Three new start-ups have joined the ESA BIC Ireland initiative at NovaUCD in Dublin.
The companies, Better Futures, Polliknow and Restore Blue, have joined the two-year business incubation programme which supports innovative Irish start-ups that have a connection with space, and are developing either upstream or downstream applications.
As well as securing up to €50,000 in seed funding, the three start-ups now have access to technical expertise, training, funding opportunities, and join a network of space industry leaders, to support them in using space data, technologies and assets to further develop their products and services.
Between them the three start-ups are seeking to raise €3.3m in funding over the next two years to support their strategic development and growth plans.
ESA BIC Ireland is managed by ESA Space Solutions Centre Ireland, a consortium partnership involving Tyndall National Institute, University College Dublin; Atlantic Technological University, Dublin City University, Maynooth University, Munster Technological University and Technological University of the Shannon.
Michelle Doyle, Senior Manager, Strategic Innovation Partnerships at NovaUCD, said that along with its consortium partners, NovaUCD was looking forward to supporting these innovative start-ups as they harness space data and technologies to grow, scale and attract investment over the next two years.
Better Futures, founded by Anthony McLoughlin, is an AI-focused start-up which has developed EVATM, a novel vertical AI Platform for engineers and manufacturers. It enables engineers to increase productivity by up to three times by automating "paperwork" with engineering verified assistants, freeing up resources and accelerating innovation.
Better Futures won the Design and Manufacturing Award category at the 2024 Irish Times Innovation Awards and won an ABB 2025 Startup Challenge Award for Generative AI in the Distribution Solutions Award category.
Polliknow, founded by Meg Brennan, is transforming conservation efforts with AI-powered ground sensors that monitor insect pollinator diversity and abundance alongside other environmental indicators.
Its non-invasive approach generates 20 times more data while making biodiversity measurement simple and accessible. The company is currently partnering with airports, renewable energy sites and nature restoration projects to track biodiversity changes over time.
The company previously completed the Enterprise Ireland-funded New Frontiers Programme delivered by IADT Media Cube in partnership with NovaUCD and has also completed the Founders programme at Dogpatch Labs.
As the offshore wind sector expands, Restore Blue, founded by Dr Sarah Cosgrove, is focused on promoting environmentally sustainable development for the offshore construction sector.
Through data-driven software solutions, Restore Blue supports developers in identifying Nature-Inclusive Design (NID) opportunities for their project site, minimising environmental impacts, and embedding biodiversity preservation into their projects.
Restore Blue previously completed the Enterprise Ireland-funded New Frontiers Programme delivered by ATU Sligo-Donegal, the BnM Accelerate Green programme and the Innovation Studio programme delivered by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Hatch Blue.
Start-ups currently taking part in the ESA BIC Ireland initiative at NovaUCD include LirOptic and Sports Impact Technologies. Companies which have completed the initiative at NovaUCD to date include Oblivious AI, Plasma Bound, Proveye, StrongBó Agritech and Timing Solutions.
