Computer firm secures €50k investment

A FIRM that develops computer programmes to help children with learning difficulties has secured a €50,000 investment by taking top prize at an awards ceremony.

Galway-based Footbridge Learning won seed funding and consultancy supports to the value of €80,000 in the Limerick Institute of Technology’s (LIT) Business Awards, sponsored by the AIB Seed Capital Fund.

Founded by Linda O’Sullivan, from Newmarket in Co Cork, the firm scooped the top prize among the 14 companies undertaking the entrepreneurship programme, LEAP.

Footbridge Learning will be offered equity investment of €50,000 from the AIB Seed Capital Fund, which is co-managed by Enterprise Equity Venture Capital, plus €5,000 cash sponsored by LIT and Enterprise Ireland.

The company will also receive additional supports, to the value of €25,000, by way of mentoring from The Discovery Partnership, legal consultancy from Holmes O’Malley Sexton, financial consultancy from Horwath Bastow Charleton and one-year’s membership of Limerick Chamber of Commerce.

Frank Walsh of the AIB Seed Capital Fund said: “Footbridge Learning has shown the capability and acumen required to make a business work in challenging times and we look forward to seeing the company flourish with the equity investment offered today by the AIB Seed Capital Fund.”

Second prize of €5,000 investment and €10,000 in supports went to Limerick company Shadowman and its founder JP Hartigan. Shadowman devises a transportable rugby training tool to enable safe tackling practice.

Third prize of €1,500 in cash and supports to the value of €3,500 went to Co Clare companyKillaloe Food Products, which develops and sells a range of innovative food products.