmers’ lives, animal health, public health and the image of Irish food.”
Sinead realised that the business model in animal drug usage recording had to change, and in 2016 VirtualVet was born to place a value on the important animal drug usage information farmers have.
The prelude to the business was many years spent researching the policy areas which covered the business vision; data privacy, GDPR, antibiotic usage, antimicrobial resistance and animal health laws. However, it was a series of prospective client meetings, positive feedback and LEO support that gave the company the reassurance it needed to develop further.
Armed with a solution to an industry wide problem, rolling out the concept was initially fraught with uncertainty. “While we knew the industry would benefit from our services, our new business model of free to farmers but paid for by processors was a huge hurdle we needed to overcome. Many of the organisations we meet with seem determined to convince themselves that people aren’t dying in Ireland from multi-drug resistant infections. There is a lack of real understanding of the seriousness of the issue and the role the pharmaceutical and agri-food industries play in the growth of antimicrobial resistance.”
That’s why Sinead recalls her ‘break-through’ moment as cashing the first customer’s cheque.
“There are very few truly brave people, but when we meet a champion in an organisation, our evidence-based approach is something that they get straight away. They know that the solution we offer will achieve a positive outcome for animal health, public health, market sustainability and improving the lives of farmers.”
On the future of VirtualVet, the company has developed some exciting analysis capabilities. “This intellectual property and our contribution to discussions on the implementation of policy in the agri-food area is helping us consolidate our reputation as knowledge providers. This knowledge approach reassures our clients that they are working with experts in the area.”
That said, the challenges facing new Irish businesses will only abate if large, established organisations meaningfully engage with start-ups that can offer real solutions and responses to public health issues and consumer or market demands. “It seems remarkable to me that big brands can be so reluctant to engage with ways to respond to real and measurable trends like global warming, GHG, AMR and so many other issues.”
Sinead’s passion for the business is evident and it was the support from Local Enterprise Office Waterford that fortified her vision in the early days. “From the first day I approached my Local Enterprise Office they have been nothing but supportive and enthusiastic. This support proved invaluable to getting us to where we are now and gave us the springboard to concentrate our efforts on growing the business.
Their cheerleading has picked me up on the days I needed it most.”
If there is any advice Sinead would offer to budding entrepreneurs it would be to acknowledge that mistakes are okay to make, it’s just that you need to embrace the learning from your mistake and move on.
VirtualVet is among one of the 7,000 companies maintaining 36,000 jobs, supported by the network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices, and in 2019 represented Waterford in the National Enterprise Awards Final, which was established in 1998 to celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s micro-enterprise sector.